Bloomfield Road is a 17,338-capacity stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire, in an area known as South Shore. Blackpool finished the 200708 season in 19th place, escaping relegation by two points and ensuring their safety in a 11 draw with Watford on the final day of the Championship season. Gary Bowyer resigned in August 2018 after two years in charge, after the first game of the season for undisclosed reasons. It is the third stadium in the club's existence, the previous two being Raikes Hall Gardens and the Athletic Grounds. 200405: 6,031 (59%) [33], In June 2019, the ground came into the control of Simon Sadler, after he acquired a controlling 96.2% stake in Blackpool F.C.[34]. Stay at our seaside hotel | Blackpool FC Stadium Hotel Mid-table finishes in 196162 and 196263 (and an appearance in the League Cup semi-finals during the former) were offset by another lowly finish of 18th in 196364, with Alan Ball top-scoring with 13 goals. [6] The club won its first League game at Bloomfield Road on 12 October 1901, defeating Doncaster Rovers 31.[5]. Bloomfield Road is a football stadium in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which has been the home of Blackpool F.C. Before moving to Bloomfield Road, Blackpool had called two other grounds home during their short existence. The club were founder members of the Lancashire League in 1889 and were invited into the Football League Second Division in 1896. Accessing the Stadium. "[109], In June 2020, the club purchased a modular building for the training ground. A comment at the time was: "The new ground was not quite finished on Saturday and the linesman had plenty to do besides watching the game to keep the spectators from getting over the line. It was used for the first time for the visit of Southampton on 29 August 1925. Additionally, the two clubs amalgamated with the Lancashire League fixtures of Blackpool, because they were deemed easier than those of South Shore. Allardyce led Blackpool to a mid-table finish in his first season and saw the club knocked out of both cup competitions at the first hurdle. Nine players spent their entire professional playing careers with Blackpool:[105]. Brentford were the visitors for a game that ended goalless. It replaced the old Spion Kop and is connected to the West Stand by the North-West Corner stand. On 10 August 1991, seven days before the season kicked off with the visit of Walsall, county council inspectors were at the ground to give the club's new police control box the final go-ahead. [90], On 28 August 2010 Blackpool played Fulham in their first-ever home Premier League game, in front of a crowd of 15,529, the largest attendance for over 30 years at Bloomfield Road. It is the third stadium in the club's existence, the previous two being Raikes Hall Gardens and the Athletic Grounds . In 2014, Jose Riga became the club's first foreign manager. Fletcher, King Howard Associates, the construction project managers, further confirmed that this was part of a 40-week programme with the stand due to be completed by May 2009. [5] Also that year, the North-West Stand was condemned in the wake of stricter safety standards. Capacity: 28,723 (all seated) Address: Burnden Way, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6JW. The western half of the Kop was closed, with the eastern half open only to visiting support and the East Paddock became segregated. Around 1976, the Evening Gazette and The Green paint was changed to black-on-green firstly, then black-on-white, while the Premier Garage and Vauxhall & Bedford sections were repainted to feature an advert for Lancaster-based Oliver Rix's British Leyland Garages[78] in tangerine lettering on a blue background. 201516: 7,052 200304: 6,326 (62%) On 18 February, after just over a month without an appointment, the club made former England captain Paul Ince their third manager of the campaign. They were in North Group B, with Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Liverpool and Sunderland. The final Christmas Day fixture at Bloomfield Road occurred in 1965, with the visit of Blackburn Rovers. Football had developed in Blackpool by 1877, when Victoria F.C. This stand is at the north end of the ground. In his first full season in charge, Blackpool were promoted to Division Two by winning the play-offs. With an extension of the East Paddock, the capacity of the ground was raised to 38,000 in 1954. Largely unchanged since the 1960s, the stadium began a redevelopment phase in the early 2000s. A webcam was fitted so fans could keep track of the progress of construction in the East Stand. The kick-off was scheduled for 10o'clock in the evening, but the game actually got underway at 10.40pm. [129] For the 202021 season, FTS became the back-of-shirt sponsor. Blackpool FC Stadium Hotel offers 66 contemporary rooms with comfortable fabrics and modern amenities. In addition, the piles for each pylon had been sunk to a depth of 37 feet to ensure they had a firm base. This article is about the men's football club. [44] On 14 May 2008, Blackpool-based radio station Radio Wave 96.5 announced on their website and news bulletin that work was to commence on the South Stand in the summer. This will mean a larger stand is to be built, which will require additional land to be acquired. The main entrance to the ground used to be on Bloomfield Road, via the South Stand; however, the development of the ground that began in the first few years of the 21st century meant it is now from Seasiders Way, via the Matthews Stand on the west side of the ground. "I've jumped on the best ride of my life and I don't want to go home."