Now That's What I Call Progress - Issue 4 - February/March 2020

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A NEW BLACKPOOL FC FANZINE FOR A NEW ERA Issue 4 • february & march 2020 • £2 Inside this Issue… taste the difference mastermind · second replays and beyond

FYLDE COAST RADIO SPORTS SHOW Join Tony Parr, Martin Curran, Jane Stuart, Lee Charles & Ben Pearson EVERY FRIDAY FROM 6PM-7PM For the latest football & sports news from across the Fylde Coast Email: studio@fyldecoastradio.org Twitter: @FCR_Sports Blackpool FC

Fleetwood Town FC

AFC Fylde

Squires Gate FC

AFC Blackpool

Plus other sports from across the Fylde Coast

CONTENTS

04 05 06-08 09 10-11 12-13 14-15 16-17 18-19 20 21 22 23 24-25 26-27 28-29 30

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL & LETTERS DOWN MEMORY LANE MASTERMIND HOW MANY GROUNDS? BLOOMFIELD ROAD IN PICTURES TASTE THE DIFFERENCE PIRATE PROGRAMMES MITCH COOK’S LEFT FOOT BLACKPOOL SUPPORTERS TRUST GREEN TANGERINE BLUES JIMMY ARMFIELD: A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION MEMORABILIA SECOND REPLAYS AND BEYOND CYRIL ROBINSON 1929-2019 TH’OWD FELLAH

DOST THA LIVE IN YARKSHIRE, CAN THA HELP US TURN T’WHITE ROSE TANGERINE? You’re exiled, but don’t be alone, come join like minded Seasiders from all parts of Yorkshire.

JOIN YORKSHIRE SEASIDERS BY RINGING PHIL ON: 07779 349387 NOW.

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EDITORIAL by Jane Stuart Welcome to Issue 4 of Now That’s What I Call Progress - and thank you for supporting the fanzine, which is hugely appreciated. When I took the decision to relaunch the fanzine back in the summer, I could not have anticipated such a wonderful level of support from fellow Seasiders, who continue to provide such quality content.

Issue 4 contains more beautifully-written match reports from the 19th century - when Blackpool FC had a ‘musical director’. We can only dream of such delights at Bloomfield Road these days - and yet things are starting to improve, so who knows, one day in the not-too-distant future we might get a decent PA system so we can rock some banging tunes pre-match. Earlier this season we have been treated to acoustic indie rock tunes in the fanzone at Accy (which we sang along to lustily) and I even found myself singing out loud in the Ladies ahead of our match at Rochdale, the pre-match tunes were so good. Music can elevate the mood and put fans in good spirits. It can inspire the players (I wonder if Larry still plays ‘Eye of the Tiger’ in the dressing room?). It can make an atmosphere, electrify a stadium, inspire a team onto greater things. We’ve lost ‘Blackpool, Blackpool’ by The Nolans and ‘Glad All Over’ - ok, they were naff, but what have we replaced them with? The fans are being inventive, coming up with songs for the players to give them a boost and welcome them (including the earworm ‘He’s Gary Madine/He’s a goal machine/Signed him on a free’). Now let’s hear YOUR voice, Blackpool FC; sing us something back.

On the subject of audio delights, January saw the launch of a new radio show covering sports across the Fylde Coast: predominantly weighted towards Blackpool FC, but also covering Fleetwood Town, AFC Fylde, Squires Gate, AFC Blackpool and women’s football. The show also features other local sports, including rugby, netball, cricket - and even the pigeon racing! The Fylde Coast Radio Sports Show airs from 6pm-7pm every Friday night and is presented by me, Lee Charles, Tony Parr, Martin Curran and Ben Pearson. You can tune in online at www.fyldecoastradio.org, via the Fylde Coast Radio app (downloadable from iTunes or Google Play) or the Tune In Radio app. You can contact the show via email at studio@fyldecoastradio.org or on Twitter @FCR_Sports.

There is also a new Blackpool FC blogger on the block, the wonderful Mitch Cook’s Left Foot, who I am delighted to have on board as a new contributor to Now That’s What I Call Progress. You can read his whimsical musings on pages 18-19. If you enjoy this piece, which I’m confident you will, you can read more online at www.mclfoot.blogspot.com. His match reports never fail to make me smile, even when I haven’t enjoyed the match in the slightest, so astute and well-crafted are his observations.

I’ve been busy blogging too, proving a hit on the other side of the country following our recent visit to Lincoln. I confess I fell in love with Lincoln on my weekend there and would strongly recommend it for a weekend break the next time we play there. You can read all about it - and my other adventures travelling to every game this season - at www.janestuart.co.uk.

Lee Charles TV continues to provide quality Blackpool content on YouTube. Lee reports from Bloomfield Road and I tend to cover the away days so we have all the matches covered on video.

We aim to capture the full matchday experience so viewers feel like they have been there even if they haven’t - ideal for exiles or those unable to attend matches.

The Seasiders Podcast continues to go from strength to strength. You can find them online at www.seasiderspodcast.co.uk, where you can access their podcasts, videos and blog posts.

Popular online forum AVFTT is launching a new site at www.avftt.co.uk, where you can chat about all things football (and non-football) related with thousands of fellow Seasiders. I have met a good number of friends via AVFTT over the years and it continues to be the number one forum for Blackpool fans across the world.

If AVFTT is not for you, you can also chat with fellow Seasiders on other Blackpool forums at www.backhenrystreet.co.uk and www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/blackpool. Do pop into these forums and say hello and chances are you will find like-minded Seasiders, make new friends, share 4

EDITORIAL by Jane Stuart experiences and even learn things (it was on a Blackpool forum that I found out about the delights of a sausage and marmalade sandwich and I’ve never looked back!).

And don’t forget the Tangerine Travel Facebook group, which can put you in contact with other Seasiders in your area to facilitate shared transport to home and away matches.

Do you own a business that you would like to promote to fellow Seasiders? If so then please do get in touch at jane@janestuart.co.uk. This season is only the start of what we plan to produce for the Blackpool fans and we have some fantastic opportunities available for sponsors during the months ahead and going into next season.

Is there anything you would like to see more (or less) of in this fanzine? Please do let us know so we can work on providing this for you. Or, better still, write in yourself with content for Issue 5!

For details of how to subscribe to Now That’s What I Call Progress please email jane@janestuart.co.uk for hard copies or go to www.issuu.com/blackpooljane for the online version. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @progress1887.

Please do keep your amazing content coming. We have been receiving some brilliant feedback from readers and would like to continue to provide a top quality fanzine for your enjoyment. We need YOUR stories. Please email jane@janestuart.co.uk with anything you would like to share with your fellow Seasiders. The deadline for articles and adverts for Issue 5 will be 21st March 2020.

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LETTERS Dear NTWICP,

The articles on the 1889/90 Rossall School fixture card and reports on the 1894 games v South Shore (Issue 2) were of particular interest.

I have a gold medal, dated 1891 for the Fylde Junior Competition, the reverse side is inscribed “Winners - B.F.C. – W. Fielding”. William (Bill) Fielding was my grandfather, born 1871.

