In looking back to the FA Cup final in 1948, we spoke to former Pool defender Hugh Kelly about his recollections of the game.

Kelly, now 84, was a key figure in the Blackpool side from 1943-60 and became club captain from the '55-56 season onwards.

He played alongside Stanley Matthews, Stan Mortensen and Eddie Shimwell against Manchester United at Wembley and remembers it as a 'wonderful' day.

"It was wonderful from my own point of view that I lived the great journey to Wembley," Kelly said. "That's all that fascinated me, and the good crowd of players that I played with, they were lovely.

"It was great to be here and great to play there and I have good memories of the first cup final that I ever took part in. It was really great."

The Tangerines went in at half-time 2-1 up in the final but Hughie says not for one second did the team believe they had already won.

"It never entered our head," he said. "We just thought we would play the game until it was finished, and if we were lucky enough to win it, great stuff. It was a great thing for Blackpool and all concerned.

"I know I took great delight in being there. It was a wonderful day, lovely sunshine and I found out later it was enjoyed by so many people that it stuck in my memory as the best cup final that I ever played in and the players I played against also. It was a day out that I will never forget," he added.

When asked which United players stood out to him on the day, Kelly replied: "They were all good. There was no question about that. When we all got together afterwards we realised that we'd played at the sacred ground of Wembley and we were lucky enough to take part in it.

"The players of United were so well known in them days that we knew we had something on our plate, but it turned out to be that it hadn't been for us on that particular day. But every individual player, including United, had a thoroughly good day together."

Hughie Kelly was a major part of Blackpool's history in getting to all three FA Cup finals in the space of eight years. Unfortunately for the Scot, after playing in the '48 and '51 losses, he missed out on playing in the '53 final victory through injury.

"The third one I was injured and I didn't take part in that. The second one against Newcastle United, again, is something I had never forgot. It was great to play against Newcastle because they had some great names, and in those days, if I must say so, most of the teams were great."

Despite missing the '53 final, Kelly was pleased to see his teammates and manager finally win the competition.

"It was wonderful to see the winning goal going in on another lovely day and at last Joe Smith had got his medal, Stanley Matthews had, everyone had.

"Blackpool never forgot that they had won the '53 final - the name was down in history."

Luckily for Hugh, the FA agreed to produce a special winners medal for him and teammate Allan Brown, something he is very thankful for.

"They struck one for myself and Allan Brown, which we thought was a great thing to do, and it was very nice of the FA to have done it for two reserves," he said. "Allan didn't take part in '53 either because he had been injured in the sixth round of the cup and broke his leg scoring a goal against Arsenal I think it was."

Kelly finished his recollections of his cup final memories by stating that Stan Mortensen was 'a wonderful chap' and that his own days with the club 'were really great'.