BLACKPOOL'S love affair with the LDV Vans Trophy really kicked off in 2002 - as Town fans will remember with anguish.

That was the year they went through to the Millennium Stadium showpiece by beating Town with a `Golden Goal' in the northern final at the then McAlpine Stadium.

Town had lost 3-1 in the first leg in Blackpool where Scott Taylor, who has been a huge scoring success ever since, scored his first goal for the club.

In the return fixture, Town played superbly and drew level with a Clyde Wijnhard penalty and a cracking volley from Danny Schofield, who had also netted at Bloomfield Road, but in sudden-death extra-time, it was Martin Bullock who sent Blackpool marching all the way to Cardiff.

They had an easy 4-1 victory against Cambridge United in the final and, despite being knocked out the following season in the second round by Crewe, they returned to win the trophy again last season.

This time Southend suffered in the final, losing 2-0, as Blackpool netted another £200,000 from their exploits in the competition.

That money was put to good use in the summer when they signed defender Peter Clarke from Everton, and England Under 21 cap they had been chasing for two years.