Monday 27th December 1954

Jimmy Armfield made his League debut on 27 December 1954 at Portsmouth when Blackpool lost 3-0. Of the unexpected call for his debut he later remarked, "Eddie Shimwell, our veteran full back, was injured, and on the Wednesday morning before Christmas, as I was having a long lie in – we were not training – I got a 'phone call from manager Joe Smith. He said I would be playing against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. I was out of bed like a shot, and by lunch-time on my way to Portsmouth with the rest of the Blackpool team." Of the game he recounted,“Blackpool played them at Bloomfield Road on Christmas Day and the only bit of Christmas celebration for us was snatching a meal at a hotel, then catching a train to London. That League debut at Fratton Park was not, I fear, a very conspicuous one for me. I found myself up against Gordon Dale, a very clever and strong winger with plenty of experience. He was far too good and we lost 0-3. Gordon really gave me the run-around, and I realised just how much I had to learn.” He also added, “They were a very good team in those days.  And they scored a goal in about the first two minutes – and I hadn’t touched the ball.  We were three down after 15 minutes.” Armfield was voted Young Player of the Year in 1959 and in 1966, he narrowly lost out to Bobby Charlton for the Footballer of the Year award and had to content himself with being Blackpool's Player of the Year. Armfield was awarded a testimonial match, played on September 2, 1970, his 35th birthday, and thousands turned out to pay tribute to him. He played his final game for Blackpool on May 1, 1971, against Manchester United at Bloomfield Road.

Jonathan Wright 1902

Played seven first team games and then broke his leg in 2-2 home draw with Preston North End on 27 December 1902. Messrs Pagnam, Rigby, Grantham, Moore, Tom Ward and others took their hats round the Bloomfield Road ground to collect for the goalkeeper and their efforts were rewarded as the spectators chipped in with £18 15s 4d [£8.77]. Friends of the team expected to make the final amount up to £20. An editorial in the Blackpool Herald proclaimed "It is regretted that such a promising career should have been interrupted thus early on by this most unfortunate accident. Wright had obviously some presentiment of impending ill, for on Saturday morning he remarked to a friend that he wished he had not got to play that afternoon." The later news from Blackpool Victoria Hospital was that his injury was not as serious as was first suspected. A matron said, "If there is any fracture, it is very slight.

James Carr 1930

Celebrated 20 years as a Football League player when Blackpool visited Highbury for the first time ever on 27 December 1930.  After the game George Allison went into the Blackpool dressing room and told him, "A grand goal Jack. The goalkeeper knew nothing about it."  He allegedly replied jokingly, "And I knew even less."  Although he had scored Blackpool's goal, it was not a happy anniversary for him for Arsenal won 7-1 even though he "played as consistently, nor cut such a figure in any games for a long time". Two successive Saturdays had seen him play in Blackpool teams that had lost 7-1 – an unenviable record!

Leslie Forster 1938

Made his League debut against Huddersfield Town on 27 December 1938 when Blackpool lost 3-0.  One critic wrote that he "had the sort of game which one should have expected" and "He soon learned that full backs in the First Division play closer on wing forwards than in the Central League."  And "As a consequence, he was often requiring a split second longer to take a pass than the Huddersfield men would give him."  However, "There were times, once or twice, when he was the direct raider he has been in the Blackpool second team recently. Then he revealed a lot of unexpected speed in possession of the ball and a complete command of it at full gallop."  The final view was "A bit of self-confidence and he may justify the faith which Blackpool people have in him.

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BLACKPOOL ON THIS DAY

Blackpool Football Club On This Day chronicles, in diary form, the major events in the Seasiders long and colourful history.

Full of fascinating daily facts and trivia about Blackpool FC's glorious history and colourful tradition that has been compiled and researched by a passionate Seasider fan Peter Gillatt an online fans site editor since 1996.

"This book is, therefore, an ideal opportunity for both me and all Blackpool Supporters to recall events in the clubs history." "Jimmy Armfield OBE, CBE"

Blackpool - On This Day is available now at £6.99 from Amazon and also from Waterstone's, HMV, WHSmiths, signed copies are only available from the Stripe Publishing bookshop on eBay.