Also in the family is a medal for the 1890 Fylde Junior Cup. The reverse inscription is “Winners – Blackpool Reserves”

Can anyone throw any light on this competition? To see a match report, listing teams would be great.

JOHN BENNETT Do you have any questions you would like to put to our readers? Would you like to respond to any articles in this (or a previous) issue? Email jane@janestuart.co.uk.

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DOWN MEMORY LANE Below are two match reports from Blackpool v Fairfield in the Lancashire League in 1894, courtesy of the Blackpool Herald & Fylde Advertiser. One saw Blackpool notch up their record score, whilst the other saw Blackpool crowned Champions, despite a 4-0 loss.

Blackpool v Fairfield - February 24th, 1894 Blackpool in splendid form.

RUNNING UP A RECORD SCORE AGAINST FAIRFIELD

I never saw our lads in better form than they were at Raikes Hall on Saturday. Nine - one! Oh, my, it was a grand performance, and one which put all the “Stripes” supporters in good humour. Even visions of the Lancashire Senior Cup eventually finding a resting place at Blackpool appeared before our eyes, and many times enthusiasts really fancied that the trophy was already ours, but the grave realities of the case soon hurried us back to despair. Well, not quite to despair on Saturday, but the Rovers did on Monday.

Now, Saturday’s game was one which Blackpudlians generally enjoyed, but it will not do at all for both of our local clubs to have matches in the town on the same date, for when I arrived five minutes previous to the kick off there was only about 1,500 spectators present. The musical director got the teams facing each other prompt to time.

Marsden appeared in place of Hayes, who, I was informed, had been left out of the team in order to get Marsden fit for the St Leger affair on Monday, while Fairfield were represented by their strongest eleven. “Squash” having won the toss, Fairfield kicked off, but Blackpool got hold and a beautiful dribble by the captain resulted in him giving Jenkinson a hot one to clear. Then Marsden and Cookson got away, and “Gyp” opened the scoring, the game being only two minutes old. This looked rosy for us, but the Mancunians rallied, and displayed splendid combination.

But the elements were against them, and our lads pressed severely, and Davy again beat Jenkinson from a freekick. “Squash” centred in another of his guaranteed not to shrink shots, the sphere striking Jenkinson on the breast, and before anyone could realise it, Billy Martin had bundled him and the ball into the net, thus registering number three for the “Stripes”. This wasn't by any means bad “biz” and you should have seen me smile when “Squash” and Porter made the score five before the interval.

Blackpool had much more of the play than their opponents in the second-half too, and they scored four more goals from the toes of Porter, Stirzaker, Marsden, and Cookson: while following a miskick

by W. Atherton, Allan scored for the reds. Therefore the game ended in favour of the “Stripes” by the very wide margin of 9 goals to 1.

Result : Blackpool 9 - 1 Fairfield (Blackpool scorers - “Gyp”, Davy, “Squash” (2), Porter (2), Stirzaker, Marsden, and Cookson.

-oOo-

Friday March 30th, 1894 LATE FOOTBALL

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DOWN MEMORY LANE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TOMORROW’S FINAL.

Blackpool, the champions of the Lancashire League, will play their final League match with Fairfield at Manchester tomorrow. They will depart about 12 o’clock from Talbot Road station, and leave Cottonopolis on the return journey at 7pm, arriving at the Blackpool Central Station at 8.40pm. They will then proceed in a wagonette round the principal streets, and afterwards proceed to the Wellington Hotel, where a reception will be given to them. It is now almost certain that the two local bands will turn out, and the evening is to be spent in universal rejoicing.

The cup will probably not be ready for tomorrow, but it is expected at an early date. It will be presented to the champions at the annual meeting of the League to be held here in May. The players will be the recipients of gold medals, provided by private subscriptions, a handsome sum having been promised by Mr. Alderman Bickerstaffe. The medals are, we believe, being supplied by Mr. Payne of Market Street.

-oOo-

Fairfield v Blackpool - March 31st, 1894 Blackpool's triumph

A SLIP AT FAIRFIELD

WELCOMING THE CHAMPIONS HOME

How the many supporters of the Blackpool Football Club managed to curb their exuberant spirits for a whole week, when it had been decisively declared that their pets were the champions of the Lancashire League, I would not attempt to describe. But by some means they did, and the majority of Blackpool's victims in the football world must envy the Merry Stripes of their brilliant succession of victories which led up to Saturday nights evidence of enthusiasm, damped though it was by the result of that day's encounter with Fairfield. Happy now are they who, having supported a football club “through thick and thin”, and watched with the utmost patience the rise and fall of the seaside flag, see such a glorious consummation.

This is a proud day for Blackpool, but, unlike some of their opponents, the Stripes are content to be satisfied with the consciousness of their glory. Like Mr. Alderman Bickerstaffe, I am of the opinion that this is not the first time we should have had the opportunity of welcoming Blackpool as the champions if the honour had been justly meted, but the clouds are past and we have emerged with sunshine at last.

First, let me refer to the Fairfield match. The outward journey was a pleasant affair and we all welcomed to the following teams on the final occasion:

Blackpool: Wright, goal;

H Parr and Smith, backs;

Atherton, Davy, and Stirzaker, half-backs;

Cookson, Tyrer, Heyes, Marsden, and Wallace, forwards.

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DOWN MEMORY LANE Fairfield: Jenkinson, goal;

Bennett and Shipley, backs;

Stewart, Bailey, and Baxter, half-backs;

Carson, Bennett, Clark, Hodgetts, and Allan, forwards.

The ground was in fair condition for Fairfield, and “Squash” winning the toss, played with the sun at the rear, Clark starting the ball in the presence of about 2,000 spectators. The game started well.

Harry Parr stopped an ominous attack, and then the Blackpool front rank put in one of their beautiful combined rushes. Tyrer gave “Gyp” a splendid opportunity, but Bailey took the Blackpudlian in hand and, cleverly robbing him, transferred play, Carson giving “Lal” a stiff ‘un, just after which “His Eminence” cleared smartly. Wallace and Marsden next treated the spectators to a magnificent bit of short passing, which the former ended up by striking the upright. After Heyes had missed a glorious chance, the homesters were twice penalised for fouls; but Shippley and Bennett were playing a sterling defensive game, and the Stripes were kept out. “Gyp” ran right to the corner flag, and centreing finely, Billy Marsden made Jenkinson totter with a low, swift shot which struck the Mancunian’s breast and rebounded. Then, just as Heyes was making ready to tip the ball through, Wallace leapt forward, and, although directly under the bar, sent the sphere flying in the air - a touch from his “tupper” would have meant a goal.

Our boys were having decidedly the best of matters, but Davy was noticed to be limping through a kick he had received on the knee. The forwards, although playing well in midfield, lost all control over the ball when in front of Jenkinson. Carson and Bennett were prominent with a fine bit of passing, and the former gave Wright a hot shot to negotiate, which he did by conceding a fruitless corner.

Jenkinson was next called upon to handle a couple of hot shots from the toe of Cookson, which he threw away: and Bennett receiving the ball dribbled passed at the opportune moment to Clarke, that player shot by Wright amid great enthusiasm. This reverse put the Seasiders on their mettle, and a foul in the goal-mouth placed the home goal in danger, but Bennett cleared, and Clarke receiving the ball dashed away. Centreing finely, Hodgetts met the ball with his head and beat Wright for the second time. Hodgetts subsequently forced Smith to concede a corner, and Wright was again called upon to save, half-time arriving with the score against our boys by two goals to nil.

Blackpool put some dash into the game upon restarting, but they were gradually driven back, and try as they would, the Stripes couldn't pierce the home defence. Fairfield quickly put on a third goal through a foolish bit of work by Harry Smith, who, when “Tricky” was in the act of fisting out, rushed forward and kicked the sphere into the net. The Blackpool partisans present had no sooner ceased to grumble about this than he blundered again, with the result that the Mancunians put on their fourth point, and eventually retired victors by four goals to none.

Result : Fairfield 4 v 0 Blackpool AWAITING THE RESULT.

Shortly after five o'clock in the afternoon a crowd, numbering about a hundred, assembled in the vicinity of Mr Bancroft's establishment in Church Street awaiting the result of the match.

At 5:30 it came, and read as follows:- Fairfield 4, Blackpool 0.

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BLACKPOOL FC MASTERMIND by Ant Lord Many of us have shared so much in the ups and downs of Blackpool FC over the years that we probably believe we could go on Mastermind and answer questions on the topic! So, sit down in the big black chair and take this Blackpool FC multi-subject quiz.

Maths If x=4 and y=7, how many times has Nathan Delfouneso signed for Blackpool?

Geography You are travelling by train from Deepdale to Stamford Bridge for a Premier League game. How many changes do you have to make?

a) Change your manager.

b) Change all the players.

c) Change the club you support.

Science If diamond is the hardest mineral known to man, what is Gary Briggs’ head made of?

Economics You run a football club and get a £90 million windfall. What do you spend it on?

a) New blood for the team, undersoil heating and a state-of-the-art training ground.

b) A woolly mammoth, a wedding venue and a night out in Lytham.

Literacy Which is the correct spelling of a formerly famous football team?

a) Preston.

b) Preston North End.

c) Preston North End nil.

French Who is the ‘best little Frenchman’ you know?

a) Asterix the Gaul.

b) Napoleon Bonaparte.

c) Ludo Silvestre.

History Which of these events coincided with Preston’s last top-flight season?

a) Henry VIII chopped off Anne Boleyn’s head.

b) Julius Caesar invaded Britain.

c) Dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Politics Shaun Harvey. Why? Please show your working out.

Latin ‘Dingolus Extrafingerum’ is the Latin motto of which Premier League Club?

Travel & Tourism What is the best way for a leisure facility to greet its customers?

a) Welcome to Bloomfield Road!

b) Have a great time at the match!

c) Enjoy your special needs day out!

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HOW MANY GROUNDS? by icywaves On how many different grounds have you seen Blackpool play regular season League games (i.e. excluding playoffs, cup games and friendlies)? In my case the answer to that question is an unbelievable 144, comprised of 108 clubs. This is obviously not a count of number of current grounds - or even clubs - but literally the number of different grounds or stadiums. I daresay there will not be many other clubs that can match this total. It is a real indication of the up and down fortunes of Blackpool FC over the years.

Now let me explain why this number is so high.

Firstly, I have been watching Blackpool since 1961 and have been travelling away regularly since 1968, so my experiences cover a 50-year period. In that time, Blackpool have played on 144 different grounds and I have seen us play on them all.

To start with, of the current 91 League grounds there are 55 that we have played where the club involved have only ever played home games at one ground. That starts us off with 55.

In 1988, Scunthorpe were the first club in living memory to move to a new stadium when they moved from the Old Showground to Glanford Park. We played at the Old Showground three times in the early 80s and at Glanford Park many times since then. Since then, 23 other current clubs have followed suit, so that means that 24 clubs have played their home games at two different grounds.

Running total: 103.

That leaves 12 current League clubs to deal with.

Tottenham and West Ham are in the identical position of having played at old grounds for many years - White Hart Lane and Upton Park respectively - and then move to new grounds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the London Stadium, where unfortunately we have never played. Running total: 105.

Then we have the inseparable threesome that is Wimbledon, AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons. We played Wimbledon a couple of times at the old Plough Lane in the early 80s (including a very inglorious 5-0 defeat). Then, depending on your point of view, the Wombles became either AFC Wimbledon or MK Dons. We have played AFC at the Cherry Red Records Stadium (formerly known as Kingsmeadow) and MK at the National Hockey Stadium and the MK Stadium. Running total: 109.

Bournemouth’s ground used to be called Dean Court, where we played on a number of occasions.

Then then redeveloped this to become the Vitality Stadium, but it was virtually on the same site as Dean Court. However, while this redevelopment took place, they played their first eight home games at Dorchester Town in the 2001/02 - including the game against us. Running total: 111.

Coventry City currently play their home games at St Andrews so that is already counted. Prior to that ,they played at two of their own grounds in Highfield Road and the Ricoh Stadium. Note that they did play for a season at Northampton’s Sixfield Stadium. Running total: 113.

Brighton and Bristol Rovers are both clubs that have played at three different grounds each. Brighton firstly played at the Goldstone Ground, followed by the athletics track called the Withdean Stadium and finally their new ground called the Amex Stadium. Similarly with Bristol Rovers: they initially played at Eastville, which had the gasometer behind it - hence their nickname of the Gas. Then they played at Bath City’s Twerton Park for ten years and finally their current ground is the Memorial Stadium. Running total: 119.

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HOW MANY GROUNDS? by icywaves When Morecambe first gained promotion to the Football League they played at Christie Park. I once went to watch us play a friendly there when Morecambe were still a non-League club but we never actually played a League game there. Then they moved to the Globe Arena where of course we did play a League game. Running total: 120

Newport played their home games at Somerton Park for over 70 years, where we played them three times in the early 80s. After bankruptcy they re-emerged and played at Spitty Park, where I went to see us win an FA Cup replay in 2001. We have more recently played them at their current ground, Rodney Parade. Running total:122

Finally there are two current clubs that we have never played against, namely Forest Green and Salford City.

The next category is grounds where we played but the teams are no longer in the Football League.

There are ten clubs currently in the National League that fall into this category. There are eight that have only had one ground that we played at. Then there is Barnet, who we played at both Underhill and The Hive Stadium; and Chesterfield, who we played at Saltergate and their new Proact Stadium.

Running total: 134.

There are five current National League North teams, namely York, Hereford, Kidderminster, Chester and Darlington, that we played League games against. We played York at Bootham Crescent, Hereford at Edgar Street and Kidderminster at Aggborough. We also played Chester at both Sealand Road and the Deva Stadium as was and we played Darlington at Feethams. They then went on to play League games at the George Reynolds Stadium but I only saw us play a friendly there. Running total: 140.

There is current National League South team, Maidstone, who we played League games against at Dartford’s Watling Road ground. Running total: 141.

There is current Southern Premier League Central Division team, Rushden & Diamonds, who we played at Nene Park. Running total: 142

There is current Northern Premier League Premier Division team, Scarborough, who we played at the McCain Stadium. Running total: 143

Finally, there is Bury, who are currently non-existent but hopefully will be flourishing again in the near future and we played them at their Gigg Lane on many occasions. This brings us to the grand total of 144.

Note that in a number of instances the clubs involved ceased to exist but have been reincarnated in their current guise but for my purposes I am treating their existence as seamless.

The ones that got away are grounds where League football took place during my 50 year period but we never actually played there. This includes Boston United’s York Street and Dagenham & Redbridge’s Chigwell Construction Stadium, previously known as Victoria Road.

Phew!! That’s it then – a quick precis of the 144 different grounds at which Blackpool FC have played League games.

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BLOOMFIELD ROAD by Gary Fowler

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BLOOMFIELD ROAD by Gary Fowler

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TASTE THE DIFFERENCE by Steve Fisher Isn’t life funny? Blackpool have just had a truly miserable festive period - another year, another Rotherham defeat - but strangely, dear reader, at the same time I am experiencing an almost unbridled feeling of optimism..

You see, historically my ambitions for Blackpool have been limited to…how can I put this…the same feeling of optimism you have when opening a tin of luncheon meat. Now, just to be clear, I quite like a bit of (possibly grilled) luncheon meat - but it’s not exactly anything to get excited about. You always wonder just what unpalatable stuff was used in its preparation (it’s like that Pepperami stuff which is advertised as being 'a bit of an animal’ and you always wonder ‘yeah, but which bit…?’): you hope it will be edible, maybe even a little better than you remember the previous one as being - but you never really get your hopes up for anything new and invigorating.

Anyway, that’s how supporting the Mighty Pool has always been, where each year we come around to a transfer window and, whilst we hope to sign a new crop of ‘names’, we always seem to get a partially known player from a mid-table Championship side, who has missed most of the last two seasons with a thigh strain. I have no doubt that a sprinkling of such players is useful – the chance to pick up real talent at little cost; some will work out, most probably won’t - but, if that is the focus of your recruitment strategy, perhaps not the ideal way to build a squad that can truly deliver? There have been exceptions, such as signing Tony Ellis or Charlie Adam, but it always felt like a ‘once in a lifetime’ gamble and was done grudgingly and seemingly on the cheap.

I’m sure much of that was perception as opposed to reality, but when a Chairman extols thrift as a virtue and always seems to lack ambition, it is wearing on the spirits. Some people are natural leaders, some less so. When you see a leader with all the warmth, sensitivity and charisma of a puffer fish and whose every utterance seems as tedious as a beige library, you truly realise how much the former matters.

Strangely however, under Simon Sadler’s tutelage, I am excited again about the transfer window. Each day I click on the various news channel outlets for BFC, actually anticipating that I just might hear something good. The likes of Marc Bola and Jordan Thorniley are actually established and proven Championship players, with the promise of more to come. Happy times!

And there are other areas where we have grounds for unprecedented optimism. The training ground just may actually turn into a training ground rather than a wind-swept field with a couple of Portacabins. The stadium may actually be completed. The Gene Kelly stand (with the away fans singing in the rain) is happily long-gone, but the temporary stand in the East is testament to the traditional mindset of our club – we have for too long been fed the line that we are a small club and seemingly always will be, so why do we need bigger or better facilities? The new owner is taking the view that, with appropriate investment we are going to grow, so let’s get ready and put facilities in place that reflect this ambition. How refreshing!

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TASTE THE DIFFERENCE by Steve Fisher We now have true football people at the helm: the likes of Ben Hatton, Brett Gerrity and Ben Mansford brought and continue to provide a wealth of experience and knowledge to develop our club both on and off the pitch. They even had the sense to include our very own Tim Fielding to provide a supporter’s view of the priorities for the club’s development.

The recruitment and coaching staff now have a wealth of knowledge and contacts, with the club being prepared to invest in the likes of Tommy Johnson and David Dunn. I feel that sound recruitment and development always leads to long-term success and I see this as a huge step in the right direction.

Even the pitch has had investment, with a new covering of…what’s that strange green stuff called…oh yes, grass! Sorry, we haven’t seen it for such a long time… And with the new artificial lighting this has shown immediate results – with a sound playing surface, the quality of which is not judged by the resulting turnip harvest.

Above all, however, I feel a real sense of community spirit returning. We finally have an owner that appreciates the link between the club and the town and sees the need for mutual interest between the two. Of course I care if BFC is successful, but I care more that it’s a community asset that I can feel proud of! The new owners put up our flags, have the community trust, training open days…

We have a Supporters' Liaison Officer in Steve Rowland who genuinely cares and will always try and do what’s right for the fans, building bonds not breaking them…treating the fans as important club assets, not a disruptive inconvenience. Fans are boisterous - even at times embarrassing - but they are tangerine and that should always come first. No football club should sue its own fans. Ever. Period. Blackpool’s former owners forgot that and the moment they did so was an irreversible tipping point for so many fans, myself included.

The players may lose on a Saturday, but if they give their all, then get involved in community issues and give something back, I will cheer them until the day I die!

Throughout the club, I see signs not just of investment, not just of better facilities and new paint, but of happiness and engagement. I feel that the club want me there, want the local kids there (who are without doubt the club’s future) and the smiling faces all around the ground are testament to that.

So, how can I summarise my new-found happiness? Well, perhaps to complete my previous analogy, it feels like we’re no longer scanning the luncheon meat shelf…we’ve figuratively moved over to the deli counter. Now no-one’s suggesting we’re suddenly going to be feasting on fillet steak and Dover Sole, but perhaps a Sainsbury’s ready meal may be the order of the day…and I can already Taste the Difference!

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PIRATE PROGRAMMES by Peter Duerden ‘Pirate Programmes’ were sold at football stadiums usually before a big match, like the FA Cup. They look like an official match programme, but a closer look will show you that they are indeed fake and not officially licensed. These have been sold as early as the 1900s - and it is likely that they were sold under the guise of an official programme to excited fans.

Here is a selection of Blackpool FC ‘Pirate Programmes’ from FA Cup Semi-Final and Finals matches.

PIRATE PROGRAMMES by Peter Duerden

NOT SO GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Mitch Cook’s Left Foot Someone once told me that the enemy of true love is expectations. The secret was to not have any, and thus you'd remain exciting to each other forever more and resentment could never form.

I think that's much the same as my relationship with The Mighty. I expect nothing from them and they ask little of me (beyond the cost of the ticket, the merchandise, the streak of masochism required to return week upon week, the enforced five-year estrangement and the strength of character to endure regular shamings in full public view).

