Ian Holloway: The Best Trip

There is an old saying in football, 'there's nobody bigger than the team'. A cliche but true. There are however some people who's influence is monumental.

When Ian Holloway was announced as the new manager of Blackpool on 22nd May 2009 little did we know we were about it witness the finest phase of recent times. Those who remember the doom and gloom and tragedy of the 70's and 80's could not believe what unfolded as the Seasiders embarked upon 'The Best Trip'.

Exactly one year later, having started the season as favourites for relegation, the Tangerine hordes could not believe it. The miracle had happened. Ian Holloway had taken Blackpool to the Premier League.

And what a season that followed. Liverpool reduced to rubble at Anfield and Bloomfield Road. 2-0 up against Manchester United at half time, 3-1 against Spurs amongst the highlights.

Most other years we would have stayed up. But a cruel twist of the fixture list sent us to Old Trafford on the last day of the season. But what a year.

We could have sunk, but Ollie once again sprinkled the magic dust and a year later, again took us to Wembley for another chance to regain Premiership status.

A cruel irony that one of Ollie's targets scored the winning goal that denied us the opportunity to go straight back up. Not the last time on of Ollie's targets would score against us.

The post mortem is inevitable. could the Chairman have backed him more? But today is the day we pause and say thank you to Ollie. It was indeed the best trip we have ever been on.

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