FOOTBALL fever has gripped the Fylde as fans' heroes Blackpool FC head for Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and their biggest game for years.

By last night (Wednesday May 23) more than 10,000 Tangerine dreamers had snapped up tickets for Saturday's (May 26) Division Three Play-Off Final with Leyton Orient.

Packed trains, coaches, cars -- and even three planes -- will leave the resort for the journey to the Welsh capital and, hopefully, a date with promotion.

Meanwhile, fans who have not yet bought tickets need to move quickly. The deadline for sales is 3pm tomorrow (Friday May 25). And the 15,000 allocation may sell out before then, say club sources.

The players themselves have trained every day this week and will travel south tomorrow. When they arrive, manager Steve McMahon will take them on to the famous pitch to get their bearings.

Meanwhile, Tangerine fans who cannot face the prospect of the long haul to Cardiff will fly out of the resort's airport aboard three flights which have been laid on specially for them.

Instead of four hours-plus on the road or by rail, the airborne supporters will make the trip in just 45 minutes.

One flight will be by BAe 146 jet, while the others will be by Platinum Air, who normally operate from Squires Gate to London.

Said Blackpool Airport's managing director Garry Eastwood: "We are very pleased to see so many fans taking to the air to follow their team."

And if you can't make the trip, Sky will be televising the game. Coverage starts at 2pm, with kick-off at 3pm.