Sportspy Extra – Saturday April 11th 2009.

I decided to go on the train today just like the good old days and bumped into Les Hewitt – Ex Bloomfield Vets FC – still a little tired after his 4am post round.

A short walk through the town centre to the designated 'away pub'.  Big Ryan's crew are on the pop.

Gordy from Northern Care FC in the centre.

Dave Hall (Left) and Hewitt's woken up at last.

'Who are ya?'  Friendly banter with some passing PNE fans.

Deep, deep, deep undercover.  Just before the police shut the pub doors and marched the mob out of the back I slipped the cordon and took off for the ground.  This is Moor Park avenue.  After night matches in the seventies this was one of the most interesting places to be as the police escorted us back to the station.  Pitch black, sirens, screaming, alsations straining on the leash, police horses in your face and ominous shadows in the undergrowth throwing bottles and rocks – happy days! 

Warming up.

Sometimes you get sat next to some right idiots at the match but at other times……………..

The flag makes its way across the stand.

Great weather for football as a last minute watering gives the pitch some zip.

Get the water cannon on that lot at the other end.

Tom Finney day at PNE.

Good to see and hear the Pool support giving a respectful round of applause for Finney and (above) recently deceased PNE vice chairman Malcolm Woodhouse.

The young Pool mascot.

Oh dear.  Enjoy it whilst you can fellas.

Blackpool FC on the attack.

Defending well.

Preston's best chance of  the first half as a quality free-kick leaves Chubs rooted but fortunately it hit the top of the post and was eventually cleared to safety.

A header from Burgess (Out of picture right) just flashed wide.

Campbell is denied again.

As half time approached Charlie Adam burst through the centre and rifled in a thirty yard drive off the post.  1-0.

Get in there.

The Pool fans are in raptures as Adam puts the Pool ahead.  NOTHING beats the feeling of scoring away at Preston.

It must surely be half time – Preston's ground's looking good now the final side is almost complete.

Second half and the pool kick off.

Brett Ormerod makes his entrance.

Ryan Bingham's head (Left) spoils a good picture.

Blackpool FC's Charlie Adam almost scores his second of the match as his blistering free-kick from 35 yards fizzes past the upright.

Campbell goes close.

Preston score but it was wonderfully ruled out for an infringement.  (Good crowd reactions.)

It was all too much for this tired and emotional individual who was thrown out by the police.  The Blackpool fans cheerily waved him on his way.

Sit down and behave youselves.

A late scare.

Victory is ours.