[31][32]. Who do you want to win? In the summer following the Trophy win, McMahon resigned, believing he could not take the club any further with the budget he was being offered. were founded as a church club with a ground in Caunce Street. Blackpool knocked Premier League side Derby County out of the League Cup at the second-round stage on 28 August 2007. [52] This was countered by a run of nine defeats in 10 games, which resulted in Ince being sacked on 21 January 2014, 11 months into his tenure. [35], In October 2009, a replica of the club's crest, measuring 4 metres (13 feet) in diameter, was mounted at each end of the West Stand's facade, overlooking Seasiders Way.[36][37]. The 192425 season was not as successful; a 17th-placed finish tempered only slightly by the club's reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. [97], Note: EFL clubs are limited to a squad of 22 senior players (aged 21 or over). [56] Riga was able to assemble a squad in time for Blackpool's first game against Nottingham Forest, but could still only name four substitutes instead of the permitted seven. Figures taken from the Safety Certificate document issued by Blackpool Council in November 2018. blackpool football stadium capacity - Stadium Capacity Blackpool's home at that point in time was Raikes Hall (also known as the Royal Palace Gardens), which was part of a large entertainment complex that included a theatre and a boating lake, amongst other attractions. [5] The Trotters won by a single goal.[13]. All info around the stadium of Blackpool. The club now uses tangerine socks, though navy was used as a secondary colour in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[86]. Stadium address: Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ. 201112: 12,764 (79%) At the end of 191011, the club found themselves in seventh place, thanks largely to Joe Clennell's haul of 18 goals. On 7 August 2001, a pre-season friendly against Spanish side Athletic Bilbao was held at Bloomfield Road. This stand, which is named Brands Scaffolding North-West Stand, joins the West Stand and the North Stand (The Kop) together, it has the same number of rows as the West and has the rest of the hospitality balcony directly above. Blackpool Stats & Records - Sky Sports Football On 1 May 2011, a nine-foot-tall bronze statue of Armfield was unveiled in front of his stand, exactly forty years after he retired from playing.[65]. Adding that "The preferred option is obviously to build a permanent South-West and South. This is the two-tiered stand that abutted Bloomfield Road. Less than two weeks later, Neil McDonald was sacked as manager. The stand had to be re-floored and following an inspection by the Safety Advisory Group, the capacity was reduced to 1,563 for the next home match against Coventry City on 22 December 2007. Blackpool were knocked out in the second round, the round in which they entered. The record attendance at Bloomfield Road occurred when Wolverhampton Wanderers visited on 17 September 1955. The atmosphere came almost exclusively from the south end, unless there was a large away following. Chief executive officer: Ben Mansford[115], Interim assistant coach: Matthew Blinkhorn, Blackpool were the first team to be promoted through all divisions of the Football League via the play-off system and the club has the most play-off trophies (6). 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. We are aiming to start work on the roof for the South-West Corner towards the third week of July. Former 'Pool player Dave Durie was also in attendance. For the first and only time in the club's history, four Blackpool players (Johnston, Matthews, Mortensen and debutant Ernie Taylor) represented England in the infamous 63 defeat by Hungary at Wembley on 25 November 1953. It was confirmed that the total capacity of the two new stands will be 3,500. Ticket Office: 0844 871 2932. It also houses the hotel entrance and a restaurant.