Blackpool F.C.

Blackpool Football Club is a professional association football club based in the seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. The team compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1887, the club played home games at Raikes Hall and the Athletic Grounds before moving to Bloomfield Road in 1901. Blackpool has a local rivalry with Preston North End, and matches between the two clubs are known as the West Lancashire derby.[2] More recently a Fylde Coast derby has developed with nearby Football League newcomers Fleetwood Town.

Blackpool F.C.
Full nameBlackpool Football Club
Nickname(s)The Seasiders, The 'Pool, The Tangerines
Founded26 July 1887 (1887-07-26)[1]
GroundBloomfield Road
Capacity16,616
OwnerSimon Sadler
Head coachNeil Critchley
LeagueLeague One
2019–20League One, 13th of 23
WebsiteClub website

The club were founder members of the Lancashire League in 1889 and were invited into the Football League Second Division in 1896. They failed re-election in 1899 but had their Football League membership reinstated the following year. Blackpool remained in the Second Division until they won the league title in 1929–30, though they were relegated after three seasons in the First Division. Promoted again in 1936–37, the club entered a golden period under the stewardship of long-time manager Joe Smith. Blackpool lost the 1948 and 1951 FA Cup finals before winning the competition in 1953, in the so-called "Matthews Final", in which they beat Bolton Wanderers 4–3, overturning a 3–1 deficit in the closing stages of the game. That same year, four Blackpool players were in the England team which lost against Hungary at Wembley.[1][3] In the 1950s they had four top-six finishes in the First Division, with their best position being runners-up to Manchester United in 1955–56. In 1956, Stanley Matthews was the inaugural recipient of the Ballon d'Or.[4]

Blackpool were relegated out of the First Division in 1967 and again in 1971 after winning promotion in 1969–70. They dropped into the fourth tier after suffering relegations in 1978 and 1981, then gained promotion in 1984–85. Between 1987 and 2019, the club was owned by the Oyston family. Nine years after buying the club, Owen Oyston was jailed for the 1992 rape and indecent assault of a 16-year-old girl.[5] His wife, Vicki, took over the chairmanship of the club during her husband's three-year prison term. The couple's son, Karl, took over in 1999 and remained in the role for 19 years. In 2018, after the Oyston family was found, in a High Court judgement, to have operated an "illegitimate stripping" of the club, paying out £26.77 million to companies they owned, Owen relieved Karl of his role and gave it to his daughter, Natalie. In June 2019, Simon Sadler, a 49-year-old Blackpool-born businessman, bought a 96.2% share in the club,[6] completely removing the Oyston family from any involvement.[7]

During the long years of Oyston ownership, Blackpool were relegated into the fourth tier in 1990, promoted via the play-offs in 1992, then relegated again in 2000. Blackpool then gradually reached the Premier League after becoming the first club to gain promotion from every division of the Football League via the play-off system; they won the 2001 Third Division play-offs, 2007 League One play-offs and the 2010 Championship play-offs. They spent just the one season in the Premier League under the stewardship of Ian Holloway and later suffered a double relegation into League Two by 2016, though gained immediate promotion by winning the 2017 League Two play-off final.

History
Further information on this topic: History of Blackpool F.C. (1887–1962) and History of Blackpool F.C. (1962–present)
For Blackpool's season-by-season statistics, see List of Blackpool F.C. seasons.
A graph displaying Blackpool's finishing positions in the Football League from 1896 to the present

Formation and early years (1877–1900)

Football had developed in Blackpool by 1877, when Victoria F.C. were founded as a church club with a ground in Caunce Street. This team disbanded a few years later but some of its members are understood to have merged with old boys from St John's School to form a new club called Blackpool St John's. The two factions remained disunited, however, and on 26 July 1887, at a meeting in the Stanley Arms public house, the members resolved to wind up St John's and form a new club to represent the whole town. It was named Blackpool Football Club.

The new club managed to win two pieces of silverware in its first season in existence, 1887–88: the Fylde Cup and the Lancashire Junior Cup.

At the conclusion of the following 1888–89 season, Blackpool became founder members of the Lancashire League. In their first season in the competition, the club finished fifth out of the 13 member clubs. They finished as runners-up over the following three seasons (to Bury twice and Liverpool once), before winning the championship themselves on their fourth attempt.

Blackpool's home at that point in time was Raikes Hall (also known as the Royal Palace Gardens), which was part of a large entertainment complex that included a theatre and a boating lake, amongst other attractions. This meant that the club's average attendances were around the 2,000 mark, making the club's formative years a financial success.[1]

After struggling to repeat the success of the 1893–94 season, the Blackpool board decided it was time to leave local football behind, so on 13 May 1896 the club became a limited company and applied for entry to the Football League.

Their application was successful, and for the club's debut season, 1896–97, they joined the 16-team Second Division. Blackpool's first-ever Football League game took place on 5 September 1896, at Lincoln City, which they lost 3–1 in front of around 1,500 spectators.[1][8]

For the 1897–98 campaign, the club played their home games at the Athletic Grounds (at the present-day Stanley Park). They remained there for the first seven home games of 1898–99, before returning to Raikes Hall for the remaining 10.

After finishing third-bottom, the club were not re-elected at the end of the 1898–99 season, and spent the 1899–1900 term back in the Lancashire League. They finished third, and after the Football League's annual meeting, on 25 May 1900, were permitted back into Division Two. It was during this season out of the League that Blackpool amalgamated with local rivals South Shore and moved to Bloomfield Road.

Early 20th century (1900–1946)

During the 10 seasons that followed, Blackpool could finish no higher than 12th place. The club's top goalscorers in the league included Bob Birket (10 goals in 1900–01), Geordie Anderson (12 goals in 1901–02) and Bob Whittingham (13 in 1908–09).

At the end of 1910–11, the club found themselves in seventh place, thanks largely to Joe Clennell's haul of 18 goals.

It was a case of as-you-were, however, for the four seasons leading up to the First World War, with finishing positions of 14th, 20th, 16th and 10th. For the last of those seasons, Joe Lane netted 28 goals.

The outbreak of war forced the cancellation of League football for four years, during which time regional competitions were introduced. When normality resumed, in 1919–20, Blackpool had appointed their first full-time manager in the form of Bill Norman. Norman guided the club to fourth-placed finishes in his first two league seasons in charge (he was installed as manager during the final inter-war season), with Lane again netting close to 30 goals in the former.

The club's form nosedived in the 1921–22 season, with a finishing position of 19th, before bouncing back to a fifth-placed finish the following campaign. Harry Bedford, who had joined the club from Nottingham Forest, was the country's top league scorer, with 32 goals to his name.

Bedford repeated the feat the following season, this time under the watchful eye of new manager Frank Buckley, who replaced Bill Norman after his four years of service. Blackpool finished fourth in Buckley's first season in charge.

