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.
13. Pools fans cheer on the team.
The Pools fans cheer on the team in the warm Cardiff sunshine. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid
14. Getting his message across
Martin Scott has a word with his Pools players. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid
15. Thousands made the trip down
Pools were backed by a crowd of 17,000 fans. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid
16. Showing their colours
These Pools fans enjoyed their day out. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid