On Bank Holiday Sunday, May 29, 2005, Pools were just eight minutes from the unchartered waters of football’s second tier when a controversial penalty turned the League One play-off final decidedly against them.
With centre-back Chris Westwood harshly dismissed for fouling Drew Talbot, opponents Sheffield Wednesday levelled from the spot before eventually triumphing 4-2 in extra-time against caretaker boss Martin Scott’s weary 10 men.
Second-half goals from strikers Eifion Williams and Jon Daly had earlier given Pools - roared on by nearly 17,000 fans at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium - a deserved lead against their big-city rivals.
Re-live the drama of the day – on and off the pitch – with our gallery of images, via Frank Reid.
1. Pools fans full of hope
Pools fans packed the stands before kick-off in Cardiff. Photo: Frank Reid
2. All set for the big game.
Martin Scott leads the Pools team out at Cardiff. Photo: Frank Reid