The 1924–25 season was not as successful; a 17th-placed finish tempered only slightly by the club's reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time. A single-goal defeat at fellow Lancastrians Blackburn Rovers ended the Seasiders' run.

Buckley guided Blackpool to top-10 finishes in his final two seasons as manager – with Billy Tremelling's 30 goals in the latter helping considerably – before he left to take the helm at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Buckley's replacement was Sydney Beaumont, who took charge for the 1927–28 season, but he lasted only until the spring after the club finished in 19th position.

Harry Evans was installed as the new Blackpool manager, in an honorary capacity, for the 1928–29 campaign. Due in no small part to Jimmy Hampson's 40 goals, the club finished eighth. In his second season, Evans guided Blackpool to the Division Two championship (their only championship to date), finishing ahead of promotion rivals Chelsea and Oldham Athletic by three and four points respectively. Hampson had bagged 45 of the club's 98 league goals.

Blackpool lasted only three seasons in the First Division. Two third-bottom finishes were followed by a last-placed finish, and the club returned to the Second Division.

The club's relegation prompted the Blackpool board to install a recognised manager, and they opted for Sandy MacFarlane. MacFarlane occupied the Bloomfield Road hot seat for just two seasons, in which the club finished 11th and fourth. MacFarlane's final season, 1934–35, marked Jimmy Hampson's eighth successive (and final) season as Blackpool's top League goalscorer.

Joe Smith was appointed Blackpool's sixth manager in August 1935, a role in which he remained for the next 23 years.

The club finished 10th in Smith's first season, with Bobby Finan taking over from Hampson as top scorer, with 34 goals. It was Smith's second season in charge, however, that marked the starting point of the success to come. Blackpool finished the 1936–37 season as runners-up in the Second Division to Leicester City and were promoted back to the First Division.

Two seasons of Division One football were played before the Second World War intervened. Blackpool sat atop the table at the time the abandonment occurred.[9] Regional competitions were implemented again between 1939 and 1945. For the 1945–46 season, after the war's conclusion, Blackpool spent one season in the Football League North.

Post-Second World War (1946–1967)
Sparta Rotterdam vs. Blackpool, August 1957

Scottish defender Hugh Kelly had arrived at Blackpool in 1943, as had fellow defender Tommy Garrett in 1942. Forward Stan Mortensen joined the club after the war in 1946. Mortensen went on to become Blackpool's top League goalscorer for the next nine seasons, sharing the honour with Allan Brown in 1952–53. Stanley Matthews, who became a regular source of goals for Mortensen, joined Blackpool in 1947, as did centre-forward Jackie Mudie. Goalkeeper George Farm signed in 1948, followed by outside-left Bill Perry in 1949. Kelly, Garrett, Matthews, Mudie, Farm and Perry would play with the club throughout the 1950s, the most successful decade in the club's history.

Post-war Blackpool reached the FA Cup Final on three occasions, losing to Manchester United in 1948 and Newcastle United three years later, and winning it in 1953, captained by Harry Johnston.

For the first and only time in the club's history, four Blackpool players (Johnston, Matthews, Mortensen and debutant Ernie Taylor) represented England in the infamous 6–3 defeat by Hungary at Wembley on 25 November 1953. Of the four, only Matthews would ever represent his country again.

In 1955–56, and now captained by Kelly, Blackpool attained their highest-ever finish in the Football League: runners-up to Manchester United, despite losing their final four league games. It was a feat that could not be matched or bettered over the following two seasons, with fourth and seventh-placed finishes, and Smith left Blackpool as the club's most successful and longest-serving manager.

Smith was succeeded, in May 1958, by Ron Suart, the first former Tangerine to return to the club as manager. In his first season, he led the club to eighth in the First Division and the sixth round of the FA Cup. A 23-year-old Ray Charnley topped the club's goalscoring chart with 20, in his first season as a professional, and went on to repeat the feat for seven of the eight seasons that followed.

The League Cup came into existence in 1960–61. Blackpool were knocked out in the second round, the round in which they entered. The club's First Division status came under threat, but they managed to avoid relegation by one point, at the expense of Newcastle United. Local arch-rivals Preston North End were the other club to make the drop.

In October 1961, Matthews, now aged 46, was sold back to Stoke City. Mid-table finishes in 1961–62 and 1962–63 (and an appearance in the League Cup semi-finals during the former) were offset by another lowly finish of 18th in 1963–64, with Alan Ball top-scoring with 13 goals. Much of the same ensued over the following two seasons, before relegation finally occurred in 1966–67. Blackpool finished bottom of the table, eight points adrift of fellow demotion victims Aston Villa. Suart had resigned four months before the end of the season. His replacement was another former Blackpool player, Stan Mortensen.

Late 20th century (1967–2000)
1971 Anglo-Italian Cup winners Blackpool F.C.

Mortensen picked up the pieces for the club's first season back in the Second Division in 30 years, guiding them to a third-placed finish. They had gone into the final game of the season at Huddersfield Town knowing that a win would likely secure a return to the First Division. They won 3–1, but once the premature celebrations had ended, they discovered that their nearest rivals, Queens Park Rangers, had scored a last-minute winner at Aston Villa. Q.P.R. were promoted by virtue of a better goal-average: 1.86, to Blackpool's 1.65.

At the end of the following 1968–69 campaign, the Blackpool board made the decision to sack Mortensen after just over two years in the job. Their decision was met by fans with shock and anger, as Mortensen was as popular a manager as he was a player.[1]

Les Shannon, who spent the majority of his playing career with Blackpool's Lancashire rivals Burnley, was installed as manager for the 1969–70 season. In his first season, he succeeded where Mortensen had failed, by guiding the club back to the top flight as runners-up behind Huddersfield Town. Their promotion had been sealed after the penultimate game of the season, a 3–0 victory at rivals Preston North End, courtesy of a Fred Pickering hat-trick. The result effectively relegated the hosts to the Third Division.

As quickly as Shannon had taken Blackpool up, he saw them return whence they came. The club finished at the foot of the table and were relegated back to Division Two, along with Burnley. Before the season's conclusion, Shannon was briefly replaced in a caretaker-manager capacity by Jimmy Meadows, who in turn was permanently replaced by Bob Stokoe. On 12 June 1971, well over a month after the conclusion of the League season, Blackpool won the Anglo-Italian Cup with a 2–1 victory over Bologna in the final. This was achieved without the services of Jimmy Armfield, who retired in May after 17 years and 627 appearances for the club.

Blackpool finished amongst the top 10 teams in the Second Division for six consecutive seasons, under three different managers: Stokoe, Harry Potts and Allan Brown. Twice Blackpool narrowly missed promotion to Division One, by two points in 1974 and one point in 1977.