My relationship with The Mighty is my longest lasting love affair. Therefore, when coming to this new season of hope and new beginnings, I did my level best to just take things easy. I tried to not picture us at Wembley or running out onto Championship pitches the season after, frolicking through lush green turf, casting the opposition asunder, arms around each other, chanting as one: 'Simon Grayson's Tangerine Army'.

I tried my very, very best not to fall head over heels in love with the new look, new era. Didn't we all?

I should've tried harder - seen the wisdom in those words. Steeled myself to just drink in the moment and enjoy the roller coaster, whether it was going up or down. This is a wisdom that comes with time.

All that happens just makes us wiser - and what hurts us now makes us stronger tomorrow.

Fine words...but this the heart we're talking about. The madness of love.

*Reader: what is this lad going on about?* *Writer - fair point, I'll get on with it...* Which is where I finally get around to something resembling a football article. Every time The Mighty have achieved anything remotely resembling success in my life, it's been a surprise. It's come at a point when I didn't expect it.

*Reader: Are you making another allusion to the nature of romance there?*

*Writer: Perhaps I am…*

*Reader: FFS, get on with some football* *Writer: Ok, but be warned, I mention Žarko Grabovač... *

We got up from League Two under Macca after being battered 7-0 at Barnet in the same season.

(Amazingly, I was one of the few not there; I was in a pub in Yorkshire watching the scores come in to the delight of my fellow drinkers).

We went up from League One under Larry, on the back of an astonishing run of games after a season that not that long before was seeming pretty grumpy and bad tempered.

Then Ollie. I still don't quite know where that came from or how it happened, or how we nearly stayed up despite signing ridiculous players and pretty much everything outside the actual football being jaw-droppingly calamitous.

The point is, either before or during those seasons, we didn't expect what came next.

Let's not talk about Bradford and Fat Sam - except to say it kind of proves the (admittedly longwinded) point I'm trying to make.

18

NOT SO GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Mitch Cook’s Left Foot Here's another thing. On that journey, we've seen some tremendous players. Tricky Trev, Wizard Wes, King Charlie to name but a few.

But what is odd is that I actually remember some of the lesser lights far better than I should. Neil Whitworth's astonishing incompetence, heading a ball that wasn't there (twice), Scott Darton's stunningly consistent ineptitude, the heart in the mouth feeling of watching Chris Clarke or the sense of bafflement that Richard Kingson turned out to be the only available goalie in the whole world. Žarko Grabovač blundering about, signed by the same man who saw Matt Shaw as a bona fide footballer.

It's these players (and so many others) that make us appreciate those that shine like diamonds. It's willing them on, only to be let down time and time again that makes you really appreciate it when Wes glides past three and pops it into the top corner.

It's all the times that magic *didn't* happen that makes that moment magic. No light without dark.

It's why, really, deep down, we should learn to appreciate it when Super Gnands football genius takes 15 seconds to collect the ball and change direction; or Joe 'The Beast' Nuttall gets that panicked look in his eye and scuffs it to the keeper; or when Curtis 'Steady' Tilt runs with his arms pumping like a vintage steam engine out of control, bowling the opposition out of the way as if he has a snowplough affixed to him but, crucially, forgets the ball and, woefully out of position, is forced to turn, run back and rugby-tackle the forward to the ground.

For without these rain clouds, would the sun feel as warm when it shines?

After a pretty mediocre run, I can't claim to be going to games full of optimism - nor am I feeling in my bones that 'it just needs to click and today is definitely the day!' In fact, I'm finding it increasingly hard to visualise the sort of football fantasy I was having earlier in the season.

*A beautiful one touch move, then Kaikai ghosting past three, dummying a shot, leaving it to Feeney, who puts it on plate for Gnanduillet to nod down for Matty Virtue, ghosting in unseen and the crowd go mad. 5-0 and it's not even half time* But...perhaps that's exactly where we need to be. No expectations. Then things stay interesting.

Then - perhaps then - The Mighty can surprise us.

Someone said 'you can't hurry love' and, despite Phil Collins doing his best to ruin the sentiment, it is true that it don't come easy.

Nothing ever does for us. And that's the way we like it. We might not win today - or next week or even the week after - but, when we do, it will feel sweet. Sweeter than all the brain-dead, armchair, 606-ringing, outraged-at-being-sixth supporters of 'big' clubs will ever know.

One day, we'll sweep all before us in a tsunami of tangerine wizardry and everything that is now, then and tomorrow will have led to that moment.

Even Anthony Evans.

Keep the faith.

UTMP. 19

BST: LIFE AFTER PROTEST by Christine Seddon Some of our Members occasionally ask us what the focus of our efforts is now that the Oyston family have finally left the club. It’s a fair question; when an organisation gains much of its initial momentum from protest, what does it do to sustain it once the need for protest is over?

The first thing that it does, of course, is to do all the things that other Supporters’ Trusts up and down the country have been doing ever since they were formed. Primarily, that is representing the interests of its Members - the club’s supporters - in its dialogue with the football club.

We are lucky in that our new owner is the complete opposite of what we had before in terms of ambition, but he and his senior management team face a huge job in sorting out the shambolic mess they inherited and putting the club on a footing where it can not only compete for success, but also sustain itself as it goes forward.

This is a club where dialogue between fans and owners had been practically non-existent; contributing to the Fans Forum, mobilising volunteers to help the club with the clean-up operation and forging strong links with the club’s new Supporters Liaison Officer are all important and timeconsuming tasks.

The second big thing for the Trust is to continue, and strengthen, our efforts to reach out to the local community, from which the club draws much of its support. Working with the Community Trust is a big part of this; supporting prominent and emerging charities who help the most needy in the community – Home Start, The Boathouse Youth and Amazing Graze to name but three - is another.

On a more prosaic level, laying a wreath last week at Jimmy Armfield’s statue to mark the second anniversary of his passing is the kind of thing the Trust feels it should be doing, and the kind of thing our Members would EXPECT us to do. In a community with the deep-seated challenges that Blackpool faces, all this is a seemingly never-ending area of work; but, while it needs to be done, the Trust will continue to put its best foot forward.

The third thing we do is to recognise that, nationally, the need for protest, or at least to campaign for reform, remains as strong as ever. The Trusts’ view of the way the EFL in particular manages its relationship with clubs - and its failure to properly regulate the game - are well-documented.

These issues have not gone away. Everyone is familiar with the horror stories at Bolton and Bury. But Macclesfield and Oldham are struggling to keep their heads above water; Doncaster have still not got a satisfactory response from the EFL to the unilateral decision by Bolton Wanderers not to fulfil their early-season fixture, this being an issue that may prove to be very contentious if Doncaster remain in play-off contention. Meanwhile, in the Championship, the EFL remain at loggerheads with Sheffield Wednesday and Derby over alleged breaches to the financial regulations. The latter club in particular are threatening the EFL with legal action, insisting that they have done nothing wrong and implying that the EFL don’t have a firm grasp of the detail of their own rules. Stop us if any of this sounds familiar…

These issues will rumble on for some time yet. BST has a strong presence on the Football Supporters Association, and continues to play an active role in ensuring that these issues are not just swept under the carpet.

