Blackpool celebrate Premier League berth with victory parade
The seaside resort of Blackpool has been put under scrutiny over the past few years. According to travel gurus, the town has been showing signs of age, and is a shadow of its former glory.
But try telling that to the 45,000 Seasiders that lined the sun-drenched promenade to see their football team celebrate their achievement of promotion to the Premier League.
The sun gleaming off the ocean, the arcade business was booming and vibrant, and even the seagulls seemed to be enjoying the occasion. The magic of Blackpool has returned.
Just shows what a successful football team can do to a town. Ian Holloway spoke after Saturday’s incredible 3-2 win over Cardiff about how the club’s exploits will improve the town’s atmosphere and economy and within 24 hours he seems to have been proved right.
Council leader Peter Callow is convinced Saturday's unexpected triumph will provide a much-needed shot in the arm for the seaside town's coffers.
He told the Sun: "Blackpool is now part of the world's most successful football league.
"It is an amazing achievement and one that has secured a huge economic boost for the town - tens of millions of pounds in terms of job creation, publicity and extra visitors."
Meanwhile, in typical Holloway style, "Olly" addressed the crowd with a predictably passionate speech.
“What can I say?” he said. “I want to thank you, not just for today - this is the most unbelievable moment of my life.
“I had a year out of football and had to think about what went wrong in my life. I was given some decent values from my mum and dad in our council house and one of them was honesty and trust and loyalty, and I forgot to do all that at Plymouth. I left them and I made the biggest mistake of my life. But I ended up here and it was the best thing I have ever done.
“What I managed to do was jump on the best ride I have ever been on in my life. I don't want it to end, because these lads behind me, no matter how much we were knocked down, they get back up and now we're playing in the Premier League.
“I want to thank the owners for putting me back in work. All I wanted to do was get an environment where someone can work and feel needed and I thank everyone of my staff for just that. When I turned up they all thought I was going to sack them, but no chance.”
In the words of a famous slogan, the future is bright, the future is orange.
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