In February 1978, midway through 1977–78, Brown's second season at the helm, Blackpool were seventh in the division. Having just beaten local rivals Blackburn Rovers 5–2, Brown was sacked by chairman Billy Cartmell for personal reasons. The team won only one more game that season, which ended with their relegation to the Division Three for the first time in their history.

On 1 April 1978, with six games to go, Blackpool were in eighth place, nine points off the third relegation slot. On 25 April, with one game to go, Blackpool were 14th, three points above Cardiff City in the third relegation slot. Four days later, Blackpool completed their programme and were 16th with 37 points – two points clear of Leyton Orient in the third relegation slot, with a vastly superior goal difference (−1, which was four better than fifth-placed Blackburn Rovers). At that point, all the teams below Blackpool still had games to play, apart from bottom placed Hull City. The bottom of the Division Two table read:

Position Team Played Points
16Blackpool4237
17Charlton Athletic4137
18Millwall4136
19Cardiff City4036
20Leyton Orient4035
21Mansfield Town4131
22Hull City4228

The only other team in the division with games to play was Notts County, in 14th place with 38 points.

After Millwall achieved safety by beating already-relegated Mansfield Town, the three remaining fixtures were Cardiff City v. Notts County, Leyton Orient v. Charlton Athletic, and Cardiff City v. Leyton Orient. Only one combination from the 27 possible outcomes of those three games would have resulted in all three teams getting more than 37 points and Blackpool being relegated. Inevitably, Cardiff City beat Notts County, Leyton Orient drew with Charlton and, in the final match, Leyton Orient, who up to that point had only won one away game all season, and had lost six out of their previous eight away games, with no wins, beat now-safe Cardiff City, who had lost only two home games all season and had won six out of their previous seven homes games, with no defeats. Blackpool were relegated with 37 points (the seven teams above them all having 38 ), and were not to return to the second tier for 29 years:

Position Team Played Points
16Millwall4238
17Charlton Athletic4238
18Bristol Rovers4238
19Cardiff City4238
20Blackpool4237
21Mansfield Town4231
22Hull City4228

Bob Stokoe returned for a second stint as manager for the 1978–79 campaign, at the end of which Blackpool finished mid-table. Stokoe resigned during the summer.

Stan Ternent became Blackpool's seventh manager in nine years, only to be replaced in February 1980 by Alan Ball, the popular former Blackpool midfielder who left the club for Everton 14 years earlier. Ball himself only lasted a year in the job, and departed when the club were relegated to the League's basement division.

Allan Brown had taken over from Ball in February 1981, and he remained in charge for the following 1981–82 term. Blackpool finished twelfth in their first season in Division Four; however, unable to handle the pressure of the job,[1] Brown resigned during the close season.

Sam Ellis took over from Brown in June 1982, three years after he finished his playing career with Watford. His first season saw Blackpool finish 21st, with Dave Bamber topping the club's goalscoring chart for the second consecutive season with 10 strikes.

It was Ellis's third season, however, that brought the success the club had been looking for. Blackpool finished second behind Chesterfield and were back in Division Three.

The club managed to finish in the top half of the table for their first three seasons in the Third Division, but slipped to 19th in Ellis's seventh and final season in charge.

On 17 April 1986, the board of directors put the club on the market after councillors rejected plans to sell Bloomfield Road for a supermarket site in a £35 million redevelopment scheme. The club was then sold to Owen Oyston for £1.

For the 1989–90 season, Blackpool appointed Jimmy Mullen as manager. Mullen's reign last only 11 months, however, and he left the club after their relegation back to Division Four.

Graham Carr replaced Mullen, but his spell in the manager's seat was even shorter – just four months. He was sacked in November 1990 with Blackpool in 18th place.

Carr's replacement was his assistant, Billy Ayre. Ayre guided the team to a fifth-placed finish and qualification for the play-offs. They lost only five of their 30 league games that remained at the time of Ayre's appointment. The run included 13 consecutive home league wins in an eventual 24–game unbeaten run at Bloomfield Road.[1] The run was extended to 15 consecutive home wins at the start of the 1991–92 campaign, which remains the club record.

After beating Scunthorpe United in the two-legged semi-finals of the play-offs, Blackpool lost to Torquay United in the Wembley final, on penalties after the score was tied 2–2 after regular and extra time.

The following 1991–92 season finished with Blackpool in fourth place, missing out on automatic promotion by one point, which meant another play-offs experience. This time they met Barnet in the semi-finals and won 2–1 on aggregate. They returned to Wembley, where they faced Scunthorpe United in the final, the team they knocked out of the play-offs 12 months earlier. Again the score was tied at the end of regular and extra time, but Blackpool were victorious in the penalty shootout and booked their place in the new Division Two.

Blackpool struggled in their first term back in the third tier of English football but pulled to safety in 18th place by the end. In late 1993 they were as high as fourth but tumbled down the table in the second half of that season to miss the drop by a whisker in 20th, avoiding relegation by virtue of a 4–1 victory over Leyton Orient on the final day of the season.[10] Ayre was sacked in the summer of 1994 and was replaced by Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce led Blackpool to a mid-table finish in his first season and saw the club knocked out of both cup competitions at the first hurdle. Tony Ellis was the club's top scorer with 17 league goals.

The 1995–96 season saw Blackpool finish third and claim a place in the play-offs for the third time in six seasons. In the semi-finals, Blackpool travelled to Bradford City and won 2–0. Three days later, they hosted the Yorkshiremen at Bloomfield Road and lost 3–0. Blackpool remained in Division Two, and Allardyce was sacked not long afterwards.

In 1996, owner Oyston was convicted of the rape of a 16-year-old girl.[11] Former Norwich City manager Gary Megson replaced Allardyce, and attained a seventh-placed finish in his only season in charge. Nigel Worthington succeeded Megson in the summer of 1997, and in the Northern Irishman's two full campaigns in the hot seat, Blackpool finished 12th and 14th. Worthington resigned towards the end of the 1999–2000 season, and his seat was filled by the former Liverpool and England midfielder Steve McMahon.

Rise to the Premier League (2001–2010)
Bloomfield Road, Blackpool's home since 1899, during its reconstruction phase in the early part of the 21st century. This view is looking north

McMahon arrived too late to save the club from relegation to the Third Division (fourth tier) after a 22nd-placed finish in the table. In his first full season in charge, Blackpool were promoted to Division Two by winning the play-offs. The following season the club received its then record outgoing transfer fee; £1.75million from Southampton for Brett Ormerod, eclipsing the £600,000 QPR paid for Trevor Sinclair eight years earlier. They also gained the first of two Football League Trophy wins in 2002 as Blackpool beat Cambridge United 4–1 at the Millennium Stadium. Their second win was in 2004, this time beating Southend United 2–0 again in Cardiff. In the summer following the Trophy win, McMahon resigned, believing he could not take the club any further with the budget he was being offered. Colin Hendry became the new manager, but was replaced by Simon Grayson in November 2005 after an unsuccessful stint which left Blackpool languishing just above the relegation zone of League One (third tier).

