Saturday 29th January 1898

When Blackpool defeated Small Heath 3-2 on 29 January 1898 it came as something of a surprise because the players “rose at dawn of day. They journeyed to Birmingham, ‘cribbed, cabined and confined’ as the poets say, in a musty railway carriage; and then they tumbled out upon a football field with legs unstretched and the midday meal undigested.” The critics’ view was that Blackpool played above themselves and “the Birmingham fellows were rocky”.

Saturday 29th January 1921

On 29 January 1921 Blackpool left the semi-quietitude of the League programme to undertake a second round English [later FA] Cup tie against Third Division Southend United. Back in Lancashire officials and supporters were cock-a-hoop as they all thought Blackpool’s prospects of progressing to the third round were “decidedly bright”. There was very little doubt that they would be going into the hat on the following Monday for the third round draw. Blackpool felt quite happy with their optimism as they were sitting pretty in fourth place in the Second Division with 31 points from 25 games while Southend were in 17th place in the Third Division with only 20 points from 25 games. Southend took the lead on 53 minutes with a cross-shot goal from Dorsett. It was not to be Blackpool’s day for when Mr Curtis blew the final whistle it was Southend United 1 Blackpool 0, a result that brought headlines from the Gazette & Herald that read GOODBYE CUP! Failure at Southend.

Saturday 29th January 1966

Alan Taylor began his football as a centre-half, starring for Claremont School, but by the time he signed as an amateur for Blackpool in September 1962 he had become a goalkeeper. Having spent three seasons in the ‘A’ team and reserve side, he made his league debut, replacing the injured Tony Waiters, against Fulham on 29 January 1966 and with Waiters still incapacitated he retained the spot for the game with Tottenham Hotspur a week later. Taylor did his long-term chances no harm as both games ended in a 0-0 draw with the headline ‘A Taylor‑made Draw’ appropriately covering the report of the first game with a further comment “part‑time keeper makes sure of a point for Blackpool”. He later became the club’s regular goalkeeper and made 106 appearances before moving to Southport.

---

---

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.