Congratulations to Blackpool FC for winning the Championship Playoff Final today and being promoted to the Premier League. Here are some pictures from Blackpool’s day in the sunshine. More after the jump.

Blackpool’s promotion to the best league in the world today was exactly what the Premier League needed. In a season with plenty of highs and lows on and off the pitch, it was down to feel-good stories from Fulham, Portsmouth and Blackpool this season to end the 2009-10 football calendar on a high.

Congratulations go to Blackpool on promotion to the Premier League. They won a hard fought game 3-2 at Wembley against a strong Cardiff side.

This was an unbelievable season for Blackpool and their manager Ian Holloway. The manager has got his side into the top flight of English football for the first time in 40 years. And he did it by getting his side to play as a team rather than a team of individuals.

Blackpool getting promoted to the Premier League would be the US equivalent of Coney Island or Seaside Heights getting promoted to Major League Soccer (if promotion existed in MLS). This is an incredible achievement for a Lancashire club who will definitely be one of the stories of the 2010-11 Premier League season.

Congratulations once again to the Tangerines!

Today’s Championship Playoff Final is often called the richest final in the sport. The winner stands to gain around 90 million pounds, which is far more than the 36 million pound prize on offer in this afternoon’s Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.

Needless to say, this match is massive for both Blackpool and Cardiff City. Based on the number of articles in the press and comments posted across the Internet, it seems that most people are hoping for a Blackpool win. I am too but that’s because I’m a Swansea City supporter, Cardiff’s bitter rivals.

Whoever wins today, let’s hope it’s a brilliant match. Before, during and after the final, feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section below. For those of you in the States, the game will be shown live on Fox Soccer Plus and FoxSoccer.tv

While the Premier League season may be over and there’s three weeks to go before the World Cup begins (yippee), there is the matter of three games this weekend. All of which are important for different reasons.

• Blackpool v Cardiff City, 10am ET, Saturday, Fox Soccer Plus and FoxSoccer.tv
• Bayern Munich v Inter Milan, 2:30pm ET, Saturday, Fox
• England v Mexico, 3pm ET, Monday, Fox Soccer Channel

But which one are you looking forward to the most, and why? Cast your vote in the poll above and add your comments to the section below.

The Coca-Cola Championship Playoff Final is called the richest match in football as the winner will be promoted to the so called glory land of the EPL – and with it all the riches … estimated at 90 million pounds sterling.

SO who are Blackpool, the team I support… because next season you could see a team you have hardly heard of and an invasion of tangerine on your TV. Our team colors are tangerine and white .. its not orange, its tangerine.. and you will be corrected so you might as well get it right from the start.

Formed in 1892, we have had our best days post WWII. In fact we have a little known fact that we were top of the First Division for the longest time. We were top of Div 1 come Sept 3rd 1939 and stayed there for years thanks to Mr. A Hitler of Germany.

But silly stats aside, Blackpool FC are most famous for the 1953 Matthews FA Cup Final, where wing wizard Sir Stanley Matthews finally won an FA Cup medal after a dramatic 4-3 win after being 3-1 down to arch enemy Bolton Wanderers. In those days top teams, as we both were, were filled with internationals and didn’t play reserves in FA Cup matches. The FA Cup was a HUGE competition and not the sad state of affairs it is today.

Sir Stanley though was one of 11 players that day – and since he had the final unofficially named after him, you would think he scored a hat trick or something extraordinary. Well, the truth is that a hat trick was scored by Blackpool’s Stan Mortensen that day.. but its always known as the Matthews Final for the country’s most beloved football player finally getting his hands on the trophy he most wanted. By all accounts, you would think that Matthews must have been Pele/Maradona/Beckham or Messi of his era – and from the stories told he was all of them rolled into one.

