Last Update:
August 15, 2024
Bloomfield Road has modern stands on three sides with the corners in between these stands also filled with seating. These three permanent sides are of similar design, being single tiered, all of the same height, seated and covered. The Stanley Matthews (West) Stand on one side of the stadium and the Mortensen Kop (North Stand) at one end, were both opened in 2002.
Behind the main seating in the West Stand and the North West corner, is a hospitality balcony with executive boxes at the rear from the south end to the Directors’ Box at the halfway line, from which point to the North West corner is the Sir Stanley Matthews Hospitality Suite.
The Armfield Stand at the South End is named in tribute to the Blackpool legend, Jimmy Armfield. Opened in 2010 and is a mirror image of the North Stand at the other end. It has a capacity of 3,600 seats.
On the East side of the ground, there is a ‘temporary’ stand, which has now been there since 2010. Although temporary it is of a good size housing some 5,120 fans in a single tier of seating and is also covered. The only main drawback is that it has a number of supporting pillars running across the front of it. Situated in one corner of the ground between the West and South stands is a large video screen.
Outside the stadium, behind the North Stand is a statue of the former Blackpool legend Stan Mortensen, whilst outside the main entrance is a statue of Jimmy Armfield.
Away fans are housed on one side of the ‘temporary’ East Stand on one side of the pitch, where up to 2,500 supporters can be accommodated. This stand is sometimes shared with home fans for bigger matches, with away fans being housed on the southern side.
Although the stand is covered, there are a number of supporting pillars running along the front of the stand that could hinder your view.
Although away fans are housed in this temporary stand the facilities for visiting supporters, food & drink outlets, toilets etc. are housed in the more permanent Armfield Stand, at the south end.
Fans access these by walking along the front of the East Stand and through the access tunnel into the back of the Armfield Stand. Food inside the ground includes a range of pies, sausage rolls and hot dogs. The entrance to the away section is from Bloomfield Road.
Bloomfield Road is on the outskirts of Blackpool Town Centre where you won’t go 100 yards without coming across a pub. One of the closest pub to the stadium for away fans is the Manchester Bar (Promenade, Blackpool FY1 6AH). Other options within a mile of the stadium are:
- Bloomfield Brewhouse – 47 Ansdell Rd, Blackpool FY1 6PW.
- Dog and Partridge – 265 Lytham Rd, Blackpool FY1 6ET.
- The New Albert – 215 Lytham Rd, Blackpool FY1 6ET.
There’s nothing quite like tucking into some good grub while watching the footy, and Bloomfield Road will have you covered on all fronts. From curry, to the more traditional pies and burgers, here are some examples of the scran you can expect at the ground:
Chicken biryani at Blackpool (@BlackpoolFC @thefootycurry)
💷 £5 pic.twitter.com/oihRVU2g8S
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) January 8, 2023
The main entrance to Bloomfield Road is located on Seasiders Way and can be accessed via the ground’s Matthews Stand on the western section of the stadium.
As always, you will be required to enter the venue by using the correct turnstile – the information for which will be included on your matchday ticket. It is worth noting that while the majority of turnstiles will shut 15 minutes before kick-off, turnstiles 1, 7, 11, 13, 18, and 22 will be kept open until half-time.
The entrance for away fans is located on the opposite side of the ground, off Bloomfield Road.
Leave the M6 at Junction 32 and take the M55 to Blackpool. Then at the end of the M55 continue straight onto the A5230 and then Yeadon Way towards Blackpool town centre. The ground which is signposted from here, as the road leads into Seasiders Way, you will reach on the right hand side.
A huge pay and display car park is located to the left of Seasiders Way, which stretches all the way from near the Blackpool South station up to the ground.
Park at St Cuthbert’s Church
There are 40 parking spaces available in the St Cuthberts Church Car Park on Lytham Road, which is only a five-minute walk away from the ground. It is pay-and-display that costs £3 for 3 hours.
Post Code for SAT NAV: FY1 6JJ
The closest railway station to the ground is Blackpool South and is around a ten minute walk away. However fewer trains stop at this station with most calling at Blackpool North. Blackpool North Railway Station is around two miles away and therefore you may wish to jump in a taxi to the ground.
With a trip to Blackpool likely commanding a lengthy journey for many supporters, many fans reading this may be intending to stay overnight. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for reasonably priced hotels near Bloomfield Road:
- Blackpool FC Stadium Hotel, Seasiders Way, Bloomfield Rd, Blackpool FY1 6JJ
- Ruskin Hotel, 55-69 Albert Rd, Blackpool FY1 4PW
- Clifton Court Hotel, 12 Clifton Dr, Blackpool FY4 1NX
Ticket prices at Bloomfield Road for the 2022/23 season:
- Adults: £22-40
- Seniors: £18-40
- 18-21s: £18-40
- 12-17s: £8-35
- 5-11s: £4-35
- under 5s: £0-35
Blackpool have been playing their home games at Bloomfield Road since 1901 but for 14 years beforehand they hosted games elsewhere. Raikes Hall, an old seaside theme park, was one such home whilst the generically named ‘athletic grounds’ at Stanley Park was another field Blackpool called their home patch. Eventually, Bloomfield Road became home and so it has remained. In the early days at Bloomfield Road, games would be played in front of 300 fans who were sat in a wooden stand whilst others could gather to stand around the pitch; a fence around the pitch perimeter would ensure they stood back from the touch lines.
