Updated Blackpool page

A minor point maybe, but I've never seen any mention of their kit's color as "orange." It is always called "tangerine."

 

It is indeed tangerine (though some of our kits through the years have been anything but tangerine!!). However, it is a "big no-no" to say we play in orange. There used to be a fansite called "It's not orange it's tangerine"!!

Will have a gander at the site soon!

 

Just some small points

You referto the city of Blackpool - Blckpool is a town, and not a city.

When discussing English clubs, the tops (jerseys) are always called shirts here, never jerseys.

Also when mentioning the 1953 FA Cup Final, it might be an idea to add something extra as it is the only FA Cup Final that is referred to by a "name" as it is often called "The Matthews Final" after Sir Stanley Matthews who was then widely regarded as one of the best footballers in the world. Also, Stan Mortenson scored a hat-trick in that game, still the only hat-trick to be scored in an FA Cup Final. In addition that was Blackpools third appearance in an FA Cup Final in six years. Lost to Manchsetr United in 1948 and to Newcastle United in 1951.

In addition any short history of Blackpool FC should make mention of how we had two players in the victorious 1966 England World Cup winning squad. Jimmy Armfield (see below) was in the squad and was recently honoured along with the other squad players who didn't feature in the Final but who played in the earlier matches, by finally receiving a Winners Medal. Also the late Alan Ball who is also widely regarded as being the Man of the Match in the '66 World Cup Final was a Blackpool player.

With Jimmy Armfield he was a one club man who played 627 games for Blackpool and who captained England 15 times in 43 appearances for the national team. At the 1962 World Cup Finals in Chile he was acclaimed the best Right Back in the world, as well as being voted the best right back in Europe from 1962 to 1964.

In addition no mention is made of how long we played in the top flight (what is now the Premiership) for. Promoted to the top flight (1st Divsion) in 1937 and stayed there until 1969, finishing as runners-up in one season, 1955-56. Also for a short period during the 1950s, Blackpool were "the club" fans wanted to see as they provided more "highest attendances of the season" for home clubs than any other club including the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal. Though home attendances were never huge usually anything from 15,000 to 30,000.

Blackpool had also for 29 years endured the lower two divisions of English football before this current season, after relegation on the last day of the season in 1978, after never having plated outside of the two top divisions before. The 1982-83 season was the worst in our history, finishing 4th bottom of the 4th Division and had to apply for re-election to the Football League. Yet only 12 years earlier Blackpool had been playing in the top flight.

Also Blackpool won the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1971 beating Bologna in the final. And the following season runners-up losing to AS Roma in the final.

Blackpool have also won the Football Leage Trophy twice, in 2002 and 2004.

So not much then....... OK I will stop now!!!

 

Good stuff, Neil! Glad you're back.

 

Ate, I just need mlslive.tv to start again so that I can get to watch some Houston Dynamo matches and other MLS matches for the forthcoming season. The damn thing still says "coming soon" though!

 

The season starts on Saturday, maybe it will be available then.

 

I think the supporters are called Tangerine Nation


Check this out too http://blackpool.rivals.net/teams/pgclubhome.aspx?clubid=8

 

There are a number of supporters groups.

As a set of fans is is the Tangerine Army, although one of the most popular chants is "Seaside Barny Army".

A list of all the Supporters Groups that I can remember, some are regional.

Blackpool Supporters Association (BSA) - the official supporters group. Organises fund raising, and coach travel to away games etc. Also have their own Player of the Year Award at the clubs annual presentation night.

Yorkshire Seasiders - Regional group for exiled Seasiders living in the White Rose county area. Regular meetings at pubs in various locations in Yorkshire, organise travel to matches etc. Also have their own Player of the Year Award at the clubs annual presentation night.

Blackpool Associaton of Supporters in London (BASIL) - used to be more formally organised, still exists.

Leyland & Chorley Seasiders - As the name suggests for Seasiders in the Leyland and Chorley areas. Both towns are "deep in enemy territory" as both are PKE towns. Organise travel to away games and regularly seen with their "Leyland & Chorley Seasiders" flag at games. Also have their own Player of the Year Award at the clubs annual presentation night.

Midlands Seasiders - formed in 2007 for all Midlands based Seasiders.

FY8 Seasiders (also known as SAS [St.Annes Seasiders]) - For fans in the FY8 postal code area (South Fylde). Organise coach travel to away games. Also have their own Player of the Year Award at the clubs annual presentation night.

Fylde Coast Seasiders (FCS) - formed in 2007 as a new independent supporters group. At present main focus appears to be on coach travel to away games.

Tango Junior Seasiders - Junior supporters group for all kids. Organise coach travel to some away games as well as other events. Also have their own Player of the Year Award at the clubs annual presentation night.

LA1 Seasiders (also known as North Lancs Seasiders) - not sure if this group still exists or not. For Seasiders living in North Lancashhire and South Cumbria.


With fansite, fortunately there aren't as many!

AVFTT (Another View From The Tower) - originally a printed fanzine, but now also a well used fansite and message board.Also have their own Player of the Year Award at the clubs annual presentation night. http://www.fansonline.net/Blackpool/

Blackpool Vital - fan website and message board. Some forum members meet up before all home games at local club. Also have their own Player of the Year Award at the clubs annual presentation night.
http://www.blackpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/

Tangerine Planet - fan website and message board.
http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s608.htm

Blackpool Mad - fan website and message board.
http://www.blackpool-mad.co.uk/

 

There is of course also the link given in Art Vandaleys post above which I forgot about! That is the original home of AVFTT. However, when Sky Sports took over the "Rivals network" on which it is hosted, many club fansites left to form their own network (fansonline) which is what AVFTT did, partly because they didn't like the new message board format. AVFTT have though kept a presence on "Rivals" too which is why there are two "AVFTT's"!! The one mostly used by fans though is the fansonlione one! I need a lie down now....

And there should also be a Houston Seasiders...............

 

Blackpool is famous for the tower that is situated near the tourist district



PKE - derogatory term for Preston North End - Preston Knob End

 

No, haven't been there yet but hope to go next season, if we can get some tickets to a match! Damn owners refuse to expand the stands and tickets are very hard to come by!

 

Indeed, tickets for the PKE game were like goldust.

With regard to the tower and PKE - there was a four page article in the April edition of the footie magazine FourFourTwo about the rivalry between Blackpool and Preston. With the lovely title of "Sheep Shaggers vs Donkey Lashers". Whilst not on the scale of some of the huge local derbies, the rivalry still means as much to Blackpool and Prescum fans as the Old Firm Derby does to any Rangers and Celtic fans etc. It is called the West Lancashire Derby.

There were some great comments in the article where the journalist spoke with regulars of the Devonshire Arms pub (which is not far from my house) with comments like, "This is a locals pub, no tourists taking the pi$$ in here" and an image of Blackpool Tower above the bar, with one saying, "See that? I don't want to ever live anywhere I can't see that tower".

The rivalry has been intense, back in the 1970s Blackpool fans tried to set fire to the Town End at Deepdale (AKA Dumpdale), and some results between the two clubs have had huge consequences. When we beat them 3-0 in 1970 at Dumpdale, the result meant we were promoted to the top flight (then the 1st Division) and a few weeks later they were relegated to the 3rd Divsision. Before this season the last meeting was in 2000 when the result at Bloomfield Road meant they were promoted to what is now The Championship and guess what - a few weeks later we were relegated to the basement division of the Football League!


One former PKE manager wouldn't even utter the word Blackpool in public, always calling us "that lot with the tower".

Tony Ellis - he was a legendary PKE player who did the unthinkable and signed for us from them in 1994 - it just doesn't happen; some players may well sign for either club having played for the other club previously (like our current club captain Michael Jackson who we signed from Tranmere Rovers, before that had been at PKE from 1997 to 2004 and who to be fair to them, got a very good reception when we beat them back in December in Preston, and Brett Ormerod who they signed from Southampton and who had played for us from 1997 to 2001) but never directly between the two. Many PKE fans have still never forgiven Ellis. I went to the first match where he played for us against them in Preston, and he was boo'ed and heckled constantly literally every single time he touched the ball from start to finish. There were "Tony Ellis = Judas" banners, though of course we found it funny.

Oh and why PKE?

PNE - Preston Nob End = PKE Preston Knob End, AKA Nobbers...... (Look up knob in British English!!! )

Blackpool Tower by the way opened in 1894 and was based on the Eiffel Tower though as the base of Blackpool Tower is a large tourist attraction all utilising the four bases of the tower, which houses a circus and all sorts of stuff.

And atop the tower is a flagpole which at times can be seen a BFC flag flying!! Im sure I've got an image of that somewhere!

 

Here you go (finally worked out how to add the image, so thanks DG!!)



BFC flag flying at the top of Blackpool Tower!

 

Blimey. That's making me feel homesick. Thanks for the tip on AVFTT. I was properly pissed off when they messed up the Rivals site as there was a really decent Pool community ion there. I hadn't realised that there were now two AVFTTs - explains a lot.