I’d say the abandoned Rotherham match was our first real six pointer of this season and although I have this horrible feeling that last week’s defeat to a lower half of the table side in a bad run of away form may end up proving to be very damaging when it comes to what division we’ll be in next season, tomorrow afternoon at one of the three sides still below us has the feel of a real relegation shoot out.
Having failed dismally to show the sort of resilience and planning needed for a derby fixture, can the City team and manager do better tomorrow? I’m afraid my faith in the lot of them is still very low after the Swansea match (why did they struggle physically when they’d not played for a fortnight?), but, trying to be optimistic, I think a win would probably mean that Blackpool would not overhaul us.
Anyway, here’s seven Blackpool related question dating back to the sixties – I’ll post the answers on here on Saturday.
60s. I suppose the surname of this defender born not too far from Blackpool was suggestive of another sport, but it was football only for someone who served them for much of this decade. A loser in his one encounter with City, the highspot of his career undoubtedly came a fortnight later while playing in a new role against unsteady opponents from not too far away. However, just over a hundred appearances in eight years at Bloomfield Road showed that he was a squad player more than a regular first teamer and there was a loan move to a nearby peninsula towards the end of his time at the club. Upon his release, he had a short and unsuccessful spell with “the other team” in Blackpool’s most famous game – who am I describing?
70s. This forward began his career for a club not far from his north east birthplace and scored goals at a decent rate for them in the top flight without quite nailing down a regular starting place, so it was no surprise to see him figure in a player plus cash deal which took him to Blackpool. He tended to enjoy his encounters with City while he was wearing tangerine, but his career at league level was halted at twenty six by a knee injury not long after he’d reached fifty league goals in a career which only extended to a hundred and sixty odd matches. He still played at non league level, turning out for a county town side that he later managed and he also made a big impression by scoring seven times in fourteen times for a team whose name night have reminded him of the area he was born in except this was in America! Can you name him?
80s. Sadly, this Nottingham born player died at the age of just forty two and his first senior game, for another Lancashire side that also begins with a B, was not a happy occasion either as his team lost 7-0 in front of the Match of the Day cameras, although a consolation for him was that he was named man of the match by the local paper. Not too surprisingly following such a harrowing start, he only played fourteen times in seven years at his first club and he was loaned to Blackpool for a while before signing permanently for borderers who are a long way away from a return to the Football League currently. Shortly after that, Blackpool came into to sign him and he established himself as a first choice for the first time in his career – he did suffer defeat though at Ninian Park against a City team that were definitely not used to winning as the basement beckoned for the first time in the club’s history. His final club ensured that he played about ninety five per cent of his career in Lancashire as he signed for poor relations who were soon to enjoy the most successful spell in their history, although our man had left them long before they played in what is now called the Championship. Who am I describing?
90s. Wonky juvenile?
00s. I’m going too far in describing this scorer for Blackpool at Ninian Park during this decade as a kilt maker, but it sounds like he might have been!
10s. Somali dines with lead dancer before becoming loser in Cardiff! (5,7)
20s. Half of horticultural Watch with Mother pair carrying out dubious environmental practice?
Answers:
60s. Southport born Graham Rowe was in the Blackpool side beaten 2-1 at home by City in November 1968, but Rowe was picked up front in Blackpool’s next game at Bloomfield Road, against Bury, and scored a hat trick in a 6-0 win. Rowe was loaned to Tranmere not long before his release by Blackpool at the end of 70/71 and he began the following season at Bolton Wanderer only to leave after playing just six times.
70s Keith Dyson was born in Consent and signed for Newcastle in 1968. Three years later, Dyson was part of the deal which saw Tony Green transferred to Newcastle from Blackpool and he scored the first of three goals he managed against City for his new club a few months latter when he netted the winner in a 4-3 win at Ninian Park in January 1972. Forced to retire from the full time game in 1976. Dyson played for Lancaster City before a brief, but very successful spell in America with the Cleveland Cobras – Dyson would also manage Lancaster between 1979 and 1982.
80s. Billy O’Rourke was a goalkeeper who is probably best known for his first game for Burnley as they were beaten 7-0 at QPR in 1979 in front of the Match of the Day cameras. After being loaned to Blackpool, O’Rourke played, briefly, for Chester, before Blackpool signed him permanently to become their first choice keeper through the mid eighties. O’Rourke was in goals for Blackpool when they were beaten 1-0 at Ninian Park in February 1986 by a City team that would be relegated a few weeks later and had loan and permanent spells with Tranmere before leaving the game in 1988.
80s. Junior Bent.
00s.Scott Taylor scored for Blackpool in their 2-1 defeat by City in March 2003.
10s. Miles Addison.
20s. Ben Woodburn.