Fast forward to 1925 though and things looked quite different; there was a press box, multiple stands and the capacity stood at 20,000. Jump forward in time again to 1955 and the Blackpool stadium was holding its record attendance of over 38,000 fans. It was a peak capacity reached through a number of developments made in the 30 years prior. The next decade saw more seating introduced, which reduced the capacity and, from there, things remained largely static until the 2000s when a revamp took place; it’s very similar today.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Here is a video showing Blackpool fans chanting as they celebrate a good season for the side:
Record Attendance
38,098 v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Division One, 19th September 1955.
Modern All Seated Attendance Record
16,116 v Manchester City
Premier League, 17th October 2010.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 11,692 (Championship
2021-2022: 12,018 (Championship)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 8,770 (League One)
2018-2019: 5,517 (League One)
2017-2018: 4,178 (League One)
In 2022, Blackpool Council confirmed that the club are building a new, permanent East Stand to replace the temporary East Stand that has been in place since the club’s season in the Premier League in 2010/11.
The new stand will have a capacity of 4,600 seats and will be in place by September 2025 if all goes to plan.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Blackpool v Bradford City
Football League One
Saturday 26th February 2016, 3pm
Liam (Bradford City fan)
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Finding the ground is easy as its on the main road into Blackpool, coming from the M55, so you drive right past it
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to the Manchester Bar which was on the sea front. It was full of Bradford City fans. The DJ helped raise the noise levels by playing all our songs. However the drinks were a little pricey.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Bloomfield Road?
From the outside, Bloomfield Road looks very nice, modern, and of a good size. Upon entering its not so much the same. It looks a lot smaller than I had imagined from the outside and it is hard to believe that this was a Premiership ground not too long ago. The pitch itself was in poor condition, with what looked more sand showing than actual grass. The ball never rolled properly which made for a very boring match to watch. Due to the size of our following we were housed in part of the temporary stand on one side of the pitch. This stand is quite poor with a number of supporting pillars restricting your view. The stand itself looks and feels very cheap, however it did make for a good noise when the fans starting stamping the floor when chanting.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
On arrival at the stadium we had to joining a 10 minute queue just to get to the turnstiles as the stewards was only letting a small amount up to the turnstile at a time which seemed a bit pointless. Inside the small portacabin toilets seemed inadequate for our 3,000+ travelling fans. This resulted in long queues and overcrowding inside. The stewards were friendly enough. The atmosphere was good but mostly generated from the Bradford City fans. The Blackpool areas were relatively quiet, but with the Club in free fall at the moment, I guess you could understand this.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out of the stand itself was time consuming as there was just one small exit to get rid of 3,000 fans so meant queuing again and people climbing over seats to try get out quicker.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a good day out overall but I think many fans come here not just for the match but also to visit Blackpool itself. Bloomfield Road is a very average stadium to say the least and the place has the overall feeling of a Club on the decline.
Blackpool v Wigan Athletic
Championship League
28th February 2015, 3pm
Dutts (Wigan Athletic fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to Bloomfield Road?
A chance to win our first game for what seemed like a generation!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Took the train to Blackpool North, Then bought from a local store outside the railway station, a day pass for buses and trams at the bargain price of £4.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a couple of beers and lunch at the Layton Rakes, a Wetherspoons in the town centre. It has bus stops located opposite and buses pass every five minutes going out towards Bloomfield Road.
What you thought on seeing Bloomfield Road, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Not been for years and the ground is effectively a new one. Very plastic, loads of home fans milling around outside the ground, no problems though.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The stewards I spoke with were brilliant, very polite and respectful, helpful too. Long queue for bovril at half time. It was a good job that I didn't want a pie, as they ran out very quickly! All temporary accommodation though, toilet facilities very poor and had to walk through all the smokers to get to the bar.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game very slow getting out of the temporary stand. Only one way in and one way out, thankfully with a win we were all pretty patient. Wouldn't like to be amongst a mob leaving though.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
We won the Championship here, that is the bottom of the table battle in the Championship so good memories really. Felt for the home fans, their ground echoes a complete lack of ambition, one of the smallest in the Championship and the pitch was worse than our local park pitches, virtually no grass at all. Blackpool were poor, had a go for about 30 mins but seemed to accept the inevitable, their fans too. Great day for an away trip, pubs, bars cafés in abundance.
Blackpool v MK Dons
League One
Saturday 14th September 2019, 3pm
Brad Yates (MK Dons)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Bloomfield Road Ground?
Made a weekend of it by staying in Blackpool and took in the illuminations. A weekend in Blackpool is always enjoyable and the weather was good too. Also, I had not been to the ground since 9th August 1997 when following Luton Town. It has changed a lot!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
No problem finding the ground. Had booked into the Travelodge opposite for the night, so parked there for 24 hours for £6.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Started off with the Old Bridge House pub on Lytham Road but was underwhelmed. Loud music, no football on the tv and no football supporters in there either. Left after one pint and found the Albert Pub, which was great. Both sets of fans, football on the tv, decent price for a pint, good atmosphere. Recommended.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Bloomfield Road Stadium?
