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 with our second gallery of images from the weekend, via Frank Reid.
13. Pools fans enjoying the pre-match build-up
The glory days as Pools go close to winning promotion to the Championship. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid
14. Family fun!
Fans wore club colours, took flags and wore hats. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid
15. These trumpets helped bring the noise!
Who can remember the atmosphere inside the stadium that day? It was electric. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid
16. Nice hats!
This trio are all set for the big game. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid