Founded: 1887
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Capacity: 17,338
Address: Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ
Pitch Size: 112 yeards x 74 yards
Club Nickname: The Seasiders
Year Ground Opened: 1899
CCFC Kit Colour: Sky Blue
Famous Game: 1953 FA Cup Final
The 1953 FA Cup Final was held at Wembley stadium between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers after Blackpool beating Tottenham 2-1 and Bolton beating Everton 4-3 in the semi-finals. The game was considered the first major TV audience sporting event. The game got off to an exciting start with Bolton taking the lead two minutes in, Nat Lofthouse being first goal scorer. It took Blackpool until the 35th minute to equalise when Stan Mortensen got his first goal of the game. However, Bolton would retake the lead four minutes later, when captain Willie Moir scored, giving Bolton a 2-1 lead the break.
Bolton’s Eric Bell would double their lead on the 55th minute, making Bolton look in full control with 35 minutes to play. The lead would be brought back to one on the 68th minute when Mortensen got his second. The turn around would then be complete on the 89th minute when Stan Mortensen got his hat-trick which to this day is the only Wembley FA Cup final to feature a hat-trick.
The dramatic end to the game would not stop there though, as three minutes late Bill Perry bagged the winner for Blackpool. Despite the hat-trick from Mortensen, the final was actually named the Mathews final due to the performance by Stanley Matthews being a big instigator in Blackpool’s cup win.
Club Legend: Jimmy Armfield
Armfield started his career in 1954 at the only club he ever played for Blackpool and was part of the squad which to date is the highest Blackpool have ever finished, when in the 1955-56 season they finished 2nd in the First Division.
Armfield was voted young player of the year in 1959 and then Blackpool’s player of the year in 1966. After 17 years with Blackpool and making 569 club appearances, as well as 43 appearances for England.
Armfield played his last game against Manchester United at Bloomfield Road on the 1st May 1971. After retiring Armfield moved into management firstly with Bolton between 1971-1974 and then with Leeds between 1974-1978.
Armfield unfortunately passed away in Blackpool in January 2018.
Last Six
Lost- Rochdale 2-1 Blackpool
Drew- Wimbledon 0-0 Blackpool
Lost- Blackpool 0-1 Sunderland
Lost- Blackpool 0-3 Arsenal
Won- Portsmouth 0-1 Blackpool
Drew- Blackpool 0-0 Shrewsbury
Head-to-Head
Sky Blues (W): 9
Draw:5
Blackpool (W): 16
Opposition:
Terry McPhillips side currently sit level on points on the Sky Blues but one place above due to goal difference.
Blackpool have only won one of their four games in 2019, however it was very strong win against league leaders Portsmouth.
Having drew their most recent game against Shrewsbury at Bloomfield Road, the Seasiders will be looking to match their last result against Coventry where they won 2-0 and push themselves closer to the play-off positions.
Last Time We Met:
The last time the two clubs met was back in August when they met for their first league fixture between each other in the 2018-19 season.
The two teams showed why they are so close in the table when a hard fought first half kept the clubs at stalemate at the break. However, minutes into the restart a header from Mark Cullen but the home side into the lead.
Coventry responded great to the goal and looked to be working their way back into the game shown with the overall 15 shots taken by the Sky Blues. However, with ten minutes to play the Seasiders doubled their lead thanks to Joseph Dodoo.