Much improved from 1997. Reasonable view from the temporary stand which houses the away supporters. Some pillars blocking the view but have been to many a worse ground.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The stewards were great. Helpful and at the end of the game let us past the barriers onto the edge of the pitch and took a picture of us all. Toilets were fine. Did not eat in the ground.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Stayed for the weekend but did not appear to be any problems for those leaving when we exited the stadium.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A 3-0 win in the sun at the seaside with a weekend thrown in. Very enjoyable. If it is August or the illuminations time of year, you can't beat a football weekend at Blackpool.
Blackpool v MK Dons
League 1
Saturday 14th September 2019, 3pm
Luke Bunch (Neutral)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Bloomfield Road Ground?
I was down in Blackpool for the weekend, as the World Fireworks Championships were taking place, so I decided to take my son to the game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Very easy. We took a walk along the seafront and then down Lytham Road until we reached Bloomfield Road and then walked down to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had lunch in the town centre then had a look around the club shop.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Bloomfield Road Stadium?
It looked a tidy ground on approach. We were in the home end so no comment on the away section.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Both teams created chances but MK Dons were more clinical and capitalised on Blackpool's mistakes. Both teams created a decent atmosphere throughout the game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As we were staying in Blackpool we had no issues getting away after the game.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out, we would go again.
Blackpool v Portsmouth
League 1
Saturday 31st August 2019, 3pm
Guy (Portsmouth)
Blackpool v Portsmouth
League 1
Saturday 31st August 2019, 3pm
Michael G (Portsmouth)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Bloomfield Road Ground?
I was looking forward to visiting this ground as it a stadium I had not yet been to.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was obviously a very long drive from down south. Free parking is very limited around the area of the ground so I would recommend that you do what we did and park a couple of miles away and walk to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game, we walked along the famous Blackpool seafront and got food and drink from a chippy. After that, we went to the Swift Hound pub which is away fan friendly pub and about a 10 minute walk from the ground. We bumped into some home fans who were very friendly and had some good banter.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Bloomfield Road?
The stadium itself looks decent from the outside, but we got directed around some dodgy back alley to gain access to the away end. Once inside the stadium it is very decent and is of a good size.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The stewards at Bloomfield Road were the most thorough I've ever seen, full pat-down, metal detectors, sniffer dogs, you name it. The atmosphere from the Portsmouth fans was amazing. The home fans didn't really make much noise until the second half but both sets of fans we're giving good banter to one another. The facilities in the ground at half time were poor as it takes such a long time to be served its not really worth the hassle.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out of the ground is very busy and takes a while to get back onto the main seafront area.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall a good away day, Blackpool itself is very run down and not a nice place at all, however, the stadium is nice and would definitely recommend to any away fan.
Blackpool v Arsenal
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 5th January 2019, 5:30pm
George (Arsenal)
Blackpool v Bristol Rovers
League One
Saturday 3rd November 2018, 3pm
Peter Ford (Bristol Rovers)
Blackpool v Coventry City
League 1
Tuesday 21st August 2018, 7.45pm
Frank Alsop (Coventry City)
Blackpool v Portsmouth
League One
Saturday 11th August 2018, 3pm
Michael Thomas (Portsmouth)
Blackpool v Plymouth Argyle
Football League One
Saturday 30th December 2017, 3pm
Bryan Davis (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Bloomfield Road ground?
We (that’s me plus my better half) hadn’t been to Bloomfield Road before so it was a new to us ground, not actually deciding to go until the day of the match.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It’s a straight drive up the M5 / M6 / M55 / A5230 (Yeadon Way) and onto Seasiders Way. The roadworks on the M5 & M6 held us up a bit so it was 1:45pm when we arrived. We parked in the car park opposite the ground which cost £6. No problems with finding a space at this time of year.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There wasn’t much time, just enough to go and buy tickets (cash only on the day for away fans), walk to the seafront for a photo on the beach and back to the ground. It was very windy and nothing much seemed to be open; again, not really surprising given the time of year. We spoke to a couple of home fans/locals who were friendly and appreciative of the distance some / most of our fans had travelled. There was a chap handing out leaflets from the supporters trust explaining about the fans’ boycott.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Bloomfield Road Stadium?
Bloomfield Road it quite an impressive ground, three sides all developed the same with the East side being a lower level stand with supporting pillars. The away end is at the North side of the ground. There is a hotel attached to the stadium on the south side. The stands are quite steeply banked and close to the touch/bye lines so you get a good view of the pitch. There is an electronic scoreboard in the south-west corner but that wasn’t working on our visit (maybe they couldn’t find a 50p for the meter!).
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
Argyle were on the back of two wins and Blackpool were not on a good run, so anything could happen! As it turned out Blackpool had most of the ball in the first half but were two down at the whistle after a 39th minute goal from Ruben Lameiras with Argyle’s first shot of the match (his first for the club) and a wonder goal from Graham Carey just before the break.
Argyle were probably better in the second half, but Blackpool were really up for it and after they pulled one back on 56 minutes Argyle defended and defended while struggling to create very much at the other end, although David Fox had a fantastic opportunity to score but the ball hit the post and away. The fourth official signalled 4 (or was it 5?) added minutes, the 546 Argyle fans were holding their breath and Blackpool ruined the party and scored, 90 + 4 officially. It felt like a loss after being two up but in reality, Blackpool deserved something out of the game.