[66]. The following year, a paddock was built in front of the stand to up the capacity. Blackpool FC Home Stadium. Known to the locals as Bloomers, Bloomfield Road is Blackpool's purpose-built football stadium. With the first team promoted to the Premier League, for the 201011 season the reserves competed in the Premier Reserve League. A new temporary East Stand with a capacity of 5,120 was built . Every home game is played to a thumping drum beat. In the mid-1950s, the roof featured three black-on-white adverts; the northern quarter was given over to the Evening Gazette and The Green,[76] while the middle two quarters featured an advert for Harold "The Riley Man of the North" Smith's Premier MG Garage on Bolton Street. In December 2007, following a home match against Stoke City, the stand was slightly damaged due to the appearance of a small hole in the floor. In February 1978, midway through 197778, Brown's second season at the helm, Blackpool were seventh in the division. In the 200607 FA Cup Blackpool reached the fourth round for the first time in 17 years, after beating Aldershot Town 42 at Bloomfield Road, but were knocked out by Norwich City, 32 after a replay at Carrow Road. [5] It was broadcast on ITV, billed as The Big Game, and three cameras were sited at the back of the Spion Kop. On 14 November 2009 it was revealed that the football club hope to work with Urban Regeneration Company ReBlackpool to build a new East Stand that would contain both seating and office or retail space rather than, as originally planned, for just seating. A new South Stand named after Jimmy Armfield was opened in 2010 with 3,600 seats. Blackpool supporters are known by the general terms Tangerine Army or Seaside Barmy Army. "[5], The Kop Shop opened for the first time for the visit of Everton on 19 September 1970. [29], The then-current England coach, Fabio Capello, was present at Bloomfield Road for its debut hosting of a Premier League game. He revealed that he spent the previous day in talks about the project but vowed he would make an announcement only when the time was right and all plans had been finalised.[5]. Blackpool FC is currently a member of the EFL Championship and plays at Bloomfield Road. The result meant Blackpool had beaten Forest in all four of the clubs' meetings in 200910. It was Smith's second season in charge, however, that marked the starting point of the success to come. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. [96] They have met 96 times across all four divisions of the Football League, including the old First Division, and eight times in either the FA Cup and League Cup (Blackpool having won none of the ties). Blackpool. [43] Seven of their 10 overall wins were obtained before the new year, and at the end of 2010 they sat in eighth place; however, seven defeats in the opening eight fixtures of 2011 saw them drop down the table. He was referring to the smoke that regularly drifted in at the north-west corner of the ground, caused by steam trains passing by. "[6] The official opening of the ground did indeed occur on 28 October 1899, when South Shore entertained Newton Heath in an FA Cup tie. But of what are they frightened?" It was described by Blackpool manager Ian Holloway as a "hell hole" in 2009, shortly after which chairman Karl Oyston pledged to build a new facility. The last of these was the club's shirt sponsors between 1997 and 2001 Telewest. In the 200809 season, it was 9,650. Behind the stand is a statue of Mortensen, which was unveiled on 23 August 2005 by his widow and Jimmy Armfield. This team disbanded a few years later but some of its members are understood to have merged with old boys from St John's School to form a new club called Blackpool St John's. Four days later, Blackpool completed their programme and were 16th with 37 points two points clear of Leyton Orient in the third relegation slot, with a vastly superior goal difference (1, which was four better than fifth-placed Blackburn Rovers). It includes changing facilities for players and staff, along with eating areas, meeting rooms and medical facilities. After a short spell back at Raikes Hall Gardens in 1899, during their season out of the League, and again for all but the first home game of the 190001 campaign, Blackpool made the permanent move to Bloomfield Road. In addition, the two clubs were merged with Blackpool's Lancashire League matches, because they were considered easier than those on the South Shore. [21] Four days later Blackpool broke their transfer record by signing Charlie Adam from Scottish champions Rangers for 500,000,[22] topping the 275,000 paid to Millwall for Chris Malkin in 1996. They returned to Wembley, where they faced Scunthorpe United in the final, the team they knocked out of the play-offs 12 months earlier. spelled out in white seats, the Jimmy Armfield South Stand (with the former player's last name spelled out in white seats) and the Sir Stanley Matthews West Stand (with one of the club's nicknames, "SEASIDERS", spelled out in white seats). [6], Once again, Blackpool returned to playing their home games at Raikes Hall for the remainder of the season. The stand passed an inspection after the Coventry game, and the capacity was restored to 1,965.