But times moved on at Bloomfield Road. In the 1960s Alan Ball – the midfield red head engine of the 1966 World Cup winning team – was a Blackpool player, as was squad player Jimmy Armfield – who is a Blackpool legend with over 600 games for the Seasiders and captained England many times too. But Blackpool hovered between First and Second divisions.

In the 1969/70 season we were promoted to the First Divison, winning 3-0 at Preston North End. Means nothing to most people but winning 3-0 against your closest rival (we are a mere 15 miles apart) was incredible. We got promoted and in addition sent PNE down to Division Three. Fred Pickering was the hat trick hero that day.

But the 70/71 season was the last time The Seasiders graced the top tier in English football. We won the Anglo Italian Cup a couple of times. Then the decline really started. The abolishment of the maximum wage meant the bigger teams got the better players, and in true style The Seasiders managed to get relegated to Divison Three for the first time after a freak set of results. The chairman of the day is widely blamed for sacking Allan Brown when were challenging again for promotion, and led us to relegation. How one man can destroy thousands of dreams…

We meandered in the lower leagues for 30 odd years. There were some really bad days when we had to apply for re-election (before non league teams were promoted). We almost went bust too. Our ground was still something that looked like it was built in 1892 in 1992. There were some glory days though: The promotion from the Fourth Division in 1984, but we were relegated a few years later. Then in 1991 we lost the playoff final versus Torquay in the dreaded penalty shoot out. “King” Billy Ayre said it wasn’t the worst day in his football life – it was the worst day of his life.

Each team has a manager like Billy Ayre. Liverpool had Shankley. United had Busby. We had King Billy Ayre. He was a man’s man and a great man. And he got his reward the following season. Again in the playoffs with a penalty shoot out win versus Scunthorpe.

But the meandering continued. The Oyston family who now own Blackpool FC have appointed several good managers by luck and several good men who weren’t good managers. We have had Steve McMahon (Liverpool, Man City and England) – who woke up the latest Oyston chairman – son Karl, who looks like Harry Potter, with his over the top demands…  like we need a washing machine! And McMahon got us promoted via the playoffs and won a couple of LDV Cups.

But on the flip side Karl Oyston appointed Colin Hendry (Man City, Blackburn, Scotland, and known as Braveheart). He was truly the worst manager of a Blackpool team I have seen play – and I have seen some rubbish.

The next messiah was Simon “Larry” Grayson – who took us to the Championship – via the play offs v Yeovil after winning 10 games straight. Karl Oyston has his faults (only Dave Whelan probably doesn’t in the world of chairmen) – but Karl and father Owen Oystons brought in Latvian Banker “Uncle Valerei Belekon” who bought into the team – not the land – just the team. He speaks like Borat, but we don’t care. He has fallen in love with Blackpool and said at that great day at Wembley that he wanted us to challenge for the Premiership in five years. He lied. We are doing it in three.

Larry Grayson left to go manage his boyhood heroes Leeds United. His number two, Tony Parkes, kept us in the division by some wheeling and dealing and bringing in a player called Charlie Adam on loan from Rangers (as well as a lot of other loans).

We stayed up and actually ended up in 15th position. Parkes didn’t not stay as manager due to a rumored joke of an offer from Karl. But then we need a new manager.

ENTER IAN HOLLOWAY… Media darling aside from his quips and one liners, he is also a football man.

In his first year in charge we were favorites to be relegated. But he has guided us to the sixth place and into the playoffs, playing probably the best tangerine football in forty years.

Key man is Charlie Adam, signed permanently from Rangers for a steal at 500 thousand pounds. Because we are a smaller club, getting 8000 fans week in week out, we aren’t seen in the media a lot and when we are its pun filled lines about our local tourism trade. Many journalists don’t seem to respect us. Some points they make are true but its what’s on the pitch that counts. We played Newcastle Utd off the park in September, and have beaten Notts Forest, who came third in the Championship, four times in one season says we are a good side. We won the playoff semi final 6-4 on aggregate with a 4-3 win away.

