Reid, who was relegated from the Premier League with the Hammers a year earlier, played the full 90 minutes at centre back as nearly 80,000 fans watched the London side book their return to England’s top flight at Wembley.
The victors went ahead in the 35th minute when Matt Taylor picked out Carlton Cole with a cross from the left and the striker controlled before firing home across goal.
That gave West Ham a vital stranglehold in a match dubbed ‘the richest in football’ due to the financial rewards on offer in the lucrative Premier League.
But Blackpool were in no mood to roll over and took the game to West Ham from the outset of the second half, earning a fitting reward in the 48th minute through Tom Ince, son of former Hammers and Manchester United midfielder Paul.
But Reid and his team mates would not be denied and finally secured their return to the premiership with only three minutes left on the clock, Ricardo Vaz Te drilling the ball into the net from close range after a goalmouth scramble.
The spoils of victory are estimated to be at least £90million, largely due to television revenues associated with the hugely popular Premier League.
West Ham were relegated at the end of last season and hired former Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce to get themselves back to the top table.
“It’s everything to me,” Allardyce said.
“It was difficult at the start to turn the club around with the relegation problem we’ve had but we came good at the end. I’ll look forward to the celebrations first before I start worrying about the Premier League.
“We’re just delighted about how much it means at West Ham for the players, the owners, the staff and the 30 or 40,000 fans here.”

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