It has been confirmed that Blackpool will once again enter the South West Challenge Cup. Official website: http://southwestchallengecup.moonfruit.com/ News on Blackpool returning once again: http://southwestchallengecup.moonfruit.com/#/press-release-no-15/4541503117 They will travel to Devon on 19th July. Pool did discuss the possibility of going abroad, but in the end decided to stick closer to home. said club secretary Matt Williams The club are also trying to arrange a pre-season friendly at home to a Scottish Premier League side
Ian Holloway on club chairman Karl 'Blackadder' Oyston. Karl 'Blackadder' Oyston..... Have a listen to the audio interview with Ollie. The Premier League won't know what has hit them next season. In the Championship in 2009-10 Blackpool were described as a "breath of fresh air" and it is almost certainly going to be the same again. Ollie was made for the Premier League, his interviews will certainly prove interesting. Karl Oyston is unlike any other PL chairman and will do things his way and his way only. In a greed league where money is thrown at clubs, and far too many clubs end up deep in debt, Blackpool will do things their way and will not change, either on or off the pitch. And the Tangerine Army will IMO also be a breath of fresh air. The PL has now lost Pompey with their superb support in a small tight ground, but gained an even smaller ground with support just as passionate, just as noisy. http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Oyston-is-like-Blackadder-says.6349466.jp
South West Challenge Cup Competing clubs: Accrington Stanley - League Two Barnstaple Town - Western League Premier Division Bideford - Western League Premier Division Blackpool - Premier League Doncaster Rovers - Championship Eastleigh - Conference South Havant & Waterlooville - Conference South Ilfracombe Town - Western League Premier Division Kilmarnock - Scottish Premier League Leyton Orient - League One Rushden & Diamonds - Conference National Shrewsbury Town - League Two Truro City - Southern League Premier Division Host clubs/venues Barnstaple Town - Mill Road, Barnstaple (capacity 2,500) Bideford - The Sports Ground, Kingsley Road, Bideford (capacity 3,000) Ilfracombe Town - Marlborough Park, Marlborough Road, Ilfracombe (capacity 1,000) Holsworthy AFC - Upcott Field, North Road, Holsworthy
Club secretary Matt Williams has been in London today, at Wembley stadium for a meeting with the FA about the rules and regulations on international transfers.
There are now six host grounds for the South West Challenge Cup with the addition of two more. Torrington FC - Vicarage Fields, School Lane, Torrington (capacity 2,000) Elmore FC - Horsdon Park, Heathcote Way, Tiverton. Meanwhile, Blackpool have been drawn against Kilmarnock and Accrington Stanley in the group stages of the tournament. Tuesday 20th July vs Accrington Stanley at Vicarage Fields, Torrington. Kick-off 7:30pm Thursday 22nd July vs Kilmarnock at the Sports Ground, Bideford. Kick-off 8:00pm. Bideford will also play in Group A, but will not meet Blackpool.
BFC today confirmed that 9,000 season tickets have been processed for the debut season in the Premier League. The ticket office are continuing to work their way through boxes of applications with demand heading for about 13,500. Funny then that the media are describing us as the smallest club to ever get into the Premier League - considering we will have more season ticket holders than at least two clubs last season.
Whilst that other tournament is taking place in South Africa, on 17th June the fixtures are released and the countdown begings to 2010-11 - Blackpool's debut season in the Premier League and our first return back up to the English top flight since 1971. So in all honesty I really don't care about England and the World Cup...... sorry! So come Thursday morning and we find out when the likes of ManUre, Chelski, Liverpool, Arsenal etc will be visiting Bloomfield Road...... COME ON!
Two more pre-season games have been confirmed. Blackpool will take on Bristol City on 31st July at Ashton Gate. New City boss Steve Coppell and Ollie are good friends. Speaking about the game, Coppell said: Also, just before the South West Challenge Cup, Blackpool will play Devon side Tiverton Town in a testimonial for former manager Martyn Rogers, at their Ladysmead ground. Rogers says he is thoroughly looking forward to the occasion, as it will provide him with the perfect opportunity to bid farewell to the club he served for almost 20 years.
Blackpool have added a midweek fixture against Crewe Alexandra to their pre-season schedule. They will face Dario Grade's side on Tuesday 27th July at Alexandria stadium, kick-off 7:30pm. Ian Holloway said:
Reports coming out of Latvia reckon that Blackpool will be playing a friendly against FK Jelgava in one of the mid-season international breaks. Blackpool officials say that there is nothing official to announce at this stage, only that a match in Latvia is a possibility "depending on events." FK Jelgava were promoted to the Latvia top flight last season, and also won the Latvian Cup and so they have qualified for the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round.
Scottish Premier League side Hibernian have announced a pre-season friendly at Bloomfield Road on Saturday 8th August, kick-off 3:00pm. Capacity will likely then still be under 13,000, but the East stand should be nearing completion. It will also be our only friendly at home. And with Hibernian expected to want to bring decent support, the game has already been made all-ticket. http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/2...rm-final-2-pre-season-matches_2262950_2076321
The squad returned to training today, with Rob Edwards who is out of contract joining them. Also there apparently was 21 year old French midfielder Malaury Martin on trial. It is the same every pre-season though with players on trial and I expect there to be more to come!
Alex Baptiste definitely wants to be fully fit for the new season. A video of him training back home near Lincoln. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5s666AeM08&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- OutKlass Fitness - Alex Baptiste of Blackpool FC pre-season training[/ame]
Seasiders striker Stephen McPhee, who was forced to retire at the end of the season, is to stay on at Bloomfield Road as a coach. Ian Holloway pledged to include McPhee in his coaching staff and has kept his word. McPhee doesn't yet know who he will be coaching but is just happy to still be at the club and starting his coaching career in the Premier League. That's why I wanted to stay in it and its why I am just so grateful to the gaffer and obviously the club for giving me this opportunity.
Pre-season fixture list: Friday 16th July Tiverton Town (a) 7:30pm (Testimonial match) Tuesday 20th July Accrington Stanley (Torrington) 7:30pm (South West Challenge Cup) Thursday 22nd July Kilmarnock (Bideford) 8:00pm (South West Challenge Cup) Tuesday 27th July Crewe Alexandra (a) 7:30pm (Friendly) Saturday 31st July Bristol City (a) 3:00pm (Friendly) Sunday 8th August Hibernian (h) 3:00pm (Friendly)
The squad are due to travel down to Devon on Friday morning ahead of the game against Tiverton Town later that day. Ii is expected that the club will use a number of trialists in pre-season friendlies.
Blackpool play their first game as a Premier League club this evening against a Tiverton Town XI and with the new kit, the testimonial for their former manager, Martyn Rodgers. Kick-off is 7:30pm and a squad of 21 players has travelled down to Devon ahead of the game and next weeks South West Challenge Cup. Rob Edwards who has yet to sign a new contract and French trialist Malaury Martin are in the squad, but it is not clear yet whether Israeli Dekel Keinan will be joining them as it is being reported that the club are awaiting a work permit for him. Ian Holloway said of the game: Tiverton play in the Southern Premier League and their Ladysmead Stadium has a capacity of 3,500 including seating for 502. Ladysmead Stadium guide at pyramid passion: http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/tiverton_town.html Tiverton Town official website: http://www.tivertontownfc.com/ Every player is expected to play some part in tonights game. The squad: Matthew Gilks Paul Rachubka Mark Halstead Danny Coid Stephen Crainey Neal Eardley Ian Evatt Alex Baptiste Ashley Eastham Rob Edwards Charlie Adam Ishmel Demontagnac Stephen Husband Malaury Martin Keith Southern David Vaughan Billy Clarke Brett Ormerod Gary Taylor-Fletcher Jason Euell Louis Almond
The starting line-up tonight features nine of those who lined up at Wembley against Cardiff City in May, joined by Neal Eardley and Billy Clarke: Matthew Gilks Neal Eardley Alex Baptiste Ian Evatt Stephen Crainey Keith Southern David Vaughan Charlie Adam Gary Taylor-Fletcher Billy Clarke Brett Ormerod
Current score 1-0 to Blackpool. Sky Sports have a reporter at the game and just showed the goal, a shot from Ishmel deflected into the goal by a Tiverton player. So if Ishmel is already on it looks like constant changes are being made to the side with substitutions.
The Seasiders were back on the training ground in Devon this morning, preparing for tomorrow's South West Challenge Cup opener against Accrington Stanley. Unfortunately, striker Billy Clarke, who had to come off injured after just two minutes of the 2-0 win over Tiverton Town on Friday, had to leave the ground on crutches. It is not clear yet the extent of his injury but it is not looking good. And with a small squad as it is, then it makes getting new players in even more a priority. At least there will be a few new faces this week, with Dekel Keinan due to be a Pool player in the next few days, Malaury Martin possibly signing, plus a number of trialists. Hopefully some of them will stand out and be signed.
Blackpool play their first game of the 2010 SW Challenge Cup this evening. Former Everton striker Francis Jeffers has joined the squad on trial and is set to play in the match. Once touted as a future England international, he ended up earning one cap in 2003. At 29 he is an experienced player, and since 2007 he has been playing in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday. However, they were relegated to League One at the end of the 2009-10 season, and Jeffers was allowed to leave the club when his contract expired at the end of June.
Tonights line up: Paul Rachubka Rob Edwards Ian Evatt Alex Baptiste Danny Coid Malaury Martin Charlie Adam Keith Southern Jason Euell Brett Ormerod Francis Jeffers. Subs: Neal Eardley Ishmel Demontagnac David Vaughan Gary Taylor-Fletcher Stephen Crainey Tournament rules mean that only 3 subs can be used. Ian Holloway is not impressed at all as he wanted to be able to use more of the squad.
Blackpool won 2-1. Brett Ormerod opened the scoring early on with assists from Keith Southern and Francis Jeffers. Accrington quickly equalised through a well taken free-kick that gave Pool keeper Paul Rachubka no chance. Keith Southern scored the winning goal in the second half. Ian Holloway showed his clear contempt for the decision to allow only 3 subs. At half time he brought on three official subs - Neal Eardley, David Vaughan and Stephen Crainey. However, he also sent on Ishmel Demontagnac (who set up the second goal) and Gary Taylor-Fletcher - but simply swapped their shirts with the players they came on for and sent both Ishmel and GTF on in their shirts!!
French trialist Malaury Martin was named Man Of The Match tonight. Presumably he must be close to earning a contract. Ian Holloway also revealed after the game that he has a meeting on Thursday to discuss the work permit for Dekel Keinan as he is one game short of the requirement (the number of international games for Israel over the past 12 months), - and he will play that game in the coming weeks. So hopefully it can be sorted. No news though on Beninise international Razak Omotoyossi, who was supposedly on trial in Devon.