And now Little Blackpool could be little no more. We are 90 minutes from playing the big boys. We are in form, winning 9 of last 11 and have received plaudits for our good football. Whereever we go with our tangerine colors proudly displayed, its been a wild ride. Some poor journalist with no imagination would say its been a rollercoaster ride. It’s been an amazing season for any Blackpool fan around in the world.

One final game…May 22nd Cardiff City await…

OK, so if you’re expecting sarcasm and a general belittling of Burnley, then I suggest you look for another article somewhere else on the internet. There will be no mention of pets, the diet of Burnley’s population, nor its voting habits. Just a simple look at the side’s footballing credentials and what next season means to the Claret fans.

So, let’s be honest, did anyone outside of the UK not from Lancashire originally or over 50 years old know where Burnley even was before they stormed to the Play-Off’s on the last few weeks of the season?  In my footballing watching and supporting life, Burnley have never been anywhere near the top division in just over 30 years, so it may have caught plenty of people out, but as I’ve mentioned previously, Burnley and their fans aren’t expecting a good press.

Nope, they are this season’s cannon fodder if you believe everything you see written about them so far. Odds on to come straight back down by every bookmaker in Britain; the omens do not look good on paper, yet no-one wins things with paper players. Burnley made a dreadful start to last season, only scoring 1 goal in their first 4 games, but then began to make a steady climb up the table from September onwards. Coupled with the fantastic run in the Carling Cup, which saw them beat Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal and be two minutes from Wembley until Jermaine Defoe saved Tottenham’s blushes, Burnley ruffled feathers all season.

With bigger clubs and considerably larger budgets brought down to earth, Owen Coyle created a side that played neat, tidy and incisive football for the majority of the season. As it drew to a close, they hit a tremendous run of form, with just 3 defeats in the final 18 league games and as Cardiff City imploded, Burnley could still have missed out if results had gone against them. Yet, when it came to the play offs, they were imperious, beating Reading home and away before easily dealing with Sheffield United in the final.

Coyle has certainly got Burnley playing football, which can cause sides problems at any level. Becoming the first team to beat 5 Premiership sides in a season without actually being a member is an enviable record. The key question is can they bring their cup form in to a full Premiership season. As daft as it sounds, it may be easier for them to play football in the Premiership this season, with sides prepared to match them stride for stride.

As with all newly promoted sides, home form is crucial and there is no doubting the level of support the Clarets will receive. Turf Moor, whilst not the ramshackle, ancient ground some commentators will make you think it is, it can still be an intimidating arena for visiting sides. Contrary to popular belief, Burnley is not colder than Russia in December, so watch out for sides being warned about “not fancying it up north on a cold November night”. Oddly, that didn’t help either Newcastle or Middlesbrough last season, but it’ll still be bandied about by cliche addicted commentators.

Signings wise, it was obvious that the team needed strengthening and Coyle has so far brought in several players. Tyrone Mears returns to the UK after a year at Marseille, the promising Steven Fletcher finally gets to try his hand in English football and a trio of promising young defenders have signed up. Brian Easton comes south, from Hamilton Academicals, Richard Eckersley joining from Manchester United and David Edgar left Newcastle on a Bosman. The key factor for me with these signings are all under 27, hungry and eager to prove themselves, something Coyle looks to capitalise on.

Added to the two major signings they made last season, Chris Eagles and Martin Patterson, Coyle is building a team that can keep progressing. Whilst questions may be asked about the age of the new signings, Coyle may be working with the attitude of a younger team showing less fear. Overall, I have to say it’s going to be tough for them, but as with the two other promoted sides, there are other teams in the Premiership that could continue the dreadful form in to the forthcoming campaign.