The atmosphere was great from the Argyle end (until the equaliser) but rather subdued in the home stands until they scored and then equalised. The ongoing boycott by Blackpool supporters resulted in only 2,871 home fans, so they had a lot of empty seats around. The stewards were fine, hardly noticed they were there really. Before the game started the Blackpool mascot was brilliant with the young mascots going in goal while they took penalty kicks. The pies were good and currently £2.50 and tea was £2. The facilities were quite good, but I think it could get a bit cramped with a big crowd.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was a bit slow getting out of the car park but once we were on the move it was an easy trip home. I’d expect it to be rather more difficult in holiday times and/or with a decent home crowd.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good Christmas holiday period day out, a bit disappointed about the two dropped points but we tried to be philosophical about it.
Blackpool v Portsmouth
League One
Saturday 11th November 2017, 3pm
Steve Burghard (Portsmouth fan)
Blackpool v Oxford United
Football League One
Saturday 16th September 2017, 3pm
Rob Pickett (Oxford United fan)
Blackpool v Grimsby Town
Football League Two
Saturday 8th April 2017, 3pm
Kevin Dixon (Grimsby Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Bloomfield Road?
After missing four games in March, due to visiting New Zealand to see my daughter, it was time to get back on the road again, and Blackpool looked like a good day out for the Black and White army. Although having been trounced by Doncaster Rovers the previous week, it was more in hope than expectation that I made the trip.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A steady drive via the M180/M62/M61 and M55 took me just over three hours, with several hold ups along the way. The Bloomfield Road ground is well signposted, and there is a large car park nearby, although at £5 it is not cheap, and the cheaper £3 option does not give sufficient time to watch the match.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Arriving just after 1pm, I strolled along the seafront for a while, and then went in The Manchester pub, which was full of Town fans. I then walked the short distance to the ground, where a good number of the Blackpool supporters trust were handing out flyers explaining their ongoing boycott of the club.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Bloomfield Road?
Bloomfield Road is one of the best grounds in this league. The away end holds around 2,500, and although I was sitting almost at the end of the stand, there was still a good view of the action. The opposite end held a small number of home fans, and the rest of the home fans were in the Main Stand to our right. The other stand to the left was empty, save for a few diehards sitting near the halfway line. It is quite sad to see such a good stadium only one quarter full, with the attendance of 4,668 including 1,508 away fans the official total.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Overall. the game was not particularly good, with the pitch seeming very poor after being watered beforehand. Danny Collins put Town ahead, before a cracking diving header own goal from Andrew Boyce brought Blackpool level three minutes before half time. Then in added time, a goal from Sam Jones put us back in front, before the same player added an excellent third in the second half. James McKeown made a couple of decent saves, and we held on relatively comfortably for a 3-1 victory. There was a heavy Police presence, but most of our fans behaved themselves. I didn't try the food or drink, the toilets were decent.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Having parked in the car park to the south of the ground, it was easy to get out, although those parked in the car park adjacent to the ground seemed to be queuing for a while. A steady drive home with a stop at Birch Services for tea, and I was back in the house just after 8pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I have only been to Blackpool once before, and that was to take my children to see the illuminations 20 odd years ago. It's a bit like a bigger version of Cleethorpes, and not a place I would recommend, however, if it's beer and football you're after, it is right up there as a good away day, which can be ratified by the number of Town fans who went for the weekend.
Blackpool v Stevenage
Football League Two
Tuesday 14th March 2017, 7.45pm
James Walker (Stevenage fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Bloomfield Road Ground?
Aside from the fact this was a new ground for me, this was also the last ground I needed to do to complete this seasons League Two, as well as continuing my 100% record of attending every Stevenage game this season so plenty of reasons to look forward to this!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the supporters coach for the game, a 12pm departure from the Lamex Stadium, including a 30 minute stop, saw us arrive at Bloomfield Road for just before 5pm.
Bloomfield Road
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Mates of ours who had travelled to Blackpool on Sunday decided that the best thing to do with us whe we got there, despite not having been there to see different things, was to drag us to a pub pre-match. We ended up sitting around in the 'New Albert Pub' for an hour and a bit before going to Bloomfield Chip Shop for some pre-match food. I ended up going on ahead to the ground for a walk around and a few photos where I got chatting to several home fans, all being very friendly. I ended up heading in to the club shop to purchase a programme (only £2 for 30 pages, 8 of which being adverts) as well as a badge (£2.99) and a stick of Tangerine flavoured rock (£1).
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Bloomfield Road?
My first impression was that Bloomfield Road is a nice little stadium. The layout is quite similar to Plymouths Home Park, with one big stand curving around three sides of the stadium and one separate stand to the left of the away end.
View From The Away End
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was poor with both sides looking there for the taking and a very home-friendly referee! A lot of fans around me agreed that our 2-0 win over Luton just a few days before had taken a lot out of the players as they all looked jaded and shattered. However despite this we still missed a few great chances, though a Mark Cullen penalty was enough to condemn us to our first defeat since mid-January.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was simple, getting back to Stevenage was a nightmare. Everybody was back on the coach and we were away by 9.50pm, however overnight road works, delays, closures and more meant I didn't get home until 4am.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall this was a night that will only live long in the memory for being the one that completed the league for me and not much else. Being dragged to a pub before watching a very poor game, coupled with a loss and a six hour journey home meant this was a night that will be quickly forgotten.
