Blackpool F.C. 245357 225855549 2008-07-15T18:41:24Z Tangerinetom 5165191 Morrella spelling correction as per official site {{Football club infobox | clubname = Blackpool F.C. | image = [[Image:Blackpool FC.png|150px|Blackpool logo]] | fullname = Blackpool Football Club| nickname = 'Pool,<br>The Seasiders,<br>The Tangerines | founded = [[26 July]], [[1887 in football (soccer)|1887]]<ref name="formation"> Calley, Roy (1992). ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992''</ref> | ground = [[Bloomfield Road]]<br>[[Blackpool]], [[England]] | capacity = 9,788 | chairman = {{flagicon|England}} [[Karl S. Oyston|Karl Oyston]] | manager = {{flagicon|England}} [[Simon Grayson]] | league = [[Football League Championship|The Championship]] | season = [[Blackpool F.C. season 2007-08|2007-08]] | position = The Championship, 19th | pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=| leftarm1=F28500|body1=F28500|rightarm1=F28500|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=F28500| pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=| leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=F28500|socks2=FFFFFF| }} '''Blackpool Football Club''' are an [[England|English]] [[Association football|football]] club founded in 1887 and located in the [[Lancashire]] [[seaside resort|seaside town]] of [[Blackpool]]. The club have been a member of the [[The Football League|Football League]] since 1896, although the [[1899-1900 in English football|1899–1900]] season was spent in [[non-League football]] after they failed to be re-elected. The club currently play in [[Football League Championship|The Championship]], the [[English football league system|second tier]] of professional football in England, after winning the [[2006-07 in English football|2006–07]] [[Football League One Play-Offs#2007|League One Play-Off Final]]. The club's home ground has been [[Bloomfield Road]] since 1899, and their nicknames include ''The 'Pool'', ''The Seasiders'' and ''The Tangerines'', the latter in reference to their home colour. They have a fierce rivalry with local arch-enemy [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], and any League meeting between the two clubs is known as the [[West Lancashire derby]] (or, alternatively, the [[M55 motorway|M55]] derby). Blackpool's most notable achievement is winning the [[1953 FA Cup Final]], the so-called "[[Stanley Matthews|Matthews]] Final", in which they beat [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] 4–3, overturning a 1–3 deficit in the closing stages of the game. During that post-[[World War II|war]] period, Blackpool made three [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] appearances in six years and came close to winning the [[English football champions|League Championship]] on several occasions. They also supplied the national teams with many players, notably for [[England national football team|England]] in [[1953 in football (soccer)|1953]] when four Blackpool men lined up at Wembley, causing the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' to declare that "Blackpool F.C. are playing [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] today",<ref name="formation"> Calley, Roy (1992). ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992''</ref> though it became [[England v Hungary (1953)|a day that English football fans would want to forget]]. In [[Blackpool F.C. season 1982-83|1982–83]], Blackpool endured the worst season in their history, finishing four places from the bottom of the entire Football League, and were only saved from relegation to the Alliance Premier League (now the [[Football Conference|Conference]]) because the re-election system voted in their favour. [[Blackpool F.C. season 1970-71|Twelve years earlier]], the club was playing in English football's [[Football League First Division|top flight]]. ==History== {{details3|[[History of Blackpool F.C. (1887–1962)]] and [[History of Blackpool F.C. (1962–present)]]|this topic}} {{For|Blackpool's season-by-season stats|Blackpool F.C. seasons}} [[Image:Blackpool F.C. FL finishing positions (overall).jpg|thumb|right|A graph displaying Blackpool's finishing positions in the [[Football League]].]] ===Formation and early years=== Blackpool Football Club was formed on [[July 26]] [[1887]], after a [[mergers and acquisitions|merger]] with a breakaway group from the local St. John's Football Club. The club managed to win two pieces of silverware in its first season in existence, [[1887-88 in English football|1887–88]]: the [[The Fylde|Fylde]] Cup and the Lancashire Junior Cup. At the conclusion of the following [[1888-89 in English football|1888–89]] season, Blackpool became founder members of the [[Lancashire League (football)|Lancashire League]]. In their first season in the competition, the club finished fifth out of the thirteen member clubs. They finished as runners-up over the following three seasons (to [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] twice and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] once), before winning the championship themselves on their fourth attempt. Blackpool's home at that point in time was Raikes Hall Gardens (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 two-thousand mark, making the club's formative years a financial success.<ref name="formation"> Calley, Roy (1992). ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992''</ref> 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 in football (soccer)|1896]], the club became a [[limited company]] and applied for entry to the [[The Football League|Football League]]. Their application was successful, and for the club's [[Blackpool F.C. season 1896-97|debut season]] they joined the sixteen-team [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]. Blackpool's first-ever [[The Football League|Football League]] game took place on [[September 5]] [[1896]], at [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]], which they lost 3–1 in front of around 1,500 spectators.<ref name="formation"> Calley, Roy (1992). ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992''</ref><ref name="Blackpool Gazette">[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/history?articleid=1240499 Early days in the Football League] – ''Blackpool Gazette''</ref> After three seasons in the League, Blackpool were not re-elected at the conclusion of the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1898-99|1898–99]] season, after finishing third-bottom. They had moved to a new ground, at [[Stanley Park, Blackpool|Stanley Park]]'s Athletic Grounds, the same season. On [[December 12]] [[1899]], Blackpool amalgamated with local rivals South Shore. Shortly afterwards, the club, after a brief return to Raikes Hall, moved to a new ground at Gamble's Field, on Bloomfield Road at the southern end of the town. The name of the ground was subsequently renamed for the road on which it stood. ===Early 20th century=== Blackpool's season out of the Football League was a success: they finished third upon their return to the Lancashire League, and after the Football League's annual meeting on [[May 25]] [[1900]], were permitted back into Division Two. During the ten seasons that followed, Blackpool could finish no higher than twelfth place. The club's top goalscorers in the league included [[Bob Birkett]] (ten goals in [[Blackpool F.C. season 1900-01|1900–01]]), [[Geordie Anderson]] (twelve goals in [[Blackpool F.C. season 1901-02|1901–02]]) and [[Bob Whittingham]] (thirteen in [[Blackpool F.C. season 1908-09|1908–09]]). At the end of [[Blackpool F.C. season 1910-11|1910–11]], the club found themselves in seventh place, thanks largely to [[Joe Clennell]]'s haul of eighteen goals. It was a case of as-you-were, however, for the four seasons leading up to [[World War I]], with finishing positions of fourteenth, twentieth, sixteenth and tenth. For the latter of those seasons, [[Joe Lane (footballer)|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 normalcy resumed, in [[Blackpool F.C. season 1919-20|1919–20]], Blackpool had appointed their first full-time manager in the form of [[Bill Norman (football manager)|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 thirty goals in the former. The club's form nosedived in the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1921-22|1921–22]] season, with a finishing position of nineteenth, before bouncing back to a fifth-placed finish in the following campaign. [[Harry Bedford]], who had joined the club from [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], was the country's top league scorer, with 32 goals to his name. Bedford repeated the feat the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1923-24|following season]], this time under the watchful eye of new manager [[Frank Buckley (footballer)|Frank Buckley]], who replaced Bill Norman after his four years of service. Blackpool finished fourth in Buckley's first season in charge. The [[Blackpool F.C. season 1924-25|1924–25]] season wasn't as successful; a seventeenth-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 F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] ended the Seasiders' run. Buckley guided Blackpool to top-ten finishes in his final two seasons as manager — with [[Billy Tremelling]]'s thirty goals in the latter helping considerably — before he left to take the helm at [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] Wolves). Buckley's replacement was [[Sydney Beaumont]], who took charge for the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1927-28|1927–28]] season, but he lasted only until the spring after the club finished in nineteenth position. [[Harry Evans]] was installed as the new Blackpool manager, in an honorary capacity, for the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1928-29|1928–29]] campaign. Due in no small part to [[Jimmy Hampson]]'s 40 goals, the club finished eighth. In his [[Blackpool F.C. season 1929-30|second season]], Evans guided Blackpool to the Division Two championship (their only championship to date), finishing three points ahead of [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]. 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 [[Alex 'Sandy' MacFarlane|Sandy MacFarlane]]. MacFarlane occupied the [[Bloomfield Road]] hot seat for just two seasons, in which the club finished eleventh and fourth, respectively. MacFarlane's final [[Blackpool F.C. season 1934-35|1934–35]] season marked [[Jimmy Hampson]]'s eighth successive (and final) season as Blackpool's top league goalscorer. [[Joe Smith (footballer)|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 tenth 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 [[Blackpool F.C. season 1936-37|1936–37]] season as runners-up in the Second Division to [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] and were promoted back to the First Division. Two seasons of Division One football were played before a [[World War II|second World War]] intervened. Blackpool sat atop the table at the time the abandonment occurred.<ref>[http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1939-40.html Football Statistics Archive<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Regional competitions were implemented again between 1939 and 1945. For the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1945-46|1945–46]] season, after the war's conclusion, Blackpool spent one season in the [[Football League North and South|Football League North]]. ===Post Second World War=== Scottish defender [[Hugh Kelly (footballer)|Hugh Kelly]] had arrived at Blackpool in [[1943]] as had fellow defender [[Tommy Garrett]] in [[1942]]. [[striker|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 [[Blackpool F.C. season 1952-53|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 as did outside left [[Bill Perry (footballer)|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. [[Image:Johnston and Matthews cup.jpg|thumbnail|left|Victorious Blackpool [[captain (sports)|captain]] [[Harry Johnston (footballer)|Harry Johnston]] (being carried, left) holds the [[FA Cup]] aloft with [[Stanley Matthews]].]] Post war Blackpool reached the [[FA Cup Final]] on three occasions, losing to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in [[FA Cup Final 1948|1948]] and [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] [[FA Cup Final 1951|three years later]], and winning it in [[FA Cup Final 1953|1953]] captained by [[Harry Johnston (footballer)|Harry Johnston]]. In [[Blackpool F.C. season 1955-56|1955–56]], Blackpool attained their highest-ever league finish: runners-up to Manchester United. 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 Seasiders player 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 twenty, in his first season as a professional, and went on to repeat the feat for seven of the eight seasons that followed. The [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] came into existence in [[1960-61 in English football|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 F.C.