The underlying message is - your Trust is busy on many fronts and we don’t expect that to change any time soon. If you aren’t a Member, a mere £5 per year helps support all that effort, and every one of you who joins the Trust strengthens our mandate to fight for all these causes on behalf of ALL our supporters. If you are already a Member, we thank you again for your continued support. We literally could not do all the things we do without you.

20

GREEN TANGERINE BLUES by Steve Rowland

With the long war won, we reclaimed our own, albeit run into the ground; sang anthems in exuberance at being home and in the zone.

At least the healing had begun.

Rejuvenation though, that will take some time, months one would imagine.

So much to put to rights.

Greedy though we are to taste success after those barren years, it doesn't happen overnight, not in the real world.

Frustrating as it is, this halting progress towards our dreams, when schemes occasionally go awry, it's vital that we find the right way to play together, build a whole community afresh, create momentum, fashion a formidable group, recoup the scene as was before it all went horribly wrong.

Too much is new still, green, unproven, far from ready; a slightly sour but not unpalatable truth.

What's required is patience, some degree of latitude, and… our unwavering belief this fruit will ripen and find favour with us all; another season in the sun after pouring rain, a harvest to savour, new sonorous refrains. It will come to pass...just play on.

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JIMMY ARMFIELD: A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE by Phil Corbett The anniversary of the death of Jimmy Armfield has prompted a few memories to come to the fore.

Like me, Jimmy Armfield was born in Denton, to the south of Manchester. Like me, he moved to Blackpool as a child and was educated in a rugby-playing grammar school. That’s where the similarities end, because he went on to an illustrious career as a player, with a record 627 appearances for his adopted home town. When I started watching Blackpool in the 1965/66 season he was still an integral part of the team and an England international. That career had already seen him playing for well over a decade at the top level and he had been England captain for 15 of his 43 caps. He had been named best right back in the world at the 1962 World Cup and would have been playing in the most famous of England’s games when the Cup was secured in 1966 if it hadn’t been for an unfortunate injury that saw him lose his place to Fulham’s George Cohen. He was still a squad member and deservedly received his medal when it was retrospectively awarded in the early 90s.

He continued playing until 1971, retiring as Blackpool dropped out of the top flight with a game against Manchester United. His status in the game was clear to see as both teams lined up in front of the tunnel to applaud him onto the pitch. I was at that game and vividly remember the ovation he got from all there.

Following retirement from playing, Jimmy went into management, initially with Bolton and then famously at Leeds United, where he guided the club to the European Cup Final, losing out to Bayern Munich, despite taking over in difficult circumstances after the acrimonious but brief reign of Brian Clough. After unluckily losing that job, he called time on the precarious role and moved into journalism, firstly with the Daily Express then as a respected radio pundit with the BBC. His authority on the game was also recognised by the FA, who consulted him in the appointment of a series of England managers, most notably Terry Venables. He was also regularly consulted by many Blackpool managers, with Ian Holloway in particular always happy to have a conversation with the great man.

Jimmy was awarded a number of honours, including a CBE for services to the community in Lancashire plus numerous football merit awards, including being inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. Unusually, his statue features outside two football grounds, with one paid for by the fans outside Bloomfield Road, the other as part of the tribute to Tameside’s World Cup winners outside Curzon Ashton’s ground along with Geoff Hurst and Simone Perrotta.

He was a regular at functions for Blackpool Football Club, although a highlight for me was his 80th birthday bash held at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Everyone there was there because they recognised him as a true gentleman. I don’t know anyone who’s ever had a bad word about him. His ability as a church organist was tested that night to the full when he played the famous Wurlitzer.

I don’t think we’ll ever see his like again. Mr Blackpool. How he was wasn’t knighted, I’ll never know.

Jimmy Armfield: a true Blackpool legend.

22

FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION by John Cross

The Blackpool FC Former Players Association are organising a dinner on Thursday 9th April to celebrate a special anniversary.

The occasion marks 50 years since the Seasiders won promotion to the old First Division in 1969/70 season, winning 3-0 on that wonderful night at Deepdale, courtesy of a Fred Pickering hat-trick. Oh what a night that was!

All of our former players will be invited along but of special note will be those who are still around from the 69/70 promotion season and the 70/71 First Division season.

The dinner will be held in the Stanley Matthews Lounge at Blackpool FC. The following day, Good Friday, the Pool are at home to Rochdale. This represents a chance for our exiled fans to come along to the celebration dinner and stay over (in the BFC Hotel of course!) for the game the day after.

The food on oer will be a hotpot supper or pie & peas. Ticket prices are TBC and the dress code will be smart casual or you can wear your football shirt if you like. Please mark the date of Thursday 9th April in your diary and contact John Cross on 07984 940879 or johndcross53@gmail.com to reserve your place.

23

MEMORABILIA by Peter Duerden VALENCIA V BLACKPOOL 3RD JUNE 1956 The match that never took place…

This advert for a match between Valencia v Blackpool scheduled for 3rd June 1956, appeared in a newspaper style programme on 27th May 1956 for Valencia v Glasgow Rangers. Bizarrely, the Blackpool match never took place. Was it ever actually scheduled to take place or not, who knows?

Note the spelling of Blakpool…!! Can anyone shed any light on this mystery?

Blackpool did play Valencia in the “Trofeo Naranja” a few years later in 1962 which Blackpool lost 6-1. _________________________________________________________________________________ LETTER FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF ATHLETICO BILBAO A classy letter from the General Secretary of Athletico Bilbao offering their congratulations to Blackpool F.C on their victory in the 1953 FA Cup Final. Spanish and English versions.

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MEMORABILIA by Peter Duerden TRAIN TICKETS “Specials” or trains as they are more commonly known were a frequent mode of mass transportation for football supporters mainly in the 1970’s. Chartered by supporters groups, local sporting clubs or the Football Club itself, they were used for FA Cup matches or league matches where a large away following was anticipated.

Unfortunately, there were frequent outbreaks of hooliganism on the trains and they were mainly withdrawn.

However, some may recall the extremely slow train, aka “Thomas The Tank” which took Blackpool fans to Highbury for the FA Cup match against Arsenal on Monday 13th December 1999.

For London clubs travelling to the North West, many supporters would use the train. Here are two such tickets, Chelsea in 1976 and Spurs a year later in 1977. Note how the train stopped at Blackpool South rather than North Station located in the town centre.

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25

SECOND REPLAYS AND BEYOND by icywaves As a result of us having the FA Cup third round replay against Reading, it occurred to me that the chances of us having future replays in the cup competitions is diminishing every year. The current situation is that replays only take place up to and including the fourth round of the FA Cup and not at all in the League Cup.

Then it occurred to me that once upon a time there used to be second replays and beyond - but this practice was stopped in 1991. In 1971 Alvechurch and Oxford City played six matches (original tie plus five replays) before Alvechurch finally won their fourth round qualifying tie, so this will stay on record forever as the longest ever FA Cup tie. In the competition proper, the record is five matches.

This tie involved Arsenal and SheďŹƒeld Wednesday, who battled away over five matches in 1979 before Arsenal won.

