But Blackpool FC are back in the bigtime after clinching promotion to the Premier League at the weekend
But Blackpool FC are back in the bigtime after clinching promotion to the Premier League at the weekend – believed to be worth £90million a year. Now city chiefs hope it can drag the retro city out of the doldrums, a world class resort to match their tangerineclad Premiership-bound heroes. Council leader Peter Callow is certain Saturday’s sudden victory will supply a much-needed shot in the arm for the beach town’s coffers. He announced : “Blackpool is now part of the planet’s most successful soccer league. “it’s a fantastic accomplishment and one which has secured a massive industrial boost for the town – many millions of pounds re job creation, limelight and additional visitors.
” And the club’s West Country-born manager Ian Holloway echoed his faith and beamed : “I can not tell you what a differ-ence this may make for folks in Blackpool. They are going to get so much money from the Premier League. ” His club’s 3-2 superiority over tops Cardiff sealed a noteworthy turnaround in fortunes for the little outfit. Blackpool, impressed by Stanley Matthews to FA Cup glory in 1953, were last in English football’s top flight in 1971. As late as nine years back the outfit, nick-named the Seasiders, languished in the 4th tier. It was apparent what the victory intended to thousands of adherents who turned Wembley into an ocean of tangerine. More than thirty thousand neighbors will bring the city and its Golden Mile to a stop today as they give their heroes an elated welcome in an open-top bus parade.
It is swiftly becoming obvious what victory on the pitch could mean to the town’s fortunes. Mr Callow declared : ” Everybody concerned with the Seasiders has done us proud, from the players on the pitch to the fans in the stands.
And as our club goes up, so that the city goes up as well. ” Hostels are already reporting bookings from corporations who need to schedule meetings and business conferences to synchronize with their Premiership team’s away day on the beach. Tony Openshaw of the Lancashire and Blackpool Traveller Board expounded : “The result’s a massive fillip for Blackpool and the Fylde coast. Both will get advantages from increased tourism spending, with entrepreneurs desiring to tie in conferences with a trip to the Premiership’s latest club. ” A swathe of local businesses, from pubs and restaurants to shops and hostels will also benefit from inflow of thousands of fans from well-supported clubs like Manchester United, Manchester Town , Liverpool, Everton and Newcastle. Blackpool will be the littlest outfit ever to grace the Premiership. Rival players and advocates are actually in for a culture shock when they visit its compact Bloomfield Road stadium. Players must arrange a bobbly pitch surface and pitiless, swirling winds.