Half Time Score: Blackpool 1-0 Stevenage
Full Time Result: Blackpool 1-0 Stevenage
Attendance: 2,456 (188 away fans)
My Ground Number: 102 (72/92)
Blackpool v Barnsley
FA Cup Third Round
Saturday 7th January 2017, 3pm
Tom Bellamy (Barnsley fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Bloomfield Road?
Even though we have played each other many times this would only be the third time that I have visited Bloomfield Road, the last time being in 1980 when we were both in the old Third Division. Blackpool have slumped into the bottom tier of the Football League having been relegated in successive years from the Premier. Today being the FA Cup Third Round means that the league form of both clubs "goes out of the window" as we all know anything can happen in the Cup.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My journey in the car was slow due to foggy conditions on the M62 Westbound, via the M1 North from Barnsley. I arrived on Blackpool about 2pm and made my way to the Main Car Park opposite the ground ( £5 for 4 hours) Visibility was so poor that I couldn't even see the Blackpool Tower which is normally so prominent in and around the resort. I began to think that if these weather conditions remained bad then the match may have had to be cancelled. This, thankfully, was not the case as you will gather from my review.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I only managed to have a little stroll along the Promenade before the game but noticed many Barnsley fans congregating in and around the local pubs. I knew there wouldn't be many Home fans because of the ongoing boycott against the clubs owners the Oyston family. To make everybody aware of the facts surrounding the crisis a few members of the "Blackpool Supporters Trust" were handing out leaflets in the pubs and outside the ground highlighting their grievances and asking if we would all support their protest by not buying a match programme or lottery tickets. Also not to buy any food or drinks from the kiosks within the ground. In other words not to give the Oyston regime another penny or custom. I myself, being sympathetic to their cause adhered to their request.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Bloomfield Road?
It was obvious on entering the ground, about 15 minutes before kick-off, that most of the Blackpool supporters had indeed boycotted the match. There looked to be about 600 or so Home fans sitting at the north end of the "Matthews West Stand" The 3,400 Barnsley fans had all of the "Armfield South Stand", plus the southwest corner and the other half of the "Matthews West Stand". This left all of the "Mortensen North Stand " and all of the "East Stand" (half the ground) completely empty. I remembered what the ground looked like some 30 years ago when the "North Stand" was the open Kop End where the Away fans were, and the "South Stand" which the Home fans called the "Scratching Shed". What a complete contrast to what it looks like today.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Now for the game itself. The first 45 min was truly uneventful with very few chances at both ends. I was, however, very impressed with the Blackpool team in that they looked keen and competed very well in all areas of the pitch.The score remained goalless at half time and still everything to play for in the second half. Blackpool continued to dominate and certainly didn't look to be two divisions below Barnsley in the League. Barnsley, however, began to creep into the game with some good football in patches but poor finishing spoiling their play. The Barnsley goalkeeper pulled off three very good saves to deny the Home team from taking the lead and whilst Barnsley went really close to scoring late on it was Blackpool who missed a clear cut chance right in the last minute only to be denied by the goalkeeper once again. I think the Barnsley players were satisfied to come away with a 0-0 draw and go into the hat, along with Blackpool, for the FA Cup 4th Round Draw. On the other hand all the Barnsley fans along with myself knows that they didn't perform like their Championship League position suggests and so we look forward for a better display in the forthcoming replay at Oakwell.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game I went to McDonalds in the town centre to grab a burger etc before my journey home which was after the majority of away fans had left. The early fog in Blackpool had completely cleared, but reappeared on the M62 Eastbound around the Huddersfield area. I arrived home at about 8.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a strange day really and depressing in some ways, beginning with poor driving conditions in getting to Blackpool and the lack of home support which would have created a better atmosphere, and then ending in a stalemate. The outcome of the tie has yet to be decided, and then it could be a while before we meet again. In the meantime I wish all the Blackpool Fans good luck in their campaign to secure a better future for the club.
Blackpool v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two
Saturday 27th August 2016, 3pm
Pete Roberts (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Bloomfield Road?
I was on holiday in a Haven site with the family about seven miles from Blackpool and had planned to attend this match as soon as the fixtures had come out.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Parked car outside nearby cinema complex close to Bloomfield Road.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a bit of a stroll round Blackpool town centre after the wife and son had gone to the cinema, a nice walk up the promenade on a warm sunny day is a very pleasant experience. Then off to a town centre café for lunch. Never encountered many home fans in the town but there were a few Plymouth fans about.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Bloomfield Road?
The ground is a million miles away from when I attended in 1974 for a Second Division match against Manchester United. Away fans had about 650 fans behind one of the goals with Blackpool fans scarcely spaced in two other stands.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was fairly entertaining and won marginally by a Plymouth goal in the second half. Plymouth fans did create a good atmosphere and constantly sang the song 'Twist And Shout'. The Blackpool fans however seemed very sullen and seemed to accept defeat straight from the first whistle.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Left five minutes before the end as the wife picked me up for a late evening visit to the nearby Pleasure Beach.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall a very enjoyable day out helped by the weather. It is a bit sad to see the ground now virtually empty after the club were playing to virtual full houses five seasons ago. This is obviously linked to the fans despair of the current ownership and their tumble down the leagues.
