Return To The Top Flight - New BFC Book

15 April 2010 08:33
Blackpool failed by 0.2 of a goal, if there is such a thing, to gain promotion back to the top flight after their first season of Second Division football in 1967/68. There was then a falling away to eighth place in the following season and manager Stan Mortensen was dismissed towards the end of the campaign. A new manager, Les Shannon, was appointed prior to the start of the 1969/70 season when the stated aim by newly appointed chairman Bill Cartmell was most definitely to get promotion to the First Division. Cartmell commented within a day or two of being in office, "All the directors have the interest of the club at heart and they agree with my idea that First Division football and the development of the ground are our priorities. We have discovered that Second Division football does not pay." The scene was set.Pre-season signings Fred Pickering, to add firepower in the forward line, Harry Thomson, required due to injury to first choice Alan Taylor, and Micky Burns, a goalscoring winger, were expected to add the extra ingredients to a team that was already considered good enough to get out of the Second Division. And with a few weeks of the season gone, the experienced Dave Hatton was added to the squad as the last piece of the jigsaw. There was, however, bad news on the eve of the season when it was announced that Tony Green, who had just been selected for the Scottish World Cup squad, would miss the start of the season. Nevertheless the campaign began with a victory but four successive away defeats coupled with home points dropped in drawn games and a succession of injuries saw Blackpool fall to 17th position by late September.However, led by inspirational skipper Jimmy Armfield, the Seasiders fought back and clawed their way up the table. An FA Cup victory against First Division Arsenal gave the side a boost, although dismissal by Mansfield Town in the following round quickly brought everyone down to earth. However the team's spirit shone through and one defeat in 19 games between late December and April found the club in second position. Promotion was clinched on a night of Deepdale delight on 13 April when a Fred Pickering hat-trick won the game and also sent rivals Preston tumbling towards Division Three.This is the full story of a dramatic season, with all its highs and lows, of how Blackpool Football Club regained top flight football after a three season absence.This new Large A4 size perfect bound 104pp book is priced @ £ 10 each plus postage.The book has been produced as a Ltd Edn of only 200 copies, each one numbered and signed by Gerry.The book has been produced for the 40th Promotion @ Preston Dinner if collectors want to pick them up then or contact John D Cross, Tel 01253 - 353237 or 07984 - 940879 or e-mail johndcross@talktalk.net to reserve your copy.If anybody would like any further information then please do not hesitate to get in touch - look forward to hearing from you.

Source: FOOTYMAD