|Newcastle United]]. Local arch-rivals [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] were the other club to make the drop. Mid-table finishes in [[Blackpool F.C. season 1961-62|1961–62]] and [[Blackpool F.C. season 1962-63|1962–63]] (and an appearance in the League Cup semi-finals during the former) were offset by another lowly finish of eighteenth in [[Blackpool F.C. season 1963-64|1963–64]], with [[Alan Ball, Jr.|Alan Ball]] top-scoring with thirteen goals. Much of the same ensued over the following two seasons, before relegation finally occurred in [[Blackpool F.C. season 1966-67|1966–67]]. Blackpool finished bottom of the table, eight points adrift of fellow demotion victims [[Aston Villa F.C.|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=== Mortensen picked up the pieces for the club's first season back in the Second Division in thirty years, guiding them to a [[Blackpool F.C. season 1967-68|third-placed finish]]. They had gone into the final game of the season at [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|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 F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]], had scored a last-minute winner at [[Aston Villa F.C.|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 [[Blackpool F.C. season 1968-69|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 a mixture of shock and anger, as Mortensen was as popular a manager as he was a player.<ref name="Morty sacked">Calley, Roy (1992). ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992''</ref> [[Image:Blackpool F.C. 1969-70.jpg|thumb|right|Blackpool taking on [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] in a league match at [[Bloomfield Road]] on [[October 4]] [[1969]], during Blackpool's successful [[Blackpool F.C. season 1969-70|1969–70]] season.]] [[Les Shannon]], who spent the majority of his playing career with Blackpool's [[Lancashire]] rivals [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], was installed as manager for the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1969-70|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 F.C.|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#football|hat-trick]]. The result effectively relegated the hosts to the [[Football League Third Division|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 [[June 12]], [[1971]], well over a month after the conclusion of the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1970-71|league season]], Blackpool won the [[Anglo-Italian Cup]] with a 2–1 victory over [[Bologna F.C. 1909|Bologna]] in the final. This was achieved without the services of [[Jimmy Armfield]], who retired in May after seventeen years and 627 appearances for the club. Blackpool finished amongst the top ten teams in the Second Division] for six consecutive seasons, under three different managers: [[Bob Stokoe|Stokoe]], [[Harry Potts]] and [[Allan Brown]]. Brown's second season at the helm, [[Blackpool F.C. season 1977-78|1977–78]], ended with the club's relegation to the [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] for the first time in their history. Stokoe returned for a second stint as manager for the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1978-79|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 replaced in February 1980 by [[Alan Ball, Jr.|Alan Ball]], the popular former Blackpool midfielder who left the club for [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] fourteen years earlier. Ball himself only lasted a year in the job, and departed when the club were relegated to the league's [[Football League Fourth Division|basement division]]. Allan Brown had taken over from Ball in February 1981, and he remained in charge for the following [[Blackpool F.C. season 1981-82|1981–82]] term. Blackpool finished twelfth in their first season in Division Four; however, unable to handle the pressure of the job,<ref name="Brown resigns">Calley, Roy (1992). ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992''</ref> 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 F.C.|Watford]]. His first season saw Blackpool finish 21st, with [[Dave Bamber]] topping the club's goalscoring chart for the second consecutive season with ten strikes. It was [[Blackpool F.C. season 1984-85|Ellis's third season]], however, that brought the success the club had been looking for. Blackpool finished second behind [[Chesterfield F.C.|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 nineteenth in Ellis's seventh and final season in charge. For the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1989-90|1989–90]] season, Blackpool appointed [[Jimmy Mullen (footballer born 1952)|Jimmy Mullen]] as manager. Mullen's reign last only eleven 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 lying in eighteenth place. Carr's replacement was his assistant, [[Billy Ayre]]. Ayre guided the team to a fifth-placed finish and qualification for the [[Football League Play-Offs|play-offs]]. They lost only five of their thirty league games that remained at the time of Ayre's appointment. The run included thirteen consecutive home wins in an eventual 24–game unbeaten run at [[Bloomfield Road]].<ref name="Ayre records">Calley, Roy (1992). ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992''</ref> After beating [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] in the two-legged semi-finals of the play-offs, Blackpool lost to [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] in the [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] final, on penalties after the score was tied 2–2 after regular and extra time (see [[Blackpool F.C. season 1990-91#Final]]). [[Image:Blackpool F.C. promotion 1992.jpg|thumb|left|The Blackpool squad celebrate their [[Blackpool F.C. season 1991-92#Final|play-off final]] victory at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] in 1992.]] The following [[Blackpool F.C. season 1991-92|1991–92]] season finished with Blackpool in fourth place, which meant another play-offs experience. This time they met [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] in the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1991-92#Semi-finals|semi-finals]] and won 2–1 on aggregate. They returned to Wembley, where they faced Scunthorpe United in [[Blackpool F.C. season 1991-92#Final|the final]], the team they knocked out of the play-offs twelve 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 two terms back in the third tier of English football, demonstrated by eighteenth- and twentieth-placed finishes, avoiding relegation in the latter season by virtue of a 4–1 victory over [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] on the final day of the season,<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=219715 Blackpool 4–1 Leyton Orient] – Soccerbase</ref> which resulted in a pitch invasion by the Blackpool supporters. Ayre was sacked in the summer of 1994 and was replaced by [[Sam Allardyce]]. Allardyce led Blackpool to a mid-table finish in his [[Blackpool F.C. season 1994-95|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 seventeen league goals. The [[Blackpool F.C. season 1995-96|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 A.F.C.