In the 2006–07 FA Cup Blackpool reached the fourth round for the first time in 17 years, after beating Aldershot Town 4–2 at Bloomfield Road, but were knocked out by Norwich City, 3–2 after a replay at Carrow Road.[12] They finished in third place, and qualified for the play-offs, and as top scorers in League One with 76 goals.[13] After beating Oldham Athletic 5–2 on aggregate in the semi-final[14] they met Yeovil Town in the final at the new Wembley Stadium, their first appearance at England's national stadium in 15 years. Blackpool won 2–0, a club-record 10th consecutive victory, and were promoted to the Championship in their 100th overall season in the Football League.[15] The promotion marked their return to English football's second tier for the first time in 29 years.

Blackpool knocked Premier League side Derby County out of the League Cup at the second-round stage on 28 August 2007. The match ended 1–1 after 90 minutes and 2–2 after extra time. The Seasiders won the resulting penalty shootout 7–6.[16] On 25 September, Blackpool beat Southend United 2–1 after extra time[17] to reach the fourth round for the first time in 35 years. They were drawn away to Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16, a match they lost 2–0.[18] Tottenham went on to win the competition.

Blackpool finished the 2007–08 season in 19th place, escaping relegation by two points and ensuring their safety in a 1–1 draw with Watford on the final day of the Championship season.

On 23 December 2008, Simon Grayson left the club to join League One club Leeds United after just over three years in charge at Bloomfield Road.[19] Under the guidance of Grayson's assistant Tony Parkes, in a caretaker manager capacity, Blackpool finished the 2008–09 campaign in 16th place. Parkes left the club on 18 May 2009 after a meeting with chairman Karl Oyston about finances.[20]

On 21 May 2009, Ian Holloway was appointed as manager, signing a one-year contract with the club with an option of a further year.[21] On 31 July it was announced that club president Valeri Belokon was setting up a new transfer fund, into which he was adding a "considerable amount" to invest in new players identified by Holloway.[22] Four days later Blackpool broke their transfer record by signing Charlie Adam from Scottish champions Rangers for £500,000,[23] topping the £275,000 paid to Millwall for Chris Malkin in 1996.

Blackpool finished the 2009–10 regular season in sixth place in the Championship, their highest finish in the Football League since 1970–71,[24] and claimed a spot in the play-offs. On 2 May 2010, the 57th anniversary of Blackpool's FA Cup Final victory, Blackpool hosted Bristol City for the final League game of the season. They needed to match or better Swansea City's result in their match at home to Doncaster Rovers. Both matches ended in draws, with Swansea's Lee Trundle having a late goal disallowed for handball, which meant Blackpool secured the remaining play-off place.[25]

On 8 May, Blackpool beat Nottingham Forest 2–1 at Bloomfield Road in the semi-final first leg.[26] Three days later, they beat them 4–3 (6–4 on aggregate) at the City Ground in the second leg to progress to the final against Cardiff. The result meant Blackpool had beaten Forest in all four of the clubs' meetings in 2009–10.[27]

Blackpool defeated Cardiff City 3–2 on 22 May in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium to earn promotion to the Premier League.[28] It was Blackpool's debut appearance in the Premier League in its 18-year existence and their first appearance in English football's top flight in 39 years.[29] Blackpool had now, uniquely, been promoted through all three tiers of the Football League via the play-off system. Furthermore, they won all nine play-off games they were involved in during the 10 seasons between 2001 and 2010. The fixture was dubbed "the richest game in football", because the victorious club would receive a £90 million windfall.[30] It was more than double the £36 million that the winners of the Champions League received.[31]

On 24 May, a promotion parade was held along Blackpool's promenade for the club's personnel, who travelled on an open-top double-decker bus from Gynn Square down the Golden Mile to the Waterloo Headland. The police estimated that about 100,000 people lined the route. At the Headland, the manager and squad took to a stage to address the gathered mass crowd. "This is the most unbelievable moment of my life," said Ian Holloway. "I've jumped on the best ride of my life and I don't want to go home."[32][33]

Premier League campaign (2010–11)
Blackpool F.C.'s positions in the Premier League after each round of the 2010–11 season

In their first-ever Premier League match on 14 August 2010, Blackpool defeated Wigan Athletic 4–0 at the DW Stadium. The result saw the Seasiders at the top of the entire English football pyramid[34] until Chelsea's 6–0 victory over West Bromwich Albion later in the day. It was the first time they had been in such a position since they won their opening game of the 1957–58 top-flight campaign.[35] The initial fixture list had the game being played at Bloomfield Road, but the Premier League allowed the fixture to be reversed because construction work on Bloomfield Road's East Stand had not been completed in time.

On 27 January 2011, the Premier League fined Blackpool £25,000 for fielding what they believed to be a weakened team against Aston Villa on 10 November. Ian Holloway, who initially threatened to resign if punishment was dealt, had made 10 changes to the team for the fixture. The club had 14 days to appeal against the decision[36] but chose not to, with Karl Oyston saying that if the punishment was upheld there was a threat of a point deduction and an increase in the fine.[37]

On 22 May 2011, exactly 365 days after their promotion, Blackpool were relegated back to the Championship after losing 4–2 at champions Manchester United on the final day of the season, though results elsewhere also impacted the final league standings.[38] Despite predictions that they "wouldn't get 10 points,"[39] Blackpool took 39 from their 38 games, including home[40] and away[41] victories over Liverpool, consecutive away wins at Stoke City[42] and Sunderland,[43] and a home victory over Tottenham Hotspur.[44] Seven of their 10 overall wins were obtained before the new year, and at the end of 2010 they sat in eighth place; however, seven defeats in the opening eight fixtures of 2011 saw them drop down the table. The next match, a draw at home Aston Villa, left them in 15th, their lowest placing of the campaign to date. Another run of defeats – this time five in six – put them in the relegation zone for the first time.[45] They climbed out of the bottom three, at the expense of Wigan Athletic, with successive home draws against Newcastle United and Stoke City. Blackpool dropped back into the relegation zone after conceding a late equaliser to draw at Tottenham, switching places with Wolves; they were level on points with Wigan and three ahead of bottom club West Ham United. A victory, their first in three months, over Bolton Wanderers, in their penultimate league fixture, was not enough to change the position as Wolves won at Sunderland. Blackpool went to Old Trafford for the final match and were leading 2–1 12 minutes into the second half, but Manchester United, who were crowned champions a week earlier, took control and won 4–2 to condemn 19th-placed Blackpool to relegation along with Birmingham City and West Ham United.

