Blackpool

Just 5 days to go till the biggest match of the season, yeah I know there is a game in Munich on that day as well but the one that really matters is at Wembley :)
My days of going to games are probably gone now and it wouldn't be right if the only Hammers game I go to all season was the one everyone wants to see and I denied a genuine fan a ticket, lack of cash and just being out of hospital and still feeling like shit make this very unlikely unless some old friend pops round this week with a spare ticket in hand (wishful thinking) :) Although if Southend make it through on Wednesday night I might get to Wembley this season, as I'm on their ticketing list we shall see?

At the start of the season I was hoping for West Ham to go back up as champions, with Blackpool as runners up and either Birmingham or Ipswich to go up via the play offs. As it has turned out only one of us will make it which is a shame :(

Our record over Blackpool is pretty good although we have only met 4 times in the last 40 years, 4-0 and 4-1 this season and 3-1 and 0-0 last year, but a one off game at Wembley could go either way?
Our last 2 play off finals have been decided by one goal and dodgy refereeing decisions in 2004 we were favourites against Crystal Palace but lost 1-0 in a game that Graham Poll showed his bias by ruling out 2 good Hammers goals.
In 2005 Preston were probably favourites but we came out on top after Bobby Zamora's goal, but had a let off near the end when Goalie Jimmy Walker handballed on the edge of the box and should have been sent off? but the fact he twisted himself trying to keep his hands inside the penalty area meant he came down awkwardly on his knee and had to be stretchered off probably saved him.

So although we really should win comfortably you have this sort of stuff in the back of your mind, Kevin Phillips is always likely to score and refs don't really like us. Plus Ian Holloway must be the most inspiring manager there is so if it's tight that has to be an advantage?

Anyway for any Blackpool fans that might read this I've been through the old mags and found these from 1973 :)

A few well known players Wyn Davis, John "Budgie" Burridge, Paul Hart and Micky Burns who scored one of the greatest goals of the seventies. I used to love seeing Burridge before games when he would do his acrobatics and go walking round the penalty area on his hands! totally nuts but a great character :)