Sunday's big day out at Wembley represents a reward for twelve months of progress at Bloomfield Road since the arrival of Latvian banker Valery Belokon on the club's board of directors last May.

Having narrowly avoided relegation last season, the club saw a summer of busy transfer activity as manager Simon Grayson rebuilt his squad.

A couple of frustrating months into the season the team had won just one game, and people were questioning whether Grayson was the man to take the club forward.

But, since losing at Carlisle at the end of September, the team has gone on a run that has exceeded anyone's expectations, and which now culminates in a dream day out under the Wembley Arch.

Belokon has threatened to wear his tangerine suit for this one, and it is believed that the team will wear their traditional colours for their most important game in 30 years.

The president was not here of course when the club crashed out of the old Division Two in 1978, and may not know the importance of this day for many Blackpool fans who have been waiting to return for 29 years.

Win the game, and then the party begins. Lose, and it's back to the drawing board for another crack next season.