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.
21. Thousands made the journey down
Pre-match drinks to calm the nerves. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid
22. Fans in the stand
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. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid
23. Calm before the storm.
Pools fans were in good spirits ahead of kick-off | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid
24. Superb support
It wasn't to be but the memories will last a lifetime. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Frank Reid