[42]. The abbreviation "B.F.C." According to a survey conducted in 2019, Blackpool's other significant rivalries are with Bolton Wanderers, Burnley and Blackburn Rovers. Blackpool performance and form graph is a Sofascore unique algorithm that we are generating from the team's last 10 matches, statistics, detailed . Prior to 1924, there was only one Irish national team. In 2009, Blackpool supporters raised money for a memorial plaque for Kevin Olsson, who was stabbed to death on the Kop on 24 August 1974. Bloomfield Road - FootballFanCast.com I know we need to progress as a club and it is top of our agenda, believe me, but it wasn't right to do it now. [28] Blackpool had now, uniquely, been promoted through all three tiers of the Football League via the play-off system. The incident made front-page headlines nationally as "alarming and frightening developments" in football hooliganism. The first competitive game played at the ground took place on 21 October 1899, when South Shore played the 1st South Lancashire Regiment. Of Ferguson's 20 league games in charge, Blackpool won just three and finished the 201314 season in 20th place. Buckley's replacement was Sydney Beaumont, who took charge for the 192728 season, but he lasted only until the spring after the club finished in 19th position. The club first used the grounds in 1900 and has called it home every year since the 1901-1902 season. They won 31, but once the premature celebrations had ended, they discovered that their nearest rivals, Queens Park Rangers, had scored a last-minute winner at Aston Villa. Fax: 0844 871 2931. This was achieved without the services of Jimmy Armfield, who retired in May after 17 years and 627 appearances for the club. During the long years of Oyston ownership, Blackpool were relegated into the fourth tier in 1990, promoted via the play-offs in 1992, then relegated again in 2000. The ruling could have resulted in the club being deducted 12 league points; however, this was eventually ruled against by the EFL on 11 April 2019. After finishing third-bottom, the club were not re-elected at the end of the 189899 season, and spent the 18991900 term back in the Lancashire League. 12,296 (11,192 home; 1,104 away) people watched Blackpool's 11 draw with Bristol City as the hosts secured a final-day play-off spot. Their decision was met by fans with shock and anger, as Mortensen was as popular a manager as he was a player.[1]. Stan Ternent became Blackpool's seventh manager in nine years, only to be replaced in February 1980 by Alan Ball, the popular former Blackpool midfielder who left the club for Everton 14 years earlier. The ground was originally known as Gamble's Field, so-named for the farmer who owned the land, when South Shore F.C. In the summer of 2010, work was carried out on the stadium to prepare for the club's debut season in the Premier League. In January 2008, the club applied for planning permission to build a six-row extension to the East Stand which would increase the stand capacity by an additional 972 seats to 2,937. Home to local team Blackpool F.C since 1901, the 17,338 capacity ground is the 4th smallest stadium going into the 2015 Championship season before they were relegated. At the game, visiting fans began rioting on the open Spion Kop terracing, which was allocated exclusively for away supporters. Wigan Athletic were in line to be the first visitors to Bloomfield Road as a Premier League ground on 14 August,[27] but on 12 July it was announced that the East Stand would not be ready in time; as a result, the fixture was reversed. [58], On 6 April 2015, with six league fixtures remaining, Blackpool were relegated to League One. Since 201213, a Fylde Coast derby has developed with Fleetwood Town. [19], In January 2007, Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston reacted angrily to news that the town had lost out to rank outsiders Manchester in the race for the UK's first supercasino. Every seat would have access to restaurants, bars and fast-food outlets. Blackpool went to Old Trafford for the final match and were leading 21 12 minutes into the second half, but Manchester United, who were crowned champions a week earlier, took control and won 42 to condemn 19th-placed Blackpool to relegation along with Birmingham City and West Ham United. After Steve McMahon resigned as Blackpool manager in 2004, he said of the Tangerine support: "During my time here, the supporters have been fantastic and are a credit to the club. The friendly, which took place on 9 December 1935, attracted a crowd of over 5,000. Ball himself only lasted a year in the job, and departed when the club were relegated to the League's basement division. "[88] After Blackpool beat Newcastle United 21 on 16 September 2009, Scott Wilson of the Northern Echo wrote: "Almost 10,000 spectators created a hostile and intimidating atmosphere that was a throwback to footballing days gone by"[89] while the Sky Sports match report described the Blackpool support as "boisterous". The club was founded as Blackpool Metal Mechanics in 1947 before changing their name to Blackpool Mechanics.They initially played in local leagues on the Fylde coast.They won the Fylde District League Division Two title in the 1950-51 season and were promoted to Division One, where between 1953-54 and 1957-58 they were champions twice and runners-up three times in five consecutive seasons. Another run of defeats this time five in six put them in the relegation zone for the first time. 201920: 8,770 Further safety work was necessary in order for the stadium to continue staging League football. Coming from the south, supporters would have had to navigate their way through row after row of allotments along Central Drive from Waterloo Road.