Hull City and Portsmouth are both finding it increasingly difficult to add to their squads, which could give Burnley heart. Also, Burnley’s start for a newly promoted side is hellish! Starting away at Stoke, they then entertain Manchester United and Everton, before trips to Chelsea and Liverpool. Any points at all from those 5 games will be a fantastic achievement, but if not then they have to take strength and realise they’ve got those games out of the way. Their run in is a considerably easier task to face and could be crucial come the final few weeks of the season. No-one gives them a prayer, but Hull City showed what a team spirit can get you for 3 months and Coyle will be keen to keep Burnley fighting all season.

358 days have passed since one of the worst injuries I’ve ever seen in a live game was sustained by Eduardo Da Silva against Birmingham City on February 23rd 2008. It make me cringe, I was shocked and stunned and urged the medical staff on to help him as quickly as they could. The players looked badly shaken and a hush descended on the crowd. Forget some of the nonsense comments that followed that game, Martin Taylor was simply late in going for the tackle and caught the Croatian badly, of that there is no doubt, but it was accidental, Taylor is no thug. It could have been the end of Eduardo’s career, no question. Tonight saw that injury consigned to history as Eduardo inspired Arsenal to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Cardiff City in the F.A.Cup 4th round replay at the Emirates Stadium.  People were keen to see the return but did anyone expect him to perform so well, so quickly. His movement, his pace and his eye for goal weren’t diminished in the slightest at all tonight, only his match fitness began to suffer as the match went on but Arsene Wenger is not one to forget the power of emotion. He removed Eduardo from the action enabling him to receive a standing ovation after 67 minutes from the Arsenal faithful. It was a delightful moment in football and a fitting gesture from Wenger.

It was an emotional and positive end to a year of hell for the young striker and everyone connected with Arsenal will be delighted to see his contribution have such a positive effect on the team and the fans. Cardiff may have given a great account of themselves in the first game at Ninian Park 3 weeks ago, but today they were blown away by Arsenal and have their on loan goalkeeper Tom Heaton to thank for keeping the score at 4-0. Arsenal were rampant.

The nicest moment tonight was the hug Eduardo shared with the Arsenal medical staff after slotting the penalty home, a real touching gesture and one that was completely genuine. It was a heartwarming sight to see such joy on everyone’s faces and says so much about the player and his relationship with Gary Lewin and the rest of the medical team. There’s no doubt in my mind that Lewin’s prompt action at St Andrews last season saved Eduardo’s career along with the unsung assistance of Gilberto Silva’s role as translator as Eduardo, in his pain, could only speak in his native Portuguese. Silva kept Eduardo from passing out, talking to him, cajoling him, urging him to stay conscious. That hug summed up the immense respect that both men have for each other and it’s rare to see such mutual admiration and thanks these days in football.

The impact this return could have on the final weeks of the season cannot be underestimated for Arsenal now. There are 13 league games to go, Eduardo is back, Arshavin is primed to join the fray and with Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky pushing for returns before the end of the season, the confidence that seeing Eduardo back on a pitch can give Arsenal now is a massive and timely boost. Players will want to be back and share the feel good factor that seeing the Croat play competitively again has given whole camp and Arsene Wenger will know that you cannot buy the confidence such moments as tonight bring you. It is priceless and for Arsenals season, it cannot come soon enough. Do not rule out Arsenal of finishing in the top 4 just yet, the Eduardo factor has just begun and who knows where it could take Arsenal come May 24th.

Due to a variety of personal situations, it has been a while since I was able to write an update on the FA Cup though I have continued to follow each round. When last I wrote, I was following the fate of Bury. They lost to Southampton in the fourth round. Southampton went on to be upset by Bristol Rovers in the fifth round and Rovers were thrashed by West Bromich Albion in the sixth round.

I’ve been following West Brom’s fate in the Championship this season and have been hoping they will make it into the promotion mix. They play an up-tempo, entertaining brand of football under Tony Mowbray. The Baggies were narrowly edged out of promotion last season, losing the play-off final 1-0 to Derby County and I have to think they would have fared better in the Premier League than the Rams have thus far.

