Blackpool FC fans urged to mark 7th Homecoming anniversary this weekend with magic atmosphere
Blackpool FC is calling on supporters to come together to mark the 7th anniversary of the iconic 2019 ‘Homecoming’ fixture this weekend.
Seven years on from the moment thousands of fans returned to Bloomfield Road in unity, the club is encouraging supporters to celebrate the occasion at March’s home clash with Burton Albion FC on Saturday 28 March, with discounted ticket prices aimed at packing out the stadium once more.
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The original Homecoming, which took place on 9 March 2019 and which many regard as one of the most emotional days in the club’s history, saw Blackpool draw 2-2 with Southend United FC in a dramatic and symbolic afternoon that marked the end of a near four-year supporter boycott.
A protest that changed a club
The ‘Homecoming’ fixture represented far more than a result on the pitch. It signalled the conclusion of the “Not A Penny More” (NAPM) campaign, a mass boycott launched by supporters between 2015 and 2019 in protest at the ownership of the Oyston family.
Fans’ key grievances included the failure to reinvest around £90 million in Premier League parachute payments into the squad or infrastructure, legal action taken against supporters for alleged libel over online comments, and widely-reported personal insults directed at fans.
Under the banner of “Not A Penny More”, supporters refused to attend home matches in a bid to starve the regime of revenue. While backing the team loyally away from home, they stayed away from Bloomfield Road in significant numbers.
Average attendances plummeted from around 14,000 to as low as 2,000–3,000, leaving vast swathes of empty seats and creating a stark visual symbol of the unrest.
Often cited as one of the most well-organised supporter boycotts in English football history, the campaign ultimately achieved its aim: a High Court ruling forced the Oystons out, paving the way for new ownership under Simon Sadler.
The day the fans came home
With the change in ownership secured, 9 March 2019 became a landmark date.
Dubbed the ‘Homecoming’, thousands of supporters returned to Bloomfield Road for the first time in years, creating an atmosphere of celebration, relief and unity. There were parades, emotional scenes in the stands and a sense of collective pride as fans reclaimed their club.
On the pitch, the Seasiders played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Southend United. For many supporters, it was a poignant moment that represented togetherness after years of division and frustration. The boycott had been painful but, in the eyes of those involved, necessary to secure the club’s long-term future.
Marking seven years on
Now, as the seventh anniversary approaches, Blackpool FC is keen to recreate that spirit of unity. The club is hoping to see Bloomfield Road packed out once more for the visit of Burton Albion later this month, with reduced ticket prices designed to encourage a bumper crowd.
CEO Julian Winter said: “This time of year is special to every Blackpool supporter, as we approach the seventh anniversary of the Homecoming fixture.
“What that day demonstrated was the close bond and unity that exists between the players, staff and supporters, and we feel it is right to recognise the significance of this upcoming anniversary.”
In urging fans to celebrate ‘all things BFC’, the Homecoming was a defining chapter in the club’s history and a reminder of the power of supporter unity and the bond between club and community.
Seven years after the day the fans came home, Blackpool are inviting the town to do it all over again.