Blackpool will get a reminder of life in the Premier League when they return to the Amex.

Which is ironic in a way.

Because it was the Seasiders in tangerine who arguably offered the Seagulls their first taste of Prem quality when they moved in at the Amex.

Blackpool are mid-table in League One as they head south in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Almost a decade ago, they were the third visitors to the Amex in league or cup.

But it felt like a first taste of the sort of circles in which Gus Poyet and his side were hoping to mix.

Just a few weeks earlier, Blackpool had been entertaining all observers in the Prem.

They did the double over Liverpool, beat Tottenham– and almost stayed up after going ahead at Old Trafford on the final day.

Boss Ian Holloway had kept key components of that team, such as Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Ian Evatt, Matt Phillips and goalkeeper Matt Gilkes.

He had added Scottish international midfielder Barry Ferguson and, crucially, goal-getter Kevin Phillips, who had turned down an offer from Albion boss Poyet over the summer.

Their tangerine-clad fans were noisy in the away section and contributed to a colourful spectacle in the August sunshine.

This was what Albion had moved to the Amex for, why they had won promotion to Championship.

It felt like a big game and a big occasion – Albion with three wins out of three to their name and Blackpool with two.

The hosts continued to ride the crest of a wave as, with Craig Noone in dazzling form, they went ahead through Craig Mackail-Smith.

Ashley Barnes made it 2-0 in the second half and the roof was raised.

In The Argus on Monday, I asked: “How good was that ten-minute spell immediately after Ashley Barnes’ goal?

“Albion were rampant and their fans in full voice. That is what life at The Amex was supposed to be like.

“Then Kevin Phillips headed a goal out of the blue and it was game on again. Welcome to the Championship.”

Or welcome to top-flight quality, certainly in the case of Phillips in front of goal.

Albion had become very used to winning and, in that summer of 2011, it felt they could do no wrong.

Then, on 90 minutes, Phillips taught them about the unforgiving nature of the higher levels when he scored a close-range equaliser from a corner.

It was the sort of game Albion had routinely gone on to win back in League One.

But this was the bigger league and Phillips spoke afterwards about Blackpool pushing for a Prem return.

That, of course, did not happen.

Still, it felt like we had been given a glimpse of what elite life was like.

A glimpse that was not offered in the previous two competitive matches at the new stadium, versus Doncaster and Gillingham.

This was quite clearly a step up in challenge.

Noone summed that up as he said of the 2-2 draw: “We were disappointed with the result but that shows how far we have come.

“To get a point from a team that has just come down from the Premiership isn’t bad really but we feel like we’ve lost three points.”

It is hard to express to younger or more recent fans just what a test it felt back then to take on Blackpool at that time.

Or to play Ipswich at Portman Road, where Albion were swept aside by three goals after going ahead.

It is easy to forget what an epic it felt a year later as Albion battled with Bolton and clung to what felt like it would be a famous win – until David Ngog levelled with almost the final kick.

Changing times indeed - and, at least where Blackpool are concerned, some colourful memories of those early and exciting days at the Amex.