Jimmy Armfield says he will feel 'mixed emotions' when the stand named in his honour officially opens against Crystal Palace tomorrow.

The former Blackpool right-back - who played at Bloomfield Road for a career spanning 17 years - already holds legendary status in the town and continues to be an extremely popular figure in the game.

Bloomfield Road will rightfully pay tribute to his achievements once again tomorrow afternoon - but he's not quite so sure how he'll feel.

"This is my town, I wasn't actually born here, but I've lived here all my life," the Denton-born 74-year-old said. "I look at Blackpool as my town, and when I was made a Freeman of Blackpool that was a massive item for me. I came here as a little boy during the war and spent my career here as a player, so to have the stand named after me is very special. I'm not quite sure how I'll feel on the day."

The story of Jimmy's career could fill many a book, yet he never arrived at Blackpool as a right-back initially.

"Blackpool only signed me because I came for a trial match and played on the left wing funnily enough," he revealed. "The team I played for in this trial match won 4-1 and I scored all four, so they kept me on. That's how it all started."

And the rest they say is history.

A full interview with Jimmy can be found in tomorrow's special commemorative edition of Up The Pool, priced at just £3.