West Brom have a strong history in the FA Cup having won in 1888, 1892, 1931, 1954 and 1968 while also claiming the runners-up spot in 1886, 1887, 1895, 1912, and 1935.

Anyhow, West Brom are matched up against Premier League side Portsmouth, who are coming off an upset win over Manchester United in the last round. Portsmouth are favoured but I have every belief that West Brom can win this match. West Brom’s attack is lead by Championship Player of The Year Kevin Phillips, who currently has 22 goals despite being sidelined for six weeks with a knee injury.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp will be aware of the threat of Phillips, having worked with the ex-England international during his brief stint at Southampton. Phillips is far from the Baggie’s only threat. From the midfield, Zoltán Gera and Jonathan Greening are important in creating the scoring opportunities and nabbing the odd goal for themselves. Meanwhile, Roman Bednár (on loan from Hearts) has scored 15 goals in 23 appearances including the winning spot-kick in the penalty shootout against Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round.

Portsmouth are targeting their first post-war final. They won the FA Cup in 1939 and have the unusual distinction of holding the FA Cup for the longest uninterrupted period as the trophy wasn’t contested again until the 1945-46 season because league football was again suspended due to World War II. Pompey have reached the last four six times now and are looking toward a fourth appearance in the final (previous appearances in 1929, 1934 and 1939).

This is the first time in a century that only one top-flight club has qualified for the FA Cup semi-finals. West Bromwich can make history by knocking out Portsmouth, because that would guarantee an all-Championship final. It would be the first time since the league was formed in 1888, that both finalists had come from outside the top division.

The other semi-final features Barnsley and Cardiff City. The English FA site has a great article on Barnsley’s on-loan keeper Luke Steele. Steele, ironically enough, was sitting on the West Bromwich Albion bench as their third choice goalkeeper before receiving a call from Barnsley who were in need of an emergency loan due to injuries. Now, Steele finds himself at Wembley in a massive game for the South Yorkshire club.

Barnsley are also a former FA Cup winner, having claimed the prize in 1912 when they beat West Bromwich Albion. Like Portsmouth, Barnsley also hold a record of sorts having spent more seasons in the second tier of English football than any other club in history.

Barnsley have nurtured some fine talents over the years who have gone on to be successful at other clubs. The most notable of these is Tommy Taylor, who was a prolific goalscorer (26 goals in 44 appearances) for Barnsley in the early 1950s before moving on to win two league titles with Manchester United (as well as scoring 16 times in 19 England internationals). Tragically Taylor was killed in the Munich air disaster of 1958.

I’ve absolutely nothing against Cardiff City but I’m cheering for Barnsley in this match. After knocking out Liverpool at Anfield, Barnsley took on Chelsea and amazingly were able to repeat their giant-killing heroics once more to make it into the last four. Kayode Odejayi (pictured above) was Barnsley’s Cup hero against the holders Chelsea, and was been voted ‘Player of the Round’ after his goal caused a sensational upset at Oakwell and put the Tykes in the semis.

Cardiff City are looking to capture the FA Cup for the first time in 81 years and some of the numbers favour the Wales-based club making it to the final. This season’s league fixture at the Oakwell was a 1-1 draw. Cardiff did the double over Barnsley last season and the South Yorkshire club have not beaten the Welshmen since a home league victory back in November 2002.

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler are the two big names Cardiff can call upon but also have a number of other dependable players like Darren Purse, Trevor Sinclair and Kevin McNaughton.

I don’t expect this match to be a classic display of football as both are struggling but it should be a passionate battle nonetheless. The Tykes enter the weekend with only goal difference keeping them out of the Championship relegation zone. The Bluebirds are in mid-table in the Championship, 10 points better off than Barnsley.

In recent years the talk of “magic” surrounding the FA Cup rung a little hollow but it is certainly back this year and it has been a thrilling ride. Who’ll be at Wembley for the final? We’ll know after this weekend.

Enjoy the matches!