|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. Former [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] manager [[Gary Megson]] replaced Allardyce, and attained a seventh-placed finish in his [[Blackpool F.C. season 1996-97|only season in charge]]. [[Nigel Worthington]] succeeded Megson in the summer of 1997, and in the [[Northern Ireland|Irishman]]'s two full campaigns in the hot seat, Blackpool finished twelfth and fourteenth. Worthington resigned towards the end of the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1999-2000|1999–2000]] season, and his seat was filled by the former [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[England national football team|England]] midfielder [[Steve McMahon]]. ===21st century=== McMahon arrived too late to save the club from relegation to the Third Division after a 22nd-placed finish in the league. McMahon gained promotion via the play-offs in his [[Blackpool F.C. season 2000-01|first full season]]. Success eluded him, however, for his three remaining seasons in charge, and he resigned in the summer of 2004. [[Image:Blackpool football club.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bloomfield Road]], Blackpool F.C.'s home since 1899, during its reconstruction phase in the early part of the 21st century. This view is looking north.]] Blackpool chose another high-profile individual as McMahon's successor: ex-[[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] and [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] [[captain (sports)|captain]] [[Colin Hendry]], who finished his playing career with the club. Hendry's reign lasted seventeen months, though the club remained in the new [[Football League One|League One]]. Hendry was replaced by [[Simon Grayson]], who also ended his playing career at Bloomfield Road, in November of the [[Blackpool F.C. season 2005-06|2005–06]] season. On [[6 January]], [[2007]], Blackpool reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in seventeen years, after beating [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]] 4–2 at [[Bloomfield Road]]. They were knocked out in the fourth round by [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]], 3–2 after a replay at [[Carrow Road]] on [[February 13]], narrowly missing out on a trip to [[London]] to face [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in the last sixteen.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/6349599.stm Norwich 3–2 Blackpool, FA Cup 4R] – BBC Sport</ref> On [[April 21]] [[2007]], Blackpool guaranteed themselves at least a place in the play-offs after a 2–1 win at [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/6555275.stm Cheltenham Town 1–2 Blackpool] – BBC Sport</ref> Seven days later, they beat Scunthorpe United 3–1 at Bloomfield Road in the penultimate game of the regular season.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/6578843.stm Blackpool 3–1 Scunthorpe] – BBC Sport</ref> The visitors were crowned champions of League One despite their defeat, while Blackpool moved two points behind the second automatic-promotion place after [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] lost by a single goal at [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/6598599.stm Millwall 1–0 Bristol City] – BBC Sport</ref> On the final day of the regular season, Blackpool won 6–3 at [[Swansea City]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6603011.stm Swansea 3–6 Blackpool]</ref> a result which ensured that the Tangerines finished in third place, ended Swansea's play-off hopes, resulted in [[Oldham Athletic]]'s finishing the season in sixth position, and meant Blackpool finished the season as top scorers in League One with 76 goals.<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=3&seasonid=136&teamid=317 Soccerbase]</ref> Blackpool and Oldham met in the two-legged [[Blackpool F.C. season 2006-07#Semi-finals|semi-finals]] of the play-offs. Blackpool won both legs — 2–1 at [[Boundary Park]] on [[13 May]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6645909.stm Oldham Athletic 1–2 Blackpool] – BBC Sport</ref> and 3–1 at Bloomfield Road six days later.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6649781.stm Blackpool 3–1 Oldham Athletic] – BBC Sport</ref> On [[27 May]] they met [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] in [[Blackpool F.C. season 2006-07#Final|the final]] at the new [[Wembley Stadium]], their first appearance at [[England national football team|England]]'s national stadium in fifteen years. Blackpool won 2–0, a club-record tenth consecutive victory, and were promoted to [[Football League Championship|The Championship]] in their 100th overall season in the Football League.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/6686991.stm Yeovil 0–2 Blackpool] – BBC Sport</ref> ===Recent events=== On [[11 August]] [[2007]], Blackpool beat [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] by a single goal at the [[Walkers Stadium]] in their first game in The Championship, and their first game in the second tier of English football for 29 years.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/6931092.stm Leicester 0–1 Blackpool] – BBC Sport</ref> It was the first time the club had won their opening league game since the [[Blackpool F.C. season 2000-01|2000–01]] season.<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com Soccerbase]</ref> Seven days later, the club's run of twelve consecutive wins ended after they drew with Bristol City at Bloomfield Road.