Fall to the fourth tier (2011–2017)

In July 2011, Blackpool smashed their outgoing transfer record when Charlie Adam signed for Liverpool in a £7-million deal.[46][47] A portion of these funds was used to bring former Scotland, Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham captain Barry Ferguson to Bloomfield Road, where he once again assumed the armband.[48] On 9 May 2012, Blackpool secured their place in the Championship play-off final in their second consecutive season in the division after beating Birmingham City 3–2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.[49] They met West Ham United in the final at Wembley on 19 May, losing 2–1, conceding a last-gasp goal to the Hammers' Ricardo Vaz Tê, their first play-off final reversal in 21 years.[50]

On 3 November 2012, Ian Holloway decided to leave Blackpool after accepting an offer from fellow Championship club Crystal Palace to be their manager.[51] He was replaced four days later by Michael Appleton, who left League 1 side Portsmouth to take up the position; however, after being in charge for just two months, Appleton left for Lancashire neighbours Blackburn Rovers, becoming the shortest-serving manager in Blackpool's history. On 18 February, after just over a month without an appointment, the club made former England captain Paul Ince their third manager of the campaign.[52] It was under Ince that the club made their best-ever start to a league season. Their victory at Bournemouth on 14 September 2013 gave them 16 points out of a possible 18. The sequence of results was two wins, a draw, and three wins.[53] This was countered by a run of nine defeats in 10 games, which resulted in Ince being sacked on 21 January 2014, 11 months into his tenure.[54]

Barry Ferguson was named caretaker manager upon Ince's dismissal. Of Ferguson's 20 league games in charge, Blackpool won just three and finished the 2013–14 season in 20th place.[55] On 11 June 2014, almost five months after Paul Ince's dismissal, the club appointed Belgian José Riga as manager. He was Blackpool's first overseas manager.

Prior to the start of the 2014–15 season Blackpool suffered a major crisis with some 27 players leaving the club; just two weeks before the season started, the club had only eight outfield players and no goalkeeper.[56] Riga was able to assemble a squad in time for Blackpool's first game against Nottingham Forest, but could still only name four substitutes instead of the permitted seven.[57] Blackpool lost the match 2–0. On 27 October 2014, after 15 games in charge, Riga was sacked and replaced by Lee Clark.[58]

On 6 April 2015, with six league fixtures remaining, Blackpool were relegated to League One.[59] On 2 May 2015, the final match of the Championship season against Huddersfield Town was abandoned in the 48th minute following an on-pitch protest by hundreds of Blackpool supporters regarding the actions and management style of the directors and owners. The Football League subsequently declared the result the 0–0 scoreline it was at the time of abandonment, which meant Blackpool finished the season with 26 points.[60] Following the resignation of Lee Clark on 9 May 2015, Blackpool appointed Neil McDonald as manager on 2 June.

In May 2016, a second successive relegation occurred, which put Blackpool in the bottom tier of English professional football for the first time in 15 years. Less than two weeks later, Neil McDonald was sacked as manager.[61] He was replaced by Gary Bowyer, the club's eighth manager in three-and-a-half years.

In late 2016, as the sexual abuse scandal developed, former Blackpool player Paul Stewart alleged he had been abused by Frank Roper, a coach associated with Blackpool in the 1980s.[62]

In May 2017, under Bowyer, Blackpool won promotion to League One after beating Exeter City 2–1 at Wembley in the play-off final. The victory meant that Blackpool became the most successful side in English play-off history, winning their fifth final.

End of the Oyston era (2017–2019)

On 10 November 2017, Blackpool was put up for sale by the Oyston family. The sale included the club itself and the properties division that owns Bloomfield Road stadium.[63][64][65]

On 2 February 2018, Owen Oyston relieved Karl Oyston of his role as chairman and appointed his 32-year-old daughter, Natalie Christopher, in his place, just two weeks after appointing her to the club's board.[66]

Gary Bowyer resigned in August 2018 after two years in charge, after the first game of the season for undisclosed reasons.[67] He was replaced with his assistant Terry McPhillips as caretaker manager. McPhillips was made the permanent manager a month later.

On 13 February 2019, the football club was put into receivership by the High Court, which forced Owen Oyston to pay ex-director Valeri Belokon some of the £25m he was owed. Oyston was removed from the board of the club by the receiver on 25 February 2019.[68] The receiver was tasked with discharging some of Oyston's assets, as well as Blackpool Football Club (Properties) Ltd, which owns the football club. The ruling could have resulted in the club being deducted 12 league points; however, this was eventually ruled against by the EFL on 11 April 2019.[69]

Under new ownership (2019–present)

On 13 June 2019, Simon Sadler was announced as the new owner of the club, officially ending the Oystons' 32-year tenure, purchasing a 96.2% stake.[70] Sadler was born and raised in Blackpool and has worked in asset management in Hong Kong since 2007.[71] He is the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Segantii Capital Management.[72]

Terry McPhillips resigned as Blackpool manager on 5 July 2019, having informed the club's board that he had no long-term desire to be a manager.[73] He was replaced by Simon Grayson, who returned for a second spell in charge;[74] however, after a long run of defeats, he was sacked on 12 February 2020. Grayson's last game in charge was a 3–2 home loss to Gillingham.[75] Liverpool U23s manager Neil Critchley was appointed head coach — the first such role for the club — as his replacement on 2 March 2020.[76] After a curtailed regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Blackpool finished the 2019–20 season season in 13th position after standings were amended to reflect a points-per-game ratio.[77]

Colours

Blackpool first began wearing tangerine for the 1923–24 season, after a recommendation from referee Albert Hargreaves, who officiated an international match between the Netherlands and Belgium and was impressed by the Dutchmen's colours.[78]

Before changing to tangerine permanently, the team tried several different colours: blue-and-white striped shirts in the 1890s (becoming known as the Merry Stripes); a mixture of red or white shirts at the turn of the 20th century; and, during the First World War, black, yellow and red. The latter was adopted to include the colours of the flag of Belgium, a show of support for the large number of Belgian refugees that had arrived in the town. After the war, they wore white shirts and navy-blue shorts. The board introduced another change in 1934 when the team appeared in alternating dark- and light-blue stripes (which have been reintroduced several times in the mid-1990s and 2002, for Blackpool's return to the top flight in 2010 as the club's third kit, and as their away kit in 2019–20), but they bowed to public pressure in 1939 and settled on tangerine.[78] Between 1938 and 1958 Blackpool's kit consisted of tangerine shirts, white shorts and navy blue socks. The club now uses tangerine socks, though navy was used as a secondary colour in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[79]

Stadium
Main article: Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road, looking north, during a Premier League game against Fulham in 2010

Blackpool have played their home games at Bloomfield Road since 1901. The stadium's current capacity is 17,338, all-seated.