Blackpool v Bolton Wannderers
League Cup First Round
Tuesday 9th August 2016, 7.45pm
Matthew Bowling (Bolton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Bloomfield Road Ground?
Because I love an away trip to Blackpool and it was a chance to see my first Bolton game of the new season.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We parked on a street about a 2 minute walk from the ground so parking wasn't bad but certain places are busy and there is limited parking around the stadium. The ground was easy to find from where we parked because you could see the floodlights above the houses.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went straight into the ground as soon as we arrived I didn't see many home fans as there was double more away fans than than home. I bought a programme inside the ground and read that before the game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Bloomfield Road?
I knew what to expect because I've been to Bloomfield Road a number of times before, so I wasn't expecting much and that's what it delivered. I was surprised to see we were given the whole North Stand but as we got closer to kick off I could see why.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
With Bolton being backed by 2,500 vocal support the atmosphere was fantastic from us but it was rather quiet from the Blackpool sections, except when they scored. It was a fairly even affair in the first half but we took the lead on the stroke of half time when Proctor headed in a cross from the left to give us a half time lead. It was all Bolton second half but failed to score and Blackpool had two chances and they converted both of them which was very frustrating. It was looking like we were exiting the cup until Woolery latched onto a head-back he rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home in the 90th minute it was complete delirium. We were feeling hopeful going into extra time but two well worked Blackpool goals in the second period sent us crashing out. The facilities were okay but when you have a large following like we did there is very little room to move in the concourse.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left the ground as soon as Blackpool scored their fourth goal so it was quite easy getting away from the ground as at that time of night the roads were almost completely deserted.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, it was okay. A fantastic atmosphere generated by the Bolton fans but sadly the players didn't seem to respond. If Bolton were to play Blackpool away again I would definitely go.
Blackpool v Exeter City
Football League Two
Saturday 6th August 2016, 3pm
Steve Ellis (Exeter City fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Bloomfield Road Ground?
This was the first game of the season and for the majority of Exeter supporters it was another new ground. It also promised to be a good day out or weekend away in some cases.
How easy was your journey and finding the Bloomfield Road Ground?
The journey to the ground was straight forward, bar a small accident on te motorway which delayed us for a while. As always I travelled up on the supporters coach, leaving Exeter at 6.30am arriving in Blackpool just before 1pm with. The coach dropped us off at the coach station opposite the ground
What did you do before the game, pub, chippy….home fans friendly?
Having pre-ordered my programme on the coach via a fellow Exeter supporter the rest of us took the short walk into Lytham Road where we first tried Old Bridge House, not to be recommended. We then moved to the New Albert which was a better pub and home/away fan friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end and then other sides?
From the outside Bloomfield Road looks good. Away fans are housed in one corner of the North Stand at one end. This stand is joined with the West and South Stands. The remaining East Stand on one side looks quite traditional.
View From The Away End
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments etc.
The game was a good match, with chances at both ends but we still went in at half time 1-0 down. Blackpool eventually went on to win 2-0. The atmosphere was good, with both sets of supporters singing, However the Blackpool fans were mainly protesting against their owner.The stewards were good and very low key. Refreshments were averagely priced, alcoholic beverages priced at £3.00. The toilets were also clean
Comments on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away afterwards, the coach was waiting where it dropped us off. As you'd expect, traffic is slow when leaving the ground but once back on the motorway it was easy going. We got back to Exeter at around 11.00pm
Attendance: 3,754 (Around 600-700 away fans)
Blackpool v Colchester United
Football League One
Saturday 9th April 2016, 3pm
Ben Wilkinson (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Bloomfield Road?
As my team Blackburn Rovers were playing away and I needed a football fix, I made a fairly impromptu decision to jump on the train to Blackpool to watch a relegation battle by the sea. I had never been to Bloomfield Road before so was glad to tick another ground off this year.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I got the train into Blackpool North station (the main station in the town) and set off on what ended up a fair trek across Blackpool. As most trains from Manchester, Preston and Yorkshire end up at Blackpool North this would be where most fans arrive. The Bloomfield Road football ground was clearly visible from a fair distance away, which made it easy to spot without much help from Google Maps.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I arrived at Bloomfield Road at roughly 2pm there was not much for me to do but to get my ticket. I did have time to have a quick look in the club shop, but I found it rather cramped so I left fairly quickly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Bloomfield Road?
