Ben Burgess: Age catches up with true pro Brett

men this season, it’s just the lesser sides where they have come unstuck.

The Walsall game could have easily been won by the Seasiders and having watched the home demolition by the same team at the start of the season, it just goes to show the remarkable improvements in performance and standard of players. That day at Bloomfield Road, Walsall ran out 4-0 winners and it could so easily have been more. The players looked lost, there was no experience or organization. How that has changed. It was also great to see Danny Philiskirk grab a last minute goal and continue his impressive start to his career in tangerine.

While things are looking up for Blackpool on the pitch, there was some rather sad news off it. Super Brett Ormerod officially announced his retirement from professional football. Brett always seemed like one of those players that could just go on playing forever, in fact he’s looked old since he was about 21! He’s had a tremendous career and is a shining example to all young players about how far hard work can really take you.

He was the original Jamie Vardy. Climbing the leagues all the way to the top and scoring hundreds of goals along the way. Probably the best thing about Brett is that he’s remained level headed and down to earth all the way through his fantastic journey. You won’t see Brett driving a Ferrari with Rolex’s and various other bling dripping off him. Although that would be quite funny.

I count myself as being extremely fortunate to have played with Brett. When he came back to Blackpool for his second stint, everyone assumed he was getting too old having been released by Preston. How wrong they were. He came to life under Ian Holloway’s system of playing and was completely rejuvenated. Playing with him was so easy. He worked harder than anyone else and had amazing stamina. Aside from his work ethic, he was a very talented footballer whose finishing and movement were first class and something for us all to learn from. I remember when we got promoted and everyone was talking about what new car they would spend their money on etc. Someone enquired as to what Brett was going to spend his bonus on, “I’ll probably just get my car valeted.”

Good old Brett.

From one Blackpool legend to potentially hundreds this week.

Our school was one of twenty primaries who took part in a football tournament held at Stanley Park.

It was organised by the Blackpool FC community trust who have gone from strength to strength in an exactly polar opposite to the football club. I see first hand the tireless and exceptional job these coaches do in schools all around Blackpool.

They coach the children and educate them on the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, something that could save the NHS millions in the future. Their sessions are fun but the kids are also learning and improving new and existing skills.

Children and parents are always enthused with the work the trust do and in a time when so much negativity surrounds the football club, it’s nice to see some positivity from potential future generations of Seasiders fans.

The tournament itself was extremely well organized and my only complaint was that the standard was so high that our team got knocked out! It was also nice to see ex-teammates Matthew Blinkhorn and Simon Wiles attending in their guise of Academy coaches to make sure none of the local talent escapes the Academy at Blackpool.