Thursday 31st December 1970

For Brian Dear a few drinks in a Blackpool nightclub with some football legends were enough to damage his career back in 1970. Centre forward Dear, who host his place for the FA Cup Third round match to Best recalled. "The game was played on an awful pitch and we lost 4-0. Blackpool had a lad called Tony Green, who probably had the game of his life." The directors wanted to sack the lot, including the trainer. World Cup-winning skipper Moore, who died in 1993, ex-England idol Greaves and Dear were all fined a week's wages and banned for two games. Dear added: "I never played very much after that and at the end of the season was given a free transfer. I went into non-League with Woodford Town. "Jimmy only had another year's contract and he too ended in non-League. Bobby played on but they never made it easy for him and he moved to Fulham."

Saturday 31st December 1995

The 1995 festive season was a disastrous one for the club, a 4-0 defeat at York City on Boxing Day was followed by a home setback against Stockport County 24 hours later which earned Blackpool the headline “Christmas Puddings” but the greatest horror of them all still awaited. Blackpool went to St. Andrews to face promotion chasers Birmingham City with hopes of bouncing back from those two Christmas setbacks but despite taking the lead the Seasiders crashed to a 7-1 defeat which was their heaviest for decades. Respite eventually came two days later when Blackpool romped to a 4-0 victory at home to Peterborough United.

Gordon West 1960

West made his League debut against Aston Villa in 2-2 draw at Villa Park on 31 December 1960. The press comment was "Full marks to West for an impressive debut in which he showed the confidence of a veteran."  West himself called it "A week I'll not forget" and went on to say, "Before the match I was as nervous as a kitten.  I hardly ate anything at all, and when, about three hours before the kick-off, I was offered a nice juicy steak for lunch, I just toyed with it   I think the worst moment was in the dressing room, waiting to go out on to the field.  The lads must have sensed what I was feeling and did their best to keep the atmosphere light-hearted.  Jimmy Kelly said, 'If I get the ball at the start, I'll put it straight back to you.'  He did, too, even though it meant a 30-yard back pass and loud boos from the crowd."  Blackpool went 2-0 down to two goals by Villa centre forward Gerry Hitchens and West commented later, "I think I should have saved the second goal.  It was a wonderful shot by Gerry Hitchens, and I did get my fingertips to the ball, which did not cross the line until it had hit the inside of both posts, but I still fell I could have made a better attempt at it."  Blackpool eventually forced the draw through two Ray Parry goals, on the second of which West said "Then came that terrific last minute goal by Ray Parry.  I jumped for joy when it went in - and when Aston villa next raided I did my best to waste time without trying to make it look too obvious!"

Alan Suddick 1966, 1976 

Suddick playing in a more unusual outside left position, scored his first goal for the club in his third game, a 5-1 drubbing of Southampton on 31 December 1966. He was transferred to Stoke City for a fee of £12,000 on 31 December 1976.

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.