<ref>[http://www.skysports.com/football/match_facts/0,,11065_2846820,00.html Blackpool 1–1 Bristol City] – Sky Sports</ref> Their thirteen game unbeaten run was ended the following game, with defeat at Wolves on [[25 August]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/6952799.stm Wolves 2–1 Blackpool] – BBC Sport</ref> Blackpool knocked [[Premier League]] side [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] out of the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] at the second-round stage on [[28 August]] [[2007]]. The match ended 1–1 after ninety minutes and 2–2 after extra time. The Seasiders won the resulting penalty shootout 7–6.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/6963495.stm Derby 2–2 Blackpool] – BBC Sport</ref> On [[25 September]], Blackpool beat [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] 2–1 after extra time<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/7008008.stm Blackpool 2–1 Southend (aet)] – BBC Sport</ref> to reach the fourth round for the first time in 35 years. They were drawn away to Premiership side [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in the last sixteen, a match they lost 2–0.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/7065202.stm Tottenham 2–0 Blackpool] – BBC Sport</ref> Tottenham went on to [[2008 Football League Cup Final|win the competition]]. On [[8 December]] [[2007]], Blackpool beat [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] at [[Deepdale (stadium)|Deepdale]] by a single goal in the first [[West Lancashire derby]] since [[1 April]], [[2000 in football (soccer)|2000]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7122594.stm Preston 0–1 Blackpool] – BBC Sport</ref> Blackpool finished the [[Blackpool F.C. season 2007-08|2007–08]] season in 19th place, escaping relegation by two points and ensuring their safety in a 1–1 draw with [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] on the final day of the Championship season.<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=317 The Championship's final table for the 2007-08 season] - Soccerbase</ref> ==Players== ===Current squad=== :''As of 11 July, 2008.''<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=317 Soccerbase.com]</ref> {{football squad start}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=DF| name=[[Alex Baptiste]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Shaun Barker]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=DF| name=[[Ashton Bayliss]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=DF| name=[[Marlon Broomes]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=Republic of Ireland | pos=FW | name=[[Ben Burgess]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Danny Coid]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=Scotland| pos=DF| name=[[Stephen Crainey]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=Canada| pos=MF| name=[[Michael D'Agostino]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=DF| name=[[Ian Evatt]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[David Fox (footballer)|David Fox]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England | pos=GK | name=[[Matthew Gilks]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=Latvia | pos=DF | name=[[Kaspars Gorkšs]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=MF| name=[[Stuart Green]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=Faroe Islands|pos=MF | name=[[Claus Bech Jørgensen]]}} {{football squad mid}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=FW| name=[[Steve Kabba]]| other=on loan from [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=MF| name=[[Matty Kay]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=MF| name=[[Ross Lloyd]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=MF| name=[[Joe Martin (footballer)|Joe Martin]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=Scotland| pos=FW| name=[[Stephen McPhee]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=MF| name=[[Dominic Morrella]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=FW| name=[[Danny Mitchley]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England | pos=FW | name=[[Andy Morrell]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=USA | pos=GK| name=[[Paul Rachubka]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Keith Southern]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England | pos=MF | name=[[Gary Taylor-Fletcher]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=MF| name=[[Simon Wiles]]}} {{football squad player| no=—| nat=England| pos=DF| name=[[Jermaine Wright]]}} {{football squad end}} See also: *[[List of Blackpool F.C. players]] *[[:Category:Blackpool F.C. players|List of Blackpool F.C. players with a Wikipedia article]] *[[List of notable Blackpool F.C. players]] ===One-club men=== Eight players have spent their entire professional playing career with Blackpool: <!--List should include only FORMER players--> {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Apps !bgcolor=silver|Goals |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Harry Stirzaker]] || 1894–1903 (9) || 154 || 13 |- | [[Bob Birkett]] || 1896–1906 (10) || 215 || 44 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Bert Tulloch]] || 1914–1924 (10) || 178 || 0 |- | [[Harry Johnston (footballer)|Harry Johnston]] || 1934–1955 (21) || 398 || 11 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Hugh Kelly (footballer)|Hugh Kelly]] || 1943–1960 (17) || 428 || 8 |- | [[Jimmy Armfield]] || 1954–1971 (17) || 569 || 6 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Glyn James]] || 1960–1975 (15) || 399 || 22 |- | [[Mike Davies (footballer)|Mike Davies]] || 1984–1995 (11) || 310 || 16 |} {{see also|List of one-club men}} ===Internationals=== Blackpool has had 34 full-international representatives. Their first was F.J. Griffiths, for Wales, in 1899. Their most recent was [[Wes Hoolahan]] in 2008 for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]. :''Many players won additional caps with other clubs, but the totals given below apply solely to appearances made while with Blackpool.'' {{flagicon|England}} '''England''' {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Caps !bgcolor=silver|Goals |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Harry Bedford]] || 1923–1924 || 2 || 1 |- | [[Jimmy Hampson]] || 1930–1932 || 3 || 5 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Harry Johnston (footballer)|Harry Johnston]] || 1946–1953 || 10 || 0 |- | [[Stan Mortensen]] || 1946–1954 || 25 || 23 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Stanley Matthews]] || 1946–1957 || 36 || 3 |- | [[Eddie Shimwell]] || 1949 || 1 || 0 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Tommy Garrett]] || 1951–1954 || 3 || 0 |- | [[Ernie Taylor]] || 1953–1954 || 1 || 0 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Bill Perry (footballer)|Bill Perry]] || 1955–1956 || 3 || 2 |- | [[Jimmy Armfield]] || 1958–1966 || 43 || 0 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Ray Charnley]] || 1962–1963 || 1 || 0 |- | [[Tony Waiters]] || 1963–1965 || 5 || 0 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Alan Ball, Jr.