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Vital Football Legend
Blackpool’s 2010 Championship promotion squad: Where are they now?
It has been seven years since Blackpool defied the odds and gained promotion to the Premier League under Ian Holloway after a 3-2 Wembley win over Cardiff City.
They endured a brief season in the top flight before they were relegated back to the Championship in 2011. Since then, they have been poorly treated by their owners, the Oyston family, and have free fallen down the leagues. Nevertheless, they were promoted to League One last season under Gary Bowyer and look to be on the right track again.
2009/10 was a golden year for the Tangerines, here is where their heroes of the 2010 Championship Play-Off final are now.
Goalkeeper
In goal for the final, Blackpool had Scottish shot-stopper Matt Gilks. He played 186 games for the Tangerines, before moving to Burnley in 2014. Now 35, Gilks is currently playing for Sc***horpe United in League One. Since leaving Blackpool, Gilks had spells at Burnley, Rangers and Wigan Athletic before joining The Iron in the summer of 2017.
Defenders
Republic of Ireland international Seamus Coleman played right-back for Blackpool that day. He was on loan from Premier League side Everton, where he remains today. He has played over 200 games for Everton since the Play-Off final and 43 games for his country, of whom he represented at Euro 2016 in France. On the opposite side of the defence, Stephen Crainey lined up for the Tangerines. The now 36-year-old has now retired from the game and is currently an academy coach with League One side Fleetwood Town. Since leaving Blackpool in 2014, he went on to play for Wigan, Fleetwood and his last spell as a footballer was with non-league AFC Fylde last season.
In the centre of defence, Ian Evatt captained the side. He now plays for League Two side Chesterfield at the age of 35. He left Blackpool in 2013 after making over 200 appearances, scoring 9 goals. Alongside him was Alex Baptiste, a well-travelled defender who has spent most of his career for clubs in the Championship. Now 31, Baptiste now plays for Queens Park Rangers after he teamed up with Ian Holloway, now manager of the Loftus Road club, once again. Since leaving Blackpool in 2013, Baptiste has gone on to play for Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Preston and now QPR.
Midfield
In midfield, Blackpool went for a midfield three with the formation 4-3-3. Firstly, Wales international David Vaughan played on the right. He is now 34 years-old and plays for Nottingham Forest in the Championship. Since leaving Blackpool he had a spell with Sunderland in the Premier League before joining Forest in 2014, where he has been since. Alongside him was Keith Southern, who has now retired from football. Now 36 he spent 10 years with Blackpool before eventually leaving in 2012 to sign for Huddersfield Town. He ended his career in 2015 after a short spell with Fleetwood. The final player in midfield was probably the best player in the side, Charlie Adam. The Scotland international now plays for Stoke City in the Premier League after leaving Blackpool to join Liverpool in 2011.
Forwards
At the top end of the pitch, Blackpool lined up with Brett Ormerod, DJ Campbell, and Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Ormerod retired in January 2016 aged 39. His last spell as a player was with non-league Bamber Bridge. The striker played over 500 games in his career. DJ Campbell partnered him and he is now 35 years-old and without a club. He last played for Maidenhead United in 2016. Since leaving Blackpool, Campbell played for QPR and Blackburn. Finally, experienced forward Gary Taylor-Fletcher makes up the starting XI. He is now player-manager of Bangor City, having played for Tranmere Rovers last season.
It has been seven years since Blackpool defied the odds and gained promotion to the Premier League under Ian Holloway after a 3-2 Wembley win over Cardiff City.
They endured a brief season in the top flight before they were relegated back to the Championship in 2011. Since then, they have been poorly treated by their owners, the Oyston family, and have free fallen down the leagues. Nevertheless, they were promoted to League One last season under Gary Bowyer and look to be on the right track again.
2009/10 was a golden year for the Tangerines, here is where their heroes of the 2010 Championship Play-Off final are now.
Goalkeeper
In goal for the final, Blackpool had Scottish shot-stopper Matt Gilks. He played 186 games for the Tangerines, before moving to Burnley in 2014. Now 35, Gilks is currently playing for Sc***horpe United in League One. Since leaving Blackpool, Gilks had spells at Burnley, Rangers and Wigan Athletic before joining The Iron in the summer of 2017.
Defenders
Republic of Ireland international Seamus Coleman played right-back for Blackpool that day. He was on loan from Premier League side Everton, where he remains today. He has played over 200 games for Everton since the Play-Off final and 43 games for his country, of whom he represented at Euro 2016 in France. On the opposite side of the defence, Stephen Crainey lined up for the Tangerines. The now 36-year-old has now retired from the game and is currently an academy coach with League One side Fleetwood Town. Since leaving Blackpool in 2014, he went on to play for Wigan, Fleetwood and his last spell as a footballer was with non-league AFC Fylde last season.
In the centre of defence, Ian Evatt captained the side. He now plays for League Two side Chesterfield at the age of 35. He left Blackpool in 2013 after making over 200 appearances, scoring 9 goals. Alongside him was Alex Baptiste, a well-travelled defender who has spent most of his career for clubs in the Championship. Now 31, Baptiste now plays for Queens Park Rangers after he teamed up with Ian Holloway, now manager of the Loftus Road club, once again. Since leaving Blackpool in 2013, Baptiste has gone on to play for Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Preston and now QPR.
Midfield
In midfield, Blackpool went for a midfield three with the formation 4-3-3. Firstly, Wales international David Vaughan played on the right. He is now 34 years-old and plays for Nottingham Forest in the Championship. Since leaving Blackpool he had a spell with Sunderland in the Premier League before joining Forest in 2014, where he has been since. Alongside him was Keith Southern, who has now retired from football. Now 36 he spent 10 years with Blackpool before eventually leaving in 2012 to sign for Huddersfield Town. He ended his career in 2015 after a short spell with Fleetwood. The final player in midfield was probably the best player in the side, Charlie Adam. The Scotland international now plays for Stoke City in the Premier League after leaving Blackpool to join Liverpool in 2011.
Forwards
At the top end of the pitch, Blackpool lined up with Brett Ormerod, DJ Campbell, and Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Ormerod retired in January 2016 aged 39. His last spell as a player was with non-league Bamber Bridge. The striker played over 500 games in his career. DJ Campbell partnered him and he is now 35 years-old and without a club. He last played for Maidenhead United in 2016. Since leaving Blackpool, Campbell played for QPR and Blackburn. Finally, experienced forward Gary Taylor-Fletcher makes up the starting XI. He is now player-manager of Bangor City, having played for Tranmere Rovers last season.