In the summer of 2010, work was done on the stadium to prepare for the club's debut season in the Premier League. A new 5,120-capacity temporary East Stand was built, together with improvements to the floodlighting, media and medical facilities and the dugouts. Painting work was also done on the Stanley Matthews (West) Stand and the Mortensen Kop (North Stand). A new video screen was also installed. A new South Stand named after Jimmy Armfield was opened in 2010 with 3,600 seats. From the first home game in the Premier League, against Fulham on 28 August 2010, the capacity was 16,220, the highest at Bloomfield Road in 30 years.

In the 2011–12 season, the south east corner between the Armfield Stand and the temporary East Stand was filled with an additional 500 seats, the area also incorporating the BFC Hotel, which welcomed its first guests at the end of June 2012. It was officially opened on 26 July 2012, the club's 125th anniversary.[80] The hotel has a four-star rating, although the source of the accreditation is not specified on its website. It also houses a conference centre. From the 2015–16 season to Blackpool's homecoming game against Southend United, the East Stand had been closed to fans. In the latter part of the 2018–19 EFL League One season, away fans moved to the North-East Stand. As of the 2019–20 season, away fans are now accommodated in the East Stand.

Supporters

Blackpool supporters are known by the general terms Tangerine Army or Seaside Barmy Army. Whilst Blackpool had the lowest average home attendance in the Premier League, the atmosphere generated by the home support was regarded as loud and intimidating.

After Steve McMahon resigned as Blackpool manager in 2004, he said of the Tangerine support: "During my time here, the supporters have been fantastic and are a credit to the club. Whilst they have that support, I am sure they can go a long way. I think both on and off the pitch the club is going forward in a big way and unfortunately I'm not part of that anymore."[3] The club was promoted three years later to the Championship, and again in 2010 to the Premier League for the 2010–11 season.

In September 2009, freelance journalist Mike Whalley said after attending a game against Peterborough United: "The home fans certainly make plenty of noise. Bloomfield Road does not lack for atmosphere. Or a drummer. Every home game is played to a thumping drum beat."[81] After Blackpool beat Newcastle United 2–1 on 16 September 2009, Scott Wilson of the Northern Echo wrote: "Almost 10,000 spectators created a hostile and intimidating atmosphere that was a throwback to footballing days gone by"[82] while the Sky Sports match report described the Blackpool support as "boisterous".[83]

On 28 August 2010 Blackpool played Fulham in their first-ever home Premier League game, in front of a crowd of 15,529, the largest attendance for over 30 years at Bloomfield Road. On Sky Sports' Football First programme, co-commentator Barry Horne said: "They are a fantastic crowd. I've watched a lot of Championship games here and the crowd have always been brilliant; they get behind their team." Commentator Will Cope later said: "It's deafening; deafening by the seaside. You wouldn't have thought 15,000 fans could make so much noise." After the game Fulham manager Mark Hughes also praised the home support saying that the atmosphere in the stadium would really help the team in their debut season in the Premier League.[84]

During the 2010–11 Premier League campaign, a decibel-metre was set up three times at each stadium, and an average then taken to indicate the loudest supporters. Despite having a capacity of 16,220, the Blackpool support was ranked the fifth-loudest, at 85 decibels.[85]

In January 2013, a supporters' group named SISA (Seasiders Independent Supporters Association) was formed. It folded in July the following year[86] to become Blackpool Supporters Trust.[87]

Blackpool Fans' Progress Group, a supporters' liaison group, was founded in 2015.[88]

Songs and chants

During the 2009–10 Championship promotion campaign, the chant "Don't Wanna Go Home/This Is the Best Trip I've Ever Been On", sung to the tune of the Beach Boys' "Sloop John B", became a theme, and was prominent at the promotion parade honouring the club's promotion to the Premier League in May 2010. It was carried over into their debut season in the division and was sung regularly at each game.

As of the 2019–20 League One season, the club has decided not to have any goal-celebration music after a consultation with fans. For the opening game of the season, against Bristol Rovers, new owner Simon Sadler chose what music was to be played before the match, which included "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers, "Swords of a Thousand Men" by Tenpole Tudor, "True Faith" by New Order, "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise" by Duran Duran and "Heroes" by David Bowie.

Rivalries

Blackpool's primary rivalry is with Preston North End, and the West Lancashire derby between the two clubs has been contested 96 times across all four divisions of the Football League, including the old First Division.

According to a survey conducted in 2019, Blackpool's other significant rivalries are Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Blackburn Rovers and Fylde Coast neighbours Fleetwood Town.[89]

Players
See also: List of Blackpool F.C. players and Category:Blackpool F.C. players

First-team squad
As of 2 February 2021[90]

Note: EFL clubs are limited to a squad of 22 senior players (aged 21 or over). There is no limit to the number of players who were aged 20 or younger on January 1, 2020 the club can use. These players are denoted below.[91]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  WAL Chris Maxwell (captain)
2 DF  ENG Jordan Gabriel (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
3 DF  ENG James Husband
4 DF  ENG Jordan Thorniley
6 MF  ENG Ethan Robson
8 FW  ENG Keshi Anderson
9 FW  ENG Jerry Yates
10 MF  ENG Sullay Kaikai
12 MF  AUS Kenny Dougall
13 GK  ENG Jack Sims
14 FW  ENG Gary Madine
15 DF  ENG Demetri Mitchell
17 MF  ENG Matty Virtue
18 MF  ENG Grant Ward
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW  ENG Ellis Simms (on loan from Everton)
20 DF  ENG Ollie Turton
21 DF  ENG Marvin Ekpiteta
22 MF  ENG CJ Hamilton
23 DF  ISL Daníel Leó Grétarsson
25 MF  GHA Cameron Antwi
26 DF  NIR Daniel Ballard (on loan from Arsenal)
29 DF  ENG Luke Garbutt
30 FW  COD Bez Lubala
32 MF  ENG Elliot Embleton (on loan from Sunderland)
33 GK  SVK Alex Fojtíček
34 MF  ENG Nathan Shaw (U-21)
36 MF  ENG Robert Apter
39 MF  ENG Kevin Stewart

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
11 MF  ENG Liam Feeney (on loan to Tranmere Rovers until June 2021)
16 MF  ENG Ben Garrity (on loan to Oldham Athletic until June 2021)
27 DF  ENG Teddy Howe (on loan to Scunthorpe United until June 2021)
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 FW  ENG Joe Nuttall (on loan to Northampton Town until June 2021)
7 MF  MNE Oliver Sarkic (on loan to MansfieldTown until June 2021)
— FW  TAN Adi Yussuf (on loan to Chesterfield until June 2021)

Reserve team

Up until the 2009–10 season the reserve team competed in the Central League Division One West. They have been Central League champions twice, in 1919–20 and 1949–50.