The ground looks bigger that it actually is. The 'temporary' East Stand looks fairly well hidden away leaving the other three sides (with their filled in corners) looking more imposing. I took my seat directly behind the goal in the North Stand, with the Colchester fans seated just to the left of me.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was just as expected – a very poor affair. The first half was dire and produced little chances, although Colchester probably edged it and deserved to go into the break a goal up. I did not get the 'joy' of sampling the food and drink available as it turns out that Blackpool will not serve unaccompanied under 16s; even in the home areas! The second half was much better than the first, and produced a fairly scrappy goal to the away side in the first 15 minutes. The Colchester fans had travelled a long way and sang for the vast majority of the game, fair play to every single one of them. The only chant Blackpool fans sang was a fairly basic 'Oyston out', which the Colchester fans joined in with and outsang the Blackpool fans which I found amusing. As the game petered out to a close the Colchester fans left very happy with three points aiding them trying to beat the drop (yet again) with the locals bitterly disappointed at the team's performance that left them in the relegation zone.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was quite easy as I was on foot to the station, however I didn't see any traffic in Blackpool, probably helped by the low attendance.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall it was a decent trip, although I can't complain about the fact it cost under a tenner to get there and watch the game. If I had a spare weekend I would definitely come again.
Blackpool v Bristol City
Championship League
Saturday March 2nd 2013, 3pm
James Prentice (Neutral fan – Doing The 92)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had up until now visited all of the Lancashire grounds bar Bloomfield Road and Morecambe’s Globe Arena (not counting Anfield, even though Liverpool was historically a part of Lancs) so I wanted to get closer to completing the rest of the county and of course the hallowed 92. I had wanted to visit Blackpool many years ago before the ground was redeveloped but alas the opportunity never quite materialised. So when a potential weekend came up I had a decision to make. I eventually plumped for Blackpool ahead of Morecambe (both were at home on the same day) and got a ticket organised. I have enjoyed visiting all of the other Lancashire grounds, given that the country has so many great clubs and history, and hoped that Bloomfield Road would be just as good a day out as others I’ve had in this part of the world.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I had in the past tentatively looked at either a weekend away in Blackpool or a train journey, but my missus was never to keen on this particular seaside venue and visiting by rail would have meant an overnight stop anyway as it is impossible to get back to Lincoln after a Saturday match. So when my missus and her friend asked if I’d take them up to Ripon for a day out at a stately home I decided I could nip across and take in a game whilst they were busy. After driving to Ripon I headed across towards Skipton, then into east Lancs before eventually reaching the M55 and getting to Blackpool, with no problems encountered apart from a short hold up on the M6. I parked up about ten minutes from Bloomfield Road and there is plenty of on-street parking nearby – just don’t park in the direct vicinity of the ground as there are matchday restrictions in force.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I didn’t have a great deal of time to spare before the game, so after parking up I made my way to the ground and went for the swiftest of pints at the Bloomfield Hotel, which whilst not a great pub was busy and had a mix of home and away fans. I had had a romantic idea of combining a pint, a stoll along the promenade and a fish supper before the game but alas I hadn’t arrived early enough to do so – maybe next time. After getting a programme, I did a lap of the ground and took a picture of the Stan Mortenson statue before entering Bloomfield Road.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
My ticket was for the ‘new’ East Stand, which was erected after the club gain promotion to the Premier League in 2010 and replaced a smaller, uncovered structure. The stand is shared between the home and away fans unless the visiting team brings a big support and it’s fair to say that this stand isn’t the best I’ve ever been in, with a multitude of pillars in place. At £24 a ticket it felt like other and I had got a very raw deal and if I was a Blackpool regular I’d definitely want to sit elsewhere given the view and the poor facilities, which are just burger vans and portacabins at either side of the stand. I’d have liked to have gotten to Bloomfield Road before its wholesale renovation and remember being enthralled by pictures of the massive uncovered terrace where the North Stand now sits. Aside from the East Stand, the other three stands are enclosed and of a similar height and design. If they raise the necessary funds to build a permanent structure on the east side then Bloomfield Road will be a tidy ground, although something about it just made me feel as though the three permanent stands had been thrown up quickly/built on the cheap. I couldn’t help thinking that a bit more thought and care might have resulted in a nicer finish.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc…
The game was, unfortunately, one of the worst I’ve seen in ages. I have seen more than my fair share of poor matches in recent times and this one almost eclipsed last season’s goalless encounter between Walsall and Rochdale in the borefest stakes. The only real chance of the game was when Bristol City’s Tom Heaton pulled off an outstanding point-blank save from Kirk Broadfoot’s header, although City to be fair did have a second half effort chalked off for offside. Neither side were able to pass to any great effect as the pitch had cut up badly over previous weeks and the teams opted for aerial balls in case the poor surface contributed to them giving away possession. I had a steak pie and a coffee as the game kicked off and these were fairly standard. Even more disappointing than the lack of quality on the pitch, however, was the stewarding. The stewards were fairly quiet in the home areas but almost seemed to be goading some of the City fans into kicking off with their obstructive behaviour. I know away fans tend to be more boisterous than home supporters and often have a bit more to drink, but most are just up for a laugh and a good day on the road with their team and if more stewards up and down the country focused on that then even more people might travel to matches.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I hate to say this but I could not wait for the game to end such was the lack of quality on offer. The pitch didn’t help and both sides seemed content enough with a point, so I guess overall it wasn’t as bad as it first appeared. I made a dash dead on full time and was back on the road within ten minutes, speeding out of Blackpool back to pick up my missus and her friend before going home. My convoluted route to Blackpool meant I drove a whopping 416 miles over the course of the day, but at least I’d completed another ground!