Blackpool have never been involved in a tie of such epic proportions but, in my 60 years of watching Blackpool, I can recall a few second replays taking place in both the FA Cup and League Cup. Having consulted the archives, I can find only seven such instances where Blackpool played a second replay - one of which went to a third replay.

The first one took place in the first round of the 1906 FA Cup against Crystal Palace. After drawing 1-1 both home and away, the second replay took place on neutral ground at Aston Lower Grounds in Birmingham. We eventually won the tie 1-0 with a goal by Francis in front of an amazing 2,500 crowd.

Next was in the first round of the 1912 competition when we faced Crewe Alexandra. The first match was a 1-1 draw at Crewe and then the replay at home was abandoned after 61 minutes with Blackpool leading 2-0. Eventually the rescheduled replay ended in a 2-2 draw before we eventually won 3-1 after extra time back at Crewe.

It was a long wait until the next one, which was in the season following our glorious FA Cup victory, which was actually the round immediately after it. In the third round of the 1954 FA Cup it took four games to dispose of Luton Town. In the first game at home we drew 1-1 with a Stan Mortensen goal.

Thereafter there was a goalless draw at Kenilworth Road. Next there was a 1-1 draw at Villa Park with Harry Johnston scoring. Finally the tie was settled at Molyneux, when we won 2-0 with goals from Bill Perry and Len Stephenson. The total attendance at these matches was just over 117,000. Note that Stephenson was a little known centre forward at the time who was actually born in Blackpool. He only made 28 appearances for us but scored 11 goals.

Next there was the first of our League Cup second replays. In 1962, in only the third season of the League Cup, we played Manchester City in the second round and initially drew 0-0 at Maine Road.

Next we drew 3-3 at home with goals from Des Horne, Johnny Watt and Ray Parry, before going back to Maine Road and losing 4-2 with two John McPhee goals.

The next three second replays are all in more recent times - and therefore within my Blackpool supporting era. In the second round of the League Cup against Bournemouth in 1972 we drew 0-0 away and then drew 1-1 at home with Alan Suddick scoring. The second replay was played at Villa Park and we came out 2-1 winners with goals from Dave Hatton and Frank Barton. I remember going

26

SECOND REPLAYS AND BEYOND by icywaves to all these games, travelling to the away games on the old original Supporters Club coach. I stood on the Holte End at Villa Park where the attendance was a meagre 2,337 so, as you can imagine, there was quite an eerie atmosphere.

In 1976 the next occurrence took place, this time in the League Cup third round against Arsenal.

Firstly we drew at home 1-1 thanks to a Mickey Walsh goal followed by a ‘backs to the wall’ goalless draw at Highbury. By this time, the idea of playing second replays on neutral ground had ended and the clubs tossed a coin to determine which of the competing teams would host the tie. Once again I travelled down to Highbury for the first replay on the Supporters Club coach. I remember that we stopped for an hour on the way back in a pub on the outskirts of London, where we found out that we had lost the toss and so would have to traipse all the way back to Highbury the following week.

This we duly did, but this time we lost 2-0.

Our seventh and probably last ever second replay was in 1990 in the FA Cup fifth round against Queens Park Rangers. We had beaten Bolton, Chester, Burnley and Torquay to reach this stage of the competition. Once again we were at home first against higher League opposition and drew 2-2 with Paul Groves and David Eyres goals. Three days later another valiant performance got us a goalless draw at Loftus Road. I remember finding out the following day that once again we had lost the dreaded toss so it was back to London again a week later to suffer an inglorious 3-0 defeat.

So that is a potted history of Blackpool FC and second replays and beyond. Sadly it is a phenomenon that will probably never be seen again.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Here is the advert for the first plastic football taken in 1956 on the Bloomfield Road, pitch with the great Stanley Matthews. I am the young 12 year old lad in the middle with my Blackpool kit on. Some 50-odd years later here am I at Wembley supporting the Pool at one of the playoffs.

HOWARD CARTER

27

CYRIL ROBINSON 1929-2019 by Gerry Wolstenholme Cyril Robinson, the last surviving member of Blackpool Football Club's FA Cup winning side of 1953, has died aged 90.

Born in Bulwell, Nottingham, on 4 March 1929, Robinson's talent at half back was spotted by a Blackpool scout after he had played for the England Boys’ Clubs' side. Blackpool duly signed him from Basford Hall Boys’ Club (Nottingham area) on 10 September 1949 after he had been on the books of Mansfield Town as an amateur. Ironically a scout for another Football League club said at the time 'I had my eye on him for a long time and twice I reported to my club about him but they would not listen to me. Now look what has happened, Blackpool stepped in and signed a jolly good prospect.’

He spent his first season with Blackpool playing in the junior sides, appearing regularly in the Blackpool ‘B’ side and starring for it when Blackpool defeated Bolton Wanderers ‘B’ 4-0 at the Co-operative Ground, Marton on 22 October 1949. His performances were such that he gained promotion to the Central League side, making his debut at that level against Manchester United reserves on 26 August 1950 when the game was drawn 0-0.

He earned praise from the critics at whatever level he played, for instance when playing for Blackpool ‘B’ on 28 October 1950, Jack Ainscough was 'well supported by wing halves Proctor and Robinson' in his endeavours to keep Fleetwood at bay and in the Blackpool Lancashire Mid-Week League side’s 2-0 victory over Southport on 25 October 1950 'The Blackpool defence had little wrong with it. Cyril Robinson played another fine game, his third in five days as a full back.' Blackpool won the game 2-0.

He played 25 Central League games, scoring one goal - his first senior goal for the club - in a 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa reserves on 13 January 1951 - in the 1950/51 season, proving his versatility by operating between left half and left back.

Due to the strength of the Blackpool first team, he had to wait two years for his debut in the League side and he made it at right half against Middlesbrough on 27 October 1951. And 'he made a most satisfactory debut considering that he was up against willo’thewisp Mannion' as the game was drawn 2-2. He gave another sound display at left half against West Bromwich Albion on 3 November 1951 as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. And he boosted his reputation even further with a polished performance against mighty Newcastle United on 10 November 1951 and he scored one of Blackpool’s goals, his first League goal, in a 6-3 victory. The press comment was 'Robinson still has to master the finer arts of the game and it would not be wise or fair to lavish praise at this early stage of his career.'

Having returned to his more familiar position of left half, he scored his second League goal for the club in a 4-2 victory over Stoke City on 24 November 1951. Ironically he was not in the side for the following game and it was not until 22 December 1951 that he returned to the League side in a 3-1 victory over Huddersfield Town. And he made his first Christmas Day appearance for the club in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on 25 December 1951 but the return of Hughie Kelly for the following game saw him out of the side once again.

He ended the 1951/52 season having played 10 League games, scoring two goals, one FA Cup tie and 21 Central League games, scoring one goal. In the Central League side he played most of his games at left half but he also appeared at left back and outside left and he showed his capabilities once again by playing at inside left in a Lancashire Senior Cup tie against Preston North End on 23 January 1952 as Blackpool lost 1-0.