With the first team promoted to the Premier League, for the 2010–11 season the reserves competed in the Premier Reserve League. They were in North Group B, with Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Liverpool and Sunderland. At the end of the campaign, the club withdrew from reserve league football, preferring to play such games behind closed doors.[92]

Blackpool reintroduced reserve-team football for the 2019–20 season. They joined a regional five-team Central Division.

Internationals

Blackpool have had 49 full-international representatives. Their first was Fred Griffiths, for Wales, in 1900.[1] Their most recent was Daniel Ballard, for Northern Ireland, in 2020.[93] In 1996, Northern Ireland's James Quinn became the club's first player in 16 years to be selected for a full international, the previous one being Derek Spence in 1980.

Many players won additional caps with other clubs, but the totals given below apply solely to appearances made while with Blackpool.
As of 18 November 2020
England
Name Years Caps Goals
Harry Bedford1923–1924002001
Jimmy Hampson1930–1932003005
Harry Johnston1946–1953010000
Stan Mortensen1946–1954025023
Stanley Matthews1946–1957036003
Eddie Shimwell1949001000
Tommy Garrett1951–1954003000
Ernie Taylor1953–1954001000
Bill Perry1955–1956003002
Jimmy Armfield1958–1966043000
Ray Charnley1962–1963001000
Tony Waiters1963–1965005000
Alan Ball1964–1966014001
Scotland
Name Years Caps Goals
Phil Watson1933001000
Alex Munro1938001000
Frank O'Donnell1938002000
Jimmy Blair1946001000
Allan Brown1951–1954011003
George Farm1952–1959010000
Hugh Kelly1952001000
Jackie Mudie1956–1958017009
Tony Green1971004000
Charlie Adam2009–2011007000
Stephen Crainey2010–2013003000
Matt Phillips2012–2013001000
Matt Gilks2012–2013003000
Wales
Name Years Caps Goals
Fred Griffiths1899–1900002000
Dai Astley1938–1939001001
Glyn James1965–1971009000
Wyn Davies1973001000
David Vaughan2008–2011008001
Neal Eardley2009–2013004000
Northern Ireland

Prior to 1924, there was only one Irish national team. In that year, the Republic of Ireland began playing separate matches, and that position is reflected here.

Derek Spence, here inside Rangers' trophy room in 1994, had two spells at Blackpool
Name Years Caps Goals
Sammy Jones1933–1934001001
Peter Doherty1934–1936004000
Malcolm Butler1938–1939001000
Derek Spence1976–1980015003
James Quinn1996–1998010001
Craig Cathcart2010–2014015000
Jordan Thompson2018–2020006000
Daniel Ballard2020–002000
Republic of Ireland
Name Years Caps Goals
Mickey Walsh1975–1977004001
Wes Hoolahan2008001000
Latvia
Name Years Caps Goals
Kaspars Gorkšs2006–2008014001
Algeria
Name Years Caps Goals
Hameur Bouazza2009–2010006001
Australia
Name Years Caps Goals
David Carney2010–2011007002
Congo
Name Years Caps Goals
Christoffer Mafoumbi2019–003000
Ghana
Name Years Caps Goals
Richard Kingson2010–201103000
Costa Rica
Name Years Caps Goals
José Miguel Cubero201401000
Estonia
Name Years Caps Goals
Sergei Zenjov201401000

One-club men
See also: List of one-club men in association football

Nine players spent their entire professional playing careers with Blackpool:[94]

Name Years Apps Goals
Bob Birket1896–1906 (10)21544
Edward Threlfall1900–1911 (11)32011
John Charles1912–1924 (12)22830
Bert Tulloch1914–1924 (10)17800
Harry Johnston1934–1955 (21)39811
Hugh Kelly1943–1960 (17)42808
Jimmy Armfield1954–1971 (17)56906
Glyn James1960–1975 (15)39922
Mike Davies1984–1995 (11)31016

Training facility

Blackpool's training ground is located in the Squires Gate area of Blackpool's South Shore. It has been used, with minimal upkeep, since the 1940s. It was described by Blackpool manager Ian Holloway as a "hell hole" in 2009, shortly after which chairman Karl Oyston pledged to build a new facility. "We are never going back to our training ground again," explained Holloway. "Every player this club has ever had hates it, and every player we have is frightened of it. It is a horrible environment to work in."[95] In 2009, with the training ground frozen, Holloway attempted to train on Blackpool's beach, but that too was iced over.[96] An initial plan was to use the facilities of Fylde Rugby Club, but training is still held at the two-pitch Squires Gate, however, and no development has come to fruition.

In August 2014, former Blackpool defender Alex Baptiste reminisced on his time at Squires Gate: "No balls in training, having to run on the beach because the pitch had been frozen for two weeks, no food after training, leaks in the Portacabins, having to buy our own weights – just random stuff like that! It was definitely an experience!"[97]

In June 2020, the club purchased a modular building for the training ground. It includes changing facilities for players and staff, along with eating areas, meeting rooms and medical facilities.[98]

Managers

There have been 36 full-time managers of Blackpool (including repeat appointments). The longest-serving manager was Joe Smith, who occupied the role for 23 years; Michael Appleton, meanwhile, lasted 65 days in the role.[99] The club has, on average, appointed a new manager just under every three years. As of March 2020, the club has had ten full-time managers in eight years.

There have been three repeat appointments: Bob Stokoe, Allan Brown and Simon Grayson.

In 2014, Jose Riga became the club's first foreign manager.

In 2020, Neil Critchley became the first appointment to be known as a head coach.