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Every club is different in their own unique and special way but sadly I found it difficult to like Blackpool. The town really isn’t the greatest and I found the ground to be a bit of a disappointment. However, the home fans backed their team throughout and considering how disappointing the game was their support was a big plus point. I have to say that the City fans also kept their spirits up throughout the game and I really hope they manage to retain their place in the Championship. Overall, I was pleased to have completed another new ground and even though I didn’t enjoy the day anywhere near as some on my travels I might give myself another chance to warm to Blackpool at some point in the future. Next time though I think I will stay over, as I can’t be doing with a drive like that again!
Blackpool v Cardiff City
Championship League
Saturday January 19th 2013, 5.15pm
Nathan Walker (Cardiff City fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Being in University in Preston this was the closest away game for me and a chance to see Cardiff City strengthen their grip at the top. Also Bloomfield Road has always looked like a good away day so decided to make the short trip across Lancashire.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Journey was straight forward. Got the train from Preston to Blackpool South. As you get off the train walk to the top of the station. Across the road there are steps going down into a massive car park and the ground is clearly visible. Just a 10-15 minute walk across the car park and you are outside the ground.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I met up with some friends in the Manchester bar on the Blackpool seafront. It was a lovely pub, filled with away fans, the beer was quite expensive but expected in todays football. The ground is just a short walk away through one of many side streets, there are plenty of fans about to point you in the right direction. The home fans although not loud are very friendly.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground itself looked good as you would expect but the away end is absolutely woeful compared to the rest. It is like a throwback to the days of Ninian Park so for some it might be a welcome return to the olden days but compared to the other stands it does look out of place. Some poor guy fell through the stand as well so be careful.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was scrappy largely due to the awful pitch. Cardiff took the lead through Kim Bo Kyung in the 54th minute before Blackpool equalised a few minutes later. But just after that, Tommy Smith scored the eventual winner for Cardiff making them go ten points clear. The atmosphere from the away end was fantastic (late kick off + Blackpool = 2000 very drunk Welshmen) but the home fans were disappointing, only making noise for their goal. The facilities were poor but for an old stand it was expected, but no beer which was a let down. The stewards were fine.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was easy, you come out of the away end and into the coach area where the police are on hand to tell you any other routes. For me it was around the petrol station and then into the massive car park and over to the station. After the game there was even time for a Blackpool v Cardiff snowball fight on each side of the road. Nice to see some friendly banter between the fans and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A nice day out. A friendly pub beforehand, easily accessible ground, 3 points and a good laugh. Would definitely do Blackpool again and can see why people make a weekend of it.
Blackpool v Nottingham Forest
Championship League
Saturday October 22nd 2011, 3pm
Joseph Burns (Nottingham Forest fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Blackpool away has always been a game that I’ve wanted to do but had never managed it. So when the fixtures came out in the summer this was the second fixture (after Derby) that I looked for. I’d heard that it’s best to make a weekend of an away day with this one so I booked a B&B and took my wife and nine-year-old-stepson.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey to Blackpool was easy enough, stopping off at a motorway services to find fellow Forest fans there, which always gives me a buzz. We parked up in a car park right next to the ground which was massive so for people going to the game and leaving straight afterwards there’s no better place, it was a longer walk to our accommodation than to the ground. Bloomfield Road is very central and whilst we stumbled upon it rather than know where we were going I’d say it wouldn’t be too difficult for people to find.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We checked into our B&B (the Danescourt) and headed out about 1pm to find somewhere to eat/have a drink. The centre of Blackpool is about a 10 minute walk from the ground with loads of cafes/chippies/pubs that welcome away fans. We stopped in a place called the Foxhall cafe for something to eat – one of many places serving fish and chips, hot dogs, toasties etc. Closer to the ground there’s a Wetherspoons that allowed away fans in but it was very busy. Most other pubs in the vicinity were home fans only apart from the Old Bridge House on Lytham Road – a couple of minutes from the ground. This place was away fans only and had a nice friendly relaxed atmosphere. They had the football on the big screens and was child friendly.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Three sides of the ground have been completely rebuilt in the last few years and from the outside looks really impressive. The away end is the one part that still needs to be rebuilt. Currently a temporary stand (albeit a good one), we were housed on one side of it, with the remainder being on this occassion unused (apparently it is used for Blackpool fans when necessary). Once inside you find an intimate venue which looks great (this might be different though if you were in another part of the ground and looking on at the temporary stand that we were sitting in!)
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Seeing your team win away from home with ten men is always a pleasurable experience so I loved the game. Forest fans were there en masse and we made a lot of noise, whilst the Blackpool fans made hardly any. Stewards were friendly and allowed the Forest fans to stand throughout the game. This allowed us to create a great atmosphere but obviously created a problem for shorter people, my stepson had to stand on his seat for 90 minutes although he didn’t seem to mind. When we scored the whole stand shook! Being a temporary structure facilities for away fans were limited. Portakabin toilets and a couple of kiosks selling pies and drinks is the all that’s there. No alcohol is on sale.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Having only one exit we did have to wait a while to get out although after a win all Forest fans were in great spirits and didn’t seem to mind. Blackpool is full of places to go at night for adults but for people with kids there’s the Manchester family bar and a huge family pub on the central pier.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Brilliant, can’t wait to go back. Blackpool’s a great town to visit. Make a weekend of it.