Having played a close season friendly game against Hamburg at Bloomfield Road on 29 April 1952, injury to Eddie Shimwell gave him a place in the League side at left back against Preston North End on 25 August 1952. The game was drawn 1-1 and the comment in the following week’s programme was 'Cyril Robinson, introduced into the team at left full back, was allotted the unenviable task of marking the elusive Tom Finney and, as the object of our visitors appeared to be to utilise the England outside right at every possible opportunity, our young defender had a very busy time indeed, yet he came through with flying colours.'

28

CYRIL ROBINSON 1929-2019 by Gerry Wolstenholme Despite these plaudits he played only one further League game that season when injury to Hughie Kelly meant a recall to the League side in the final game of the season when he appeared at left half in a disastrous 5-0 defeat by Manchester City. However, there was a silver lining for Robinson as Kelly’s injury also gave him a place in the FA Cup final side against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley on 2 May 1953. He did himself no harm as Blackpool won 4-3 and he gained a Cup-winners medal after having played in only 12 League games and one FA Cup tie for the club. In addition to the Final, he played two League games and 26 Central League games, scoring one goal, in the 1952/53 season.

At the close of the 1952/53 season, along with Dave Durie, Billy Wright, Stanley Hepton and Ken Booth, he was regarded as one 'destined to win fame' at the club. [Ironically of this group, only Durie had an extended Blackpool career.]

The 1953/54 season saw him sidelined from the League side and he did not make his first League appearance of the season until 24 October 1953 when Blackpool defeated Middlesbrough 1-0. His absence was no reflection of his ability, it was simply that Blackpool had a settled team of internationals and seasoned professionals. Indeed he played only four League games in the 1953/54 season - he also played 20 Central League games - but he did give another fine performance in an FA Cup tie as Blackpool defeated Luton Town 2-0 in the third replay of the third round FA Cup tie against Luton Town on 25 January 1954. Charlie Buchan in the Daily Express wrote of the match, 'Rarely have I seen Blackpool’s half backs play better, and really it was a reserve line on duty. John Crosland and Ewan Fenton always met the ball squarely and Cyril Robinson worked like a Trojan in attack and defence.'

After touring the continent and playing in a 2-1 victory over RW Essen on 16 May 1953, it was the same scenario in the 1954/55 season when his only opportunities came when Hughie Kelly was injured. He made six consecutive appearances as a replacement for Kelly before he returned to the Central League side, for which he played 18 games during the season. His final League game for the club turned out to be a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End on 9 October 1954 and the last game he represented Blackpool was in the Central League against Barnsley reserves on 30 April 1955 when Blackpool won 3-1. His lack of opportunities had caused him to ask for a transfer in December 1954 and he was placed on the transfer list at his own request.

His Blackpool career had encompassed 22 League games, scoring two goals, three FA Cup ties, 110 Central League games, scoring three goals, and two European games when he moved on to nonleague side Northwich Victoria for the 1955/56 season after Wrexham had been keenly interested in signing him until they eventually dropped out of the bidding.

He spent one season at Northwich Victoria before he returned to League football when he joined Bradford Park Avenue in June 1956. He was immediately made captain at Bradford although he was still training at Blackpool. He went on to play 89 League games and score three goals for the Yorkshire club before being transferred to Southport in July 1959; he played 37 League games for the Sandgrounders.

After his League career he played for a number of non-league sides: Lancaster City, for whom he signed in December 1960, Buxton FC, Fleetwood and Blackpool Mechanics, a club that he later managed in the mid-1960s. In addition he spent the summer of 1961 playing for Toronto City in the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and he also played for Hellas of Adelaide from 1963-65, when in addition he spent some time with Newcastle FC of Sydney.

He became head groundsman at Bloomfield Road for a number of years after retiring from the playing and administrative side of the game and fine tuned his golf, playing at Blackpool North Shore with his great pal and former team-mate Bill Perry. He also ran a newsagent’s business in Blackpool.

He remained a great supporter of Blackpool Football Club, was much admired by supporters and was ever willing to attend special events. He died, after a lengthy illness, on 9 November 2019.

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TH’OWD FELLAH Well, there’s only one way I can start this: What th’ell has happened to our season?? It were turning out to be a half decent season even wi’ complete clowns for referees. Are they getting worse, or is it my age? I got home after th’ Lincoln game feeling reet down and there were Nora’s sister and her husband, to make matters worse, th’little twerp was sat in my seat. It’s a bit like being visited by the plague when they come, they certainly concentrate th’mind.

Nora comes from a big family, th’Cockwrights, and has quite a few brothers and a sister.

Her sister, Rhoda, met her intended, Elisha Borrox, at a Halloween Party: he went as a pumpkin because he were th’right height and shape. That’s why we call him Eli, for short.

Poor sod’s only five foot tall and comes from a family of the vertically challenged, so I suppose it’s not his fault really. It’s rumoured that he once played full back in a Subbuteo team, became a test driver for Scalextric, packed that in and then modelled for Action Man, although I don’t know what action he gets as he’s no kids.

His dad, who was Irish and was only 4’6, was known to be anaemic but worked as a hod carrier for Lego and then became a lumberjack for Cheswood Mushrooms. Anyway, I digress. Eli asked how th’Pool had fared and I started to tell him all about how Howard had improved again, with a fantastic penalty save in’th first half but wi little chance of saving the fluke goal they got. He gets a bit edgy when you mention small; I must remember not to use that word in future. He then surprised me and expressed a wish to come to see the’Pool play Sunderland in March...found out he were a closet Mackem.

Now, a man has to do what a man has to do so I showed him th’door, which he thowt were well painted. “Are ye not goin’ then,” I said. “Aye, I’ll be goin’ wi’ you,” he replied.

Somewhere we were getting our wires crossed and it were working me right up. “But tha can’t,” I said. “There’s only room onth’ tandem for me and Nora.” “Nora can stay and keep Rhoda company,” he said. Well I were blustificated. “Why don’t thee go home,” I said. “Truth is, Warwick, we can’t,” he said. “Th’ouse isn’t fit, so Nor’s given us th’spare room. He showed me a letter he had written to th’council. It went, ‘I am writing on behalf of my house, which is leaning to the left and needs re-pointing. The toilet roof has a number of tiles missing due to the severe wind we had t’other night and th’ lavatory seat is broken in half and is now in three pieces, where do I stand? My cooker has backfired and burnt my knob off and my wife is having trouble with her drawers in the kitchen.

Would you please send a man around with the right tool for the job and satisfy my wife, as I can’t please her at th’moment.’

What could I say? I couldn’t chuck Nora’s sister out on th’street, So look out for me, and a closet short-arsed Mackem wi’ a gag on when we go to th’game against Sunderland.

Nora’s smiling whilst drying her wet pussy by th’fire; looks like it had been caught wi’ a hosepipe depositing what they do, in someone’s garden. Anyway, a wet cat stinks but it seems dry now, so I’ll say tara tilth’next time. Up th’Pool.

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