The statistics in the table below account for Football League and Premier League games only. Play-off games are excluded.
As of 6 February 2021
Name From To Games Won Drawn Lost Win% Honours won
No manager1896190319663389532.14
Tom Barcroft1 (secretary-manager)19031909220615510427.73
Jack Cox1 (player-manager)190919117630182839.47
No manager1911191515248356931.58
Bill Norman2c. 1 August 1918c. 31 May 192316874365844.05
No managerc. 31 May 19235 October 1923815212.50
Major Frank Buckley6 October 1923c. 31 May 192716066365841.25
Sydney Beaumontc. 1 August 1927c. 31 May 1928421382130.95
Harry Evans (honorary manager)c. 1 August 1928c. 31 May 193321083359239.52Division Two championship (1929–30)
Sandy MacFarlane1 July 193331 July 19358436242442.86
Joe Smithc. 1 August 193530 April 195867228815522942.86Promotion to Division One (1936–37), FA Cup (1953)
Ron Suart11 May 19581 February 19673631169115631.96
Stan Mortensen11 February 1967April 19699940273240.40
Harry Johnston (caretaker manager)April 1969April 1969??????.??
Les Shannon1 May 196926 October 19705622171739.29Promotion to Division One (1969–70)
Jimmy Meadows (caretaker manager)26 October 197020 December 1970811612.50
Bob Stokoe20 December 197023 November 19728028242835.001971 Anglo-Italian Cup
No manager23 November 19721 January 1973740357.14
Harry Potts1 January 19735 May 197614352474436.36
Allan Brown15 May 19766 February 19786928231840.58
Bobby Smith (caretaker manager)[100]6 February 19787 March 1978201100.00
Jimmy Meadows (caretaker manager)7 March 197820 May 19781316607.69
Bob Stokoe (second time)20 May 197817 August 1979461891939.13
Stan Ternent19 September 19791 February 198029971331.03
Freddie Scott (caretaker manager)February 1980February 1980??????.??
Alan Ball1February 198028 February 19815113142425.49
Allan Brown1 (second time)1 March 198131 May 19825817172429.31
Sam Ellis1 June 198228 March 19893111178910537.62Promotion to Division Three (1984–85)
Jimmy Mullen (caretaker manager)28 March 198920 May 19891151545.45
Jimmy Mullen20 May 198930 April 19904510161922.22
Tom White1 (caretaker manager)30 April 199011 June 1990100100.00
Graham Carr11 June 199030 November 19901653831.25
Billy Ayre30 November 199010 June 199416468375941.46Promotion to (new) Division Two (1991–92)
Sam Allardyce19 July 199429 May 19969241232844.57
Gary Megson5 July 19961 July 19974618151339.13
Nigel Worthington18 July 199723 December 199911334324730.09
Mike Hennigan &
Mike Davies1 (caretaker managers)		23 December 19997 January 2000301200.00
Steve McMahon7 January 20006 June 200420672538134.95Promotion to Division Two (2000–01), League Trophy (2002 and 2004)
Colin Hendry17 June 200410 November 20056218192529.03
Simon Grayson1 (caretaker manager)10 November 20055 June 2006309101130.00
Simon Grayson15 August 200623 December 200811643373637.06Promotion to The Championship (2006–07)
Tony Parkes &
Steve Thompson (caretaker managers)		24 December 200818 May 20092269727.27
Ian Holloway21 May 20093 November 201214354404937.76Promotion to the Premier League (2009–10)
Steve Thompson (caretaker manager)3 November 20127 November 2012210150
Michael Appleton7 November 201211 January 20131127218.18
Steve Thompson (caretaker manager)11 January 201318 February 2013620433.33
Paul Ince18 February 201321 January 20144012151330
Barry Ferguson1 (caretaker manager)21 January 20143 May 201420351215
José Riga11 June 201427 October 20141413107.14
Lee Clark30 October 20149 May 201532311189.38
Neil McDonald 2 June 201518 May 20161444628.57
Gary Bowyer 1 June 20166 August 201811542403336.52Promotion to League One (2016–17)
Terry McPhillips 6 August 20185 July 20195621181737.5
Simon Grayson16 July 201912 February 202028991032.14
David Dunn (caretaker manager)12 February 20202 March 2020421150
Neil Critchley (head coach)2 March 2020Present261051138.46

^1 – Also played for Blackpool
^2 – Norman was the club's first full-time manager

Honours

Blackpool were the first team to be promoted through all divisions of the Football League via the play-off system and the club has the most play-off trophies (5).

League

Major

Minor

Records

Club

Players
  • Most Football League appearances: Jimmy Armfield (569; between 27 December 1954 and 1 May 1971)
  • Top goalscorer: Jimmy Hampson (252; between 15 October 1927 and 8 January 1938)
  • Most capped player: Jimmy Armfield (43; for England)

Managers
  • Longest-serving manager: Joe Smith (22 years, 9 months; from 1 August 1935 to 30 April 1958)

Sponsors
Lytham St Annes-based energy-conservation company Inenco sponsored Blackpool for three seasons in the early 1990s
Blackpool's away shirt for the 2009–10 campaign
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
1974–1979 Umbro None
1979–1981 Easywear
1981–1982 None
1982–1983 Pembroke Hotel
1983–1984 Hobott None
1984–1985 Umbro JK Brown
1986–1987 Scoreline Harry Feeney Autos
1987–1988 Lowfields
1988–1989 Scoreline Bass
1989–1990 None
1990–1991 Vaux
1991 August–1991 October Gola None
1991 October–1993 Inenco
1993–1994 Pelada
1994–1997 Rebecca's Jewellers of Southport
1997–1999 Lotto Telewest
1999–2001 Super League
2001–2003 TFG Sport Electricity Direct
2003–2004 Sporta Life Repair Group
2004–2005 Pricebusters
2005–2007 Uhlsport Pointbetgames.com (home and away)1

Kimmel Lager (third)

2007–2008 Carlotti Floors-2-Go2
2008–2009 Carbrini
2009–2010 Carbrini
2010–2011 Wonga.com
2011–2013 Fila
2013–2015 Erreà
2015–2016 Village[101]
2016–2018 tp.
2018–2019 BetSid
2019–2020 Blackpool Council
("VisitBlackpool.com" on home kits; "GET VOCAL" on away kits)
2020–2021 Puma[102] VisitBlackpool.com (home kit)
Utility Team (away kit)[103]
Get Vocal (third kit)3[104]

1 Derek Woodman BMW sponsored the club's home shorts, while Derek Woodman Mini sponsored their away versions

2 Blackpool Leisure were the shorts sponsors

3 Tower Insurance were the shorts sponsors[105]

Between the 2005–06 season and the 2009–10 season, Glyn Jones Estate Agents appeared in the back of their home shirts, while JMB Properties Ltd. appeared on the back of their away shirts.[106] For the 2020–21 season, FTS became the back-of-shirt sponsor.[107]

Blackpool F.C. Ladies
Main article: Blackpool F.C. Ladies

References

Specific

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General

Further reading
  • Daniels, Robin (17 October 1972). Blackpool Football: The Official Club History (1st ed.). Robert Hale Ltd. ISBN 0-7091-3501-7.
  • Wolstenholme, Gerry (7 December 1998). Cup Kings – Blackpool 1953. Blackpool: The Bluecoat Press. ISBN 1-872568-58-0.
  • Prestage, Michael (September 2000). Blackpool: The Glory Years Remembered (1st ed.). Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1-85983-198-2.
  • Singleton, Steve, ed. (19 December 2007). Legends: The Great Players of Blackpool F.C (1st ed.). Blackpool: At Heart Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84547-182-8.
  • Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.
  • Wolstenholme, Gerry (2010). Return to the Top Flight: Blackpool Football Club's Promotion Campaign 1969/70. Blackpool Programme and Memorabilia Collectors Club. (limited edition of 200 copies)
  • Wolstenholme, Gerry (2014). By Bus to Wollongong: Blackpool Football Club's World Tour 1958. Red Rose Books. (limited edition of 250 copies)

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