|Alan Ball]] || 1964–1966 || 14 || 1 |} {{flagicon|Scotland}} '''Scotland''' {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Caps !bgcolor=silver|Goals |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Phil Watson (footballer)|Phil Watson]] || 1933 || 1 || 0 |- | [[Alex Munro]] || 1938 || 1 || 0 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Frank O'Donnell]] || 1938 || 2 || 0 |- | [[Jimmy Blair]] || 1946 || 1 || 0 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Allan Brown]] || 1951–1954 || 11 || 3 |- | [[George Farm]] || 1952–1959 || 10 || 0 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Hugh Kelly (footballer)|Hugh Kelly]] || 1952 || 1 || 0 |- | [[Jackie Mudie]] || 1956–1978 || 17 || 9 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Tony Green (footballer)|Tony Green]] || 1971| 4 || 0 |} {{flagicon|Wales}} '''Wales''' {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Caps !bgcolor=silver|Goals |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | F.J. Griffiths || 1899–1900 || 2 || 0 |- | [[Dai Astley]] || 1938–1939 || 1 || 1 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Glyn James]] || 1965–1971 || 9 || 0 |- | [[Wyn Davies]] || 1973–1974 || 1 || 0 |} {{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} '''Northern Ireland'''<br> 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. {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Caps !bgcolor=silver|Goals |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Sammy Jones (footballer)|Sammy Jones]] || 1933–1934 || 1 || 1 |- | [[Peter Doherty (footballer)|Peter Doherty]] || 1934–1936 || 4 || 0 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | Malcolm Butler || 1938–1939 || 1 || 0 |- | [[Derek Spence]] || 1976–1980 || 15 || 3 |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[James Quinn (footballer)|James Quinn]] || 1996–1998 || 10 || 1 |} {{flagicon|Republic of Ireland}} '''Republic of Ireland''' {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Caps !bgcolor=silver|Goals |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Mickey Walsh]] || 1975–1977 || 4 || 1 |- | [[Wes Hoolahan]] || 2008 || 1 || 0 |} {{flagicon|Latvia}} '''Latvia''' {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Caps !bgcolor=silver|Goals |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | [[Kaspars Gorkšs]] || 2006-2008 || 14 || 1 |} ===Hall of Fame=== The Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame was established on [[22 August]] [[2006]], with a plaque unveiled by [[Jimmy Armfield]].<ref name="Hall of Fame">[http://www.bsaweb.info/HOF.aspx Blackpool Supporters Association Hall of Fame]</ref> Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world can vote on their all-time heroes.<ref name="Hall of Fame">[http://www.bsaweb.info/HOF.aspx Blackpool Supporters Association Hall of Fame]</ref> Five players per decade are inducted. '''Pre-1950s:''' *[[Jack Parkinson (footballer born 1869)|Jack Parkinson]] *[[Harry Bedford]] *[[Jimmy Hampson]] *[[Jock Dodds]] *[[Georgie Mee]] '''1950s:''' *[[Stan Mortensen]] *[[Stanley Matthews]] *[[Bill Perry (footballer)|Bill Perry]] *[[Harry Johnston (footballer)|Harry Johnston]] *[[Allan Brown]] '''1960s:''' *[[Jimmy Armfield]] *[[Alan Ball, Jr.|Alan Ball]] *[[Tony Green (footballer)|Tony Green]] *[[Ray Charnley]] *[[Glyn James]] '''1970s:''' *[[Alan Suddick]] *[[Mickey Walsh]] *[[Tommy Hutchison]] *[[John Burridge]] *[[Mickey Burns]] '''1980s:''' *[[Paul Stewart (footballer)|Paul Stewart]] *[[Alan Wright]] *[[Eamon O'Keefe]] *[[Andy Garner]] *[[Mike Davies (footballer)|Mike Davies]] '''1990s:''' *[[Trevor Sinclair]] *[[Dave Bamber]] *[[Tony Ellis]] *[[Andy Morrison]] *[[Phil Clarkson]] ==Non-playing staff== :''As of 25 January, 2008.''<ref name="BFC080119"> {{cite journal | title = Who's Who | journal = BFC the official matchday programme, 2007–08 | volume = | issue = Blackpool vs Ipswich Town | pages = 3 | publisher = Blackpool F.C. | date = [[2008-01-19]] | accessdate = 2008-01-27}}</ref> {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|Role |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Valeri Belokon]] || President |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Karl S. Oyston|Karl Oyston]] || Chairman |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Owen Oyston]] || Director |- | {{flagicon|Latvia}} Normund Malnacs || Director |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} Gavin Steele || Director |- | {{flagicon|England}} Matt Williams || Club secretary |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Simon Grayson]] || First-team manager |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Tony Parkes]] || Assistant manager |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Steven Thompson (English footballer)|Steve Thompson]] || First-team coach |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Peter Fox (footballer)|Peter Fox]] || Goalkeeping coach |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} Steve Thompson|| Reserve-team coach |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Gary Parkinson]] || Youth-team coach |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Phil Horner]] || Physiotherapist |- |} ==Managers past and present== [[Image:BFC managers by years of service.jpg|thumb|right|A pie chart displaying Blackpool's managers and their years of service to the club. <small>Note: [[caretaker-manager]]s have been omitted; multiple terms have been combined</small>]] There have been 28 different managers of Blackpool. The longest-serving manager was [[Joe Smith (football manager)|Joe Smith]] (23 years). The club has, on average, appointed a new manager every 3.6 years. :''The statistics in the table below account for Football League games only.'' :''Updated: 4 May, 2008 {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|From !bgcolor=silver|To !bgcolor=silver|Games !bgcolor=silver|Won !bgcolor=silver|Drawn !bgcolor=silver|Lost !bgcolor=silver|Win% !bgcolor=silver|Honours |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | ''No manager'' || 1896 || 1903 || 196 || 63 || 38 || 95 || 32.14 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Tom Barcroft]]{{fn|1}} (secretary-manager) || 1903 || 1909 || 220 || 61 || 55 || 104 || 27.73 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Jack Cox]]{{fn|1}} ([[player-manager]]) || 1909 || 1911 || 76 || 30 || 18 || 28 || 39.47 || |- | ''No manager'' || 1911 || 1915 || 152 || 48 || 35 || 69 || 31.58 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Bill Norman (football manager)|Bill Norman]]{{fn|2}} || c. 1 August, 1918 || c. 31 May, 1923 || 168 || 74 || 36 || 58 || 44.05 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Major Frank Buckley]] || 1 July, 1923 || c. 31 May, 1927 || 168 || 67 || 41 || 60 || 39.88 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Sydney Beaumont]] || c. 1 August, 1927 || c. 31 May, 1928 || 42 || 13 || 8 || 21 || 30.95 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Harry Evans]] (honorary manager) || c. 1 August, 1928 || c. 31 May, 1933 || 210 || 83 || 35 || 92 || 39.52 || [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] championship ([[Blackpool F.C. season 1929-30|1929–30]]) |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Sandy MacFarlane]] || 1 July, 1933 || 31 July, 1935 || 84 || 36 || 24 || 24 || 42.86 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Joe Smith (footballer)|Joe Smith]] || c. 1 August, 1935 || 30 April, 1958 || 714 || 306 || 164 || 244 || 42.86 || Promotion to [[Football League Division One|Division One]] ([[Blackpool F.C. season 1936-37|1936–37]]), [[FA Cup Final|FA Cup]] ([[1953 FA Cup Final|1953]]) |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Ron Suart]]{{fn|1}} || 1 May, 1958 || 1 February, 1967 || 363 || 116 || 91 || 156 || 31.96 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Stan Mortensen]]{{fn|1}} || 1 February, 1967 || 30 April, 1969 || 99 || 40 || 27 || 32 || 40.40 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Les Shannon]] || 1 May, 1969 || 26 October, 1970 || 56 || 22 || 17 || 17 || 39.29 || Promotion to Division One ([[Blackpool F.C. season 1969-70|1969–70]]) |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Jimmy Meadows]] ([[caretaker-manager]]) || 26 October, 1970 || 20 December, 1970 || 8 || 1 || 1 || 6 || 12.50 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Bob Stokoe]] || 20 December, 1970 || 23 November, 1972 || 80 || 28 || 24 || 28 || 35.00 || [[Anglo-Italian Cup]] ([[Blackpool F.C. season 1970-71|1971]]) |- | ''No manager'' || 23 November, 1972 || 1 January, 1973 || 7 || 4 || 0 || 3 || 57.14 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Harry Potts]] || 1 January, 1973 || 5 May, 1976 || 143 || 52 || 47 || 44 || 36.36 || |- | {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Allan Brown]]{{fn|1}} || 5 May, 1976|| 6 February, 1978 || 69 || 28 || 23 || 18 || 40.58 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | ''No manager'' || 6 February, 1978 || 7 March, 1978 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 00.00 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Jimmy Meadows]] (caretaker-manager) (second time) || 7 March, 1978 || 20 May, 1978 || 13 || 1 || 6 || 6 || 07.69 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Bob Stokoe]] (second time) || 20 May, 1978 || 17 August, 1979 || 46 || 18 || 9 || 19 || 39.13 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Stan Ternent]] || 19 September, 1979 || 1 February, 1980 || 29 || 9 || 7 || 13 || 31.03 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Alan Ball, Jr.|Alan Ball]]{{fn|1}} || February 1980 || 28 February, 1981 || 51 || 13 || 14 || 24 || 25.49 || |- | {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Allan Brown]]{{fn|1}} (second time) || 1 March, 1981 || 31 May, 1982 || 58 || 17 || 17 || 24 || 29.31 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Sam Ellis]] || 1 June, 1982 || 30 April, 1989 || 317 || 118 || 89 || 110 || 37.22 || Promotion to [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] ([[Blackpool F.C. season 1984-85|1984–85]]) |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Jimmy Mullen (footballer born 1952)|Jimmy Mullen]] (caretaker-manager) || 30 April, 1989|| 20 May, 1990 || 5 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 80.00 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Jimmy Mullen (footballer born 1952)|Jimmy Mullen]] || 20 May, 1989|| 30 April, 1990 || 45 || 10 || 16 || 19 || 22.22 || |- | {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Tom White (Scottish footballer)|Tom White]]{{fn|1}} (caretaker-manager) || 30 April, 1990 || 11 June, 1990 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 00.00 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Graham Carr]] || 11 June, 1990 || 30 November, 1990 || 16 || 5 || 3 || 8 || 31.25 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Billy Ayre]] || 30 November, 1990 || 10 June, 1994 || 164 || 68 || 37 || 59 || 41.46 || Promotion to (new) Division Two ([[Blackpool F.C. season 1991-92|1991–92]]) |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Sam Allardyce]] || 19 July, 1994 || 29 May, 1996 || 92 || 41 || 23 || 28 || 44.57 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Gary Megson]] || 5 July, 1996 || 1 July, 1997 || 46 || 18 || 15 || 13 || 39.13 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} [[Nigel Worthington]]{{fn|1}} || 8 July 1997 || 23 December, 1999 || 113 || 34 || 32 || 47 || 30.09 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Steve McMahon]] || 7 January, 2000 || 6 June, 2004 || 209 || 72 || 54 || 83 || 34.45 || Promotion to Division Two ([[Blackpool F.C. season 2000-01|2000–01]]), [[Football League Trophy|League Trophy]] ([[Blackpool F.C. season 2001-02|2002]] and [[Blackpool F.C. season 2003-04|2004]]) |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Colin Hendry]]{{fn|1}} || 7 June, 2004 || 10 November, 2005 || 62 || 18 || 19 || 25 || 29.03 || |- | {{flagicon|England}} [[Simon Grayson]]{{fn|1}} (caretaker-manager) || 10 November, 2005 || 5 June, 2006 || 30 || 9 || 10 || 11 || 30.00 || |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | {{flagicon|England}} [[Simon Grayson]]{{fn|1}} || 5 August, 2006 || present || 92 || 36 || 29 || 27 || 39.13 || Promotion to [[Football League Championship|The Championship]] ([[Blackpool F.C. season 2006-07|2006–07]]) |- | '''Totals''' || || || '''4,246''' || '''1,563''' || '''1,066''' || '''1,617''' || '''36.81''' || |} {{fnb|1}} – Also played