The fairytale story now has the perfect ending - Blackpool are in the Premier League!
The promotion party has started as the top flight prepares to become awash with tangerine following a stunning 3-2 Championship Play-off final victory over Cardiff City at Wembley.
The pens are already in place to ink the next incredible chapters that will include Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and Anfield, as goals from Charlie Adam, Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Brett Ormerod - a man who has given the club so much already - took Pool into the promised land.
An incredible first-half showing that witnessed five goals saw the Seasiders come back from behind twice to lead 3-2 at the interval, a margin they maintained until the final whistle blew.
On a day when some people may have opted to top up their sun tan, both sets of players had to adapt to the soaring heat and make sure that their fluid levels were maintained.
Cardiff created the first clear opportunity of the game when Mark Kennedy found space on the overlap and sent a teasing cross into the box. Michael Chopra connected but his effort came back off the bar.
The former Newcastle United striker was to open the scoring shortly after however, Peter Whittingham worked his way into space in the middle of the park and threaded a through ball into the forward's path which was despatched into the bottom corner (9).
BLACKPOOL 0 CARDIFF CITY 1
The Bluebirds had shaded possession in the opening stages but the Seasiders pressed Cardiff on the back foot immediately and equalised with a sublime free-kick. David Vaughan's cross was handled outside of the box by Stephen McPhail, providing CHARLIE ADAM with the opportunity to curl the ball around the wall and straight past David Marshall (13). The Scot scored his 19th of the season with probably one of his best strikes throughout the campaign.
BLACKPOOL 1 CARDIFF CITY 1
Dave Jones' side were forced into an early substitution on 15 when striker Jay Bothroyd was forced to come off due to injury, Kelvin Etuhu was the man to replace him.
It was now Blackpool's turn to dominate with the ball as Alex Baptiste and Ian Evatt pushed up into the City half. The equaliser had now set the stage for Pool to play their usual game. David Vaughan, the only Welshman in Blackpool's starting line-up, became the latest player to attempt for goal but his effort from distance dropped wide of the post.
Michael Chopra was proving to be Cardiff's best chance of finding another goal but he couldn't connect cleanly with the ball when attempting to half-volley with 30 minutes gone.
A great defensive tackle from Seamus Coleman prevented Cardiff from exploiting a counter attack minutes later, the Irishman managed to keep tabs on Chopra and prevent him from pulling the ball back across goal.
The Bluebirds were to take the lead again though, Joe Ledley raced onto another through ball from Peter Whittingham to slot the ball past Matt Gilks in goal (37).
BLACKPOOL 1 CARDIFF CITY 2
The previous two meetings between the teams this season had ended in 1-1 draws but that was never going to be the case at Wembley.
Blackpool equalised immediately once again though to bring the tie back level, GARY TAYLOR-FLETCHER made up for earlier hitting the post by reacting first to a goal-line clearance from an Ian Evatt overhead kick to head the ball home (40).
BLACKPOOL 2 CARDIFF CITY 2
Manager Ian Holloway had remarked earlier in the week that the game could be one of the best that the new Wembley had seen. Judging on the first 45 minutes alone it was shaping up to be a classic.
BRETT ORMEROD, a man who has already established himself in Blackpool folklore, pounced on a loose ball following a mazy dribble by DJ Campbell to give the Seasiders the lead (45+1).
BLACKPOOL 3 CARDIFF CITY 2
The half nearly ended with a quick-fire sixth - and an equaliser for Cardiff - but Darcy Blake was offside when bundling the ball past Matt Gilks.
HALF-TIME - BLACKPOOL 3 CARDIFF CITY 2
The second-half started at a slightly slower pace, which wasn't surprising given the explosive finish to the first.
The Seasiders were forced to change things on 53 after Gary Taylor-Fletcher picked up a knock. Ben Burgess came on in his place to lead the attack, moving DJ Campbell out to the right of the front three.
Michael Chopra, a player who was proving to be a thorn in the side despite Pool's lead, hit the bar once again minute later when he rifled an effort from just inside the area. Cardiff's determination to find an equaliser was then epitomised as Ross McCormack stepped off the bench to replace Chris Burke.
Joe Ledley came close to finding that leveller but his header just drifted wide of the far post.
Pool's second change of the afternoon then followed as Stephen Dobbie, the on-loan Swansea man who made an immediate impact at Nottingham Forest in the semi-final second-leg, replaced Brett Ormerod.
Matt Gilks was called into action just after the hour as Kelvin Etuhu found space on the overlap down the right. The Blackpool keeper parried the ball over after a stinging effort was fired straight at him.
Cardiff were now building the pressure a little as they searched for the equaliser and came agonisingly close to finding it when Chopra's head beat Gilks to the ball. A strike from McCormack then had the Bluebirds' cheering - but his effort had cannoned back off the side netting.
Darcy Blake found space before firing straight at Gilks as Cardiff continued to retain possession.
Pool were still pushing for that fourth goal that would bring a cushion going into the final five minutes but the priority now was seeing the result out.
The players played out four minute of added time to ensure that the Seasiders would return to the top flight for the first time since the 1970-71 season.
Premier League here we come!
FULL-TIME SCORE - BLACKPOOL 3 CARDIFF CITY 2
