Blackpool in the Premier League 10 years on: Prince William watches the Seasiders defeat Wolves

On this weekend a decade ago, Blackpool were 2-1 winners against Wolves at Bloomfield Road on a day when, as STEVE CANAVAN reported in The Gazette at the time, they had Royal company....

Well that’s a bit annoying.

Here I was, all set to write a load of stuff about Prince William, then up steps Luke Varney – a man clearly after a knighthood – and decides to gatecrash the Royal visit.

In front of our King in waiting, Varney scored what could well be the goal of his career: a stunning right-footer into the roof of the net from fully 30 yards, kickstarting another memorable afternoon and helping secure three big points.

Because of Varney’s wonder strike – the lad gets better by the week and can do no wrong – it would be wrong to start with anything else.

Let’s be honest, William didn’t actually do much apart from sit around in glasses and a daft hat. He didn’t even have the courtesy to bring Kate along.

On discovering the news of his visit on Saturday morning, I’d taken an extra long shower, applied expensive aftershave and even used my nasal hair trimmer, just in case Kate happened to spot me and decide I was the one for her.

Alas, no Kate, but it didn’t really matter because once again it was one of those afternoons where the football was so good, it left no time for outside distractions.

Actually that’s not quite true. The first half wasn’t the best, probably as low key a 45 minutes as we’ve witnessed at Bloomfield Road all season.

This was partly to do with Blackpool’s early goal and Wolves being tough opponents.

Mick McCarthy’s side deserve credit. The manager is under pressure – nine defeats in their last 11 games now – and without a clean sheet all season.

McCarthy’s orders at the start of the match had been to stay tight and not concede early.

A bit of a blow then when, three minutes in, Varney shrugged off the attentions of Kevin Foley on the left touchline to control Ian Evatt’s lovely long pass on his chest.

The ball bounced up, begging to be hit.

If it was Arsenal, they would have taken 24 more touches en route to trying to walk it into the net. No such faffing with Varney.

He – and I’ll use the technical term here – leathered it and his half-volley flew over Marcus Hahnemann and into the top corner

It was a work of art and is already nailed on to win the Seasiders’ goal of the season award.

Wolves responded well and had the better of the remainder of the half.

They were solid and pushed forward effectively, George Elokobi causing problems as he advanced forward from the left-back position.

From two of his crosses, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle squandered good opportunities – both heading wide of the target.

When your luck’s not in, it really ain’t and so it proved on the stroke of half-time when Pool went further ahead.

David Vaughan’s corner, Varney rose like a salmon to beat Hahnemann to the ball and Marlon Harewood pounced to score for the fifth time this season – not a bad return given he’s spent most of it on the bench.

A two-goal advantage at half-time was harsh on the visitors, whose fans were frustrated to say the least.

They’d started the game chanting “sing your hearts out for the lads”. By half-time it was “what a load of rubbish”. Who says it’s easy being a footballer?

Prince William and his pals nipped off for some food but they were back for the restart and just as well because cue 45 minutes of breathless football.

Wolves had clearly been told to forget their tactics and go for it.

Given that’s the only way the Seasiders can play, it suddenly turned into a tremendous, wide open contest. Both midfields went AWOL. It was frantic and end-to-end.

The only surprise was that it took until four minutes from time for someone to score because there were opportunities galore at either end.

For Wolves, who had used all three subs by the hour mark, David Jones slashed horribly wide when trying to shoot into an empty net from 18 yards and Matt Jarvis mysteriously opted to pass when clean through on goal.

Then Richard Kingson – Ghana’s number one making his home debut in place of the injured Matt Gilks – made two exceptional stops.

First he tipped Nenad Milijas’ goalbound shot onto the post, then repelled Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s close-range strike.

Matty Phillips, also making his first home start, caused carnage on the right until fatigue set in and he was taken off. What a player he looks.

Charlie Adam, showing no signs of the knee injury which almost kept him out, got in great positions but couldn’t quite get his shots off.

Varney also missed a decent chance after being teed up by the excellent Vaughan.

Just when it looked as if it would stay 2-0, Wolves scored.

There was a whiff of controversy about it. Evatt required treatment after hurting himself making a terrific defensive clearance.

Then that stupid rule – Evatt forced to leave the pitch and wait until the referee waved him back on.

But Pool were defending a throw-in and it seems a little unfair they had to do it without one of their key defenders.

Wolves took the throw short, Elokobi delivered a deep cross and Doyle headed past Kingson.

Evatt, still jogging back onto the pitch at this point, would have been marking the goalscorer.

It led to a fraught final few minutes at Bloomfield Road before the exemplary ref Mark Clattenburg finally blew up and put us out of our misery.

Prince William clapped enthusiastically. He clearly hadn’t read the matchday programme.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher, writing in his column, remarked: “Brett Ormerod is the tightest man in football. I’m sure he’ll have something to say about the taxpayer funding the latest royal wedding.” That’s his invite gone up the swanee.

As for the Seasiders, 18 points before December. Things are progressing just beautifully.

By the time the Royal wedding takes place they may already be safe.

Now that really would be something.

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