for Blackpool<br> {{fnb|2}} – Norman was the club's first full-time manager ==Honours== ===League=== *'''Championships (1)''': **[[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] ([[Blackpool F.C. season 1929-30|1929–30]]) *'''Automatic promotions (3)''': **[[Blackpool F.C. season 1936-37|1936–37]] (Division Two to [[Football League First Division|Division One]]) **[[Blackpool F.C. season 1969-70|1969–70]] (Division Two to Division One) **[[Blackpool F.C. season 1984-85|1984–85]] ([[Football League Division Four|Division Four]] to [[Football League Division Three|Division Three]]) *'''Promotions via play-offs (3)''': **[[Blackpool F.C. season 1991-92|1991–92]] (Division Four) **[[Blackpool F.C. season 2000-01|2000–01]] (Division Three) **[[Blackpool F.C. season 2006-07|2006–07]] ([[Football League One|League One]]) ===Cups=== *'''[[FA Cup]] (1)''': **[[1953 FA Cup Final|1953]] *'''[[Anglo-Italian Cup]] (1)''': **[[Blackpool F.C. season 1970-71|1971]] *'''[[Football League Trophy]] (2)''': **[[Blackpool F.C. season 2001-02|2002]], [[Blackpool F.C. season 2003-04|2004]] *'''[[Football League War Cup|League War Cup]] (1)''': **1943 *'''[[Lancashire Senior Cup]] (6)''': **1936, 1937, 1954, 1994, 1995, 1996 *'''[[Lancashire Junior Cup]] (2)''': **1888, 1891 ==Shirts and sponsors== Blackpool first began wearing tangerine for the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1923-24|1923–24]] season, after a recommendation from referee Albert Hargreaves, who officiated a [[Netherlands national football team|Holland]]–[[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] international match and was impressed by the Dutchmen's colours.<ref name="Calley p.18">Calley, Roy (1992). ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992'', p. 18</ref> Before changing to tangerine permanently, the team tried several different colours: blue-and-white striped shirts in the 1890s; a mixture of red or white shirts at the turn of the twentieth century; and even red, yellow and black during [[World War I]]. After the war, they wore all-white. The board introduced another change in 1934 when the team appeared in alternating dark- and light-blue stripes (which have been reintroduced as the club's away shirt several times since the mid-1990s), but they bowed to public pressure in 1939 and settled on tangerine.<ref name="Calley p.18">Calley, Roy (1992). ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992'', p. 18</ref> Below is a list of Blackpool's shirt sponsors: {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Sponsor(s) |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 1979 – 1981 || Easywear |- | 1981 – 1982 || ''None'' |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 1982 – 1983 || Pembroke Hotel |- | 1983 – 1984 || ''None'' |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 1984 – 1985 || JK Brown |- | 1985 – 1986 || ''None'' |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 1986 – 1988 || Harry Feeney Autos |- | 1988 – 1990 || Bass |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 1990 – 1991 || Vaux |- | 1991 – 1994 || Inenco |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 1994 – 1997 || Rebecca's Jewellers of Southport |- | 1997 – 2001 || Telewest |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 2001 – 2003 || Electricity Direct |- | 2003 – 2004 || Life Repair Group |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 2004 – 2005 || Pricebusters |- | 2005 – 2007 || Pointbetgames.com (home and away); Kimmel Lager (third) |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 2007 – 2008 || Floors-2-Go |} Back-of-shirt sponsors: {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Sponsor(s) |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 2005 – 2008 || Glyn Jones Estate Agents (home); JMB Properties, LTD. (away) |} Shorts sponsors: {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Years !bgcolor=silver|Sponsor(s) |-bgcolor=#eeeeee | 2005 – 2007 || Derek Woodman BMW (home); Derek Woodman Mini (away) |- | 2007 – 2008 || Blackpool Leisure |} <small>[http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Blackpool/Blackpool.htm Source]</small> ==See also== *[[West Lancashire derby]] == Notes == {{reflist|2}} ==References== *{{cite book | first=Roy | last=Calley| coauthors= | title=[[Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992]] | publisher=Breedon Books Sport | location= | year=1992 | editor= | id=ISBN 1-873626-07-X}} == External links == * [http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk Official site] * BBC Sport: : [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/fixtures/default.stm Fixtures] : [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/results/default.stm Results] : [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/tables/default.stm Table] : [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/club_stats/default.stm Statistics] * [http://blackpool.rivals.net Blackpool Rivals] * [http://www.blackpool.vitalfootball.co.uk Blackpool.VitalFootball] * [http://www.btinternet.com/~stephen.yarwood/vftt.htm View from the Tower] {{s-start}} {{succession box | before=[[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] | title=[[Football League Trophy]] Winners| years=2001–02 | after=[[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] }} {{succession box | before=[[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] | title=[[Football League Trophy]] Winners| years=2003–04 | after=[[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] }} {{end}} {{fb start}} {{Blackpool F.C.}} {{Football League Championship teamlist}} {{English football league system cells | level = 2 | promotion = [[FA Premier League]] | relegation = [[Football League One]]}} {{Football in England table cells}} {{fb end}} [[Category:Blackpool F.C.| ]] [[Category:English football clubs]] [[Category:Sport in Lancashire]] [[Category:Football (soccer) clubs established in 1887]] [[Category:Football League clubs]] [[Category:FA Cup winners]] [[ca:Blackpool Football Club]] [[da:Blackpool F.C.]] [[de:FC Blackpool]] [[el:Μπλάκπουλ Φ.Κ.]] [[es:Blackpool Football Club]] [[fr:Blackpool Football Club]] [[ko:블랙풀 FC]] [[id:Blackpool F.C.]] [[it:Blackpool F.C.]] [[he:מועדון הכדורגל בלקפול]] [[lb:Blackpool FC]] [[lt:Blackpool FC]] [[hu:Blackpool F.C.]] [[nl:Blackpool FC]] [[ja:ブラックプールFC]] [[no:Blackpool FC]] [[pl:Blackpool F.C.]] [[pt:Blackpool Football Club]] [[simple:Blackpool F.C.]] [[fi:Blackpool FC]] [[sv:Blackpool FC]] [[zh:黑池足球俱乐部]]