Blackpool SLO column: A sobering midweek defeat, a fans' forum request and a call for more volunteers

Unfortunately, it has not gone the way we would have wanted with five defeats in six games, the most worrying of which was our defeat at home to Stockport County on Tuesday night.

It wasn’t so much the fact that we lost, it was both the manner of the defeat and the additional injuries the squad picked up.

The gulf in class was obvious and, but for Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s heroics in goal, the scoreline could have been worse. We looked jaded against a County team that played intelligent, incisive football.

It’s clear now that with our extensive injury list – the worst I can remember – and threadbare squad, the coaching staff have a task on their hands to keep us moving away from that relegation zone.

We’ve assumed there are at least four clubs in our division who will finish below us.

Given the current state of play, that is not guaranteed, and the fanbase is voicing serious concerns about how we’ve got to where we are – from recruitment to fitness to formation: not to be negative, but because they care.

“A football club is nothing without its fans” is an often quoted mantra, and rightly so.

Nevertheless, it was disheartening to hear so much booing on Tuesday night and to witness so many fans streaming out of the stadium long before the end.

I’m sure Ian Evatt and his assistants are working with others behind the scenes to nail root causes of the issues that have beset us this season.

I continue to liaise with the club over the issue of communication with supporters and have asked for a fans’ forum as I believe it will help the fanbase to remain onside.

As the gaffer has said: “The only way we can find a solution is if we all stick together.”

I’m sure you remember what a brilliant and emotional day it was in March 2019 when we paraded along the promenade in our thousands to Bloomfield Road for Homecoming Saturday, celebrating getting our club back.

What many people didn’t realise is just what a filthy state the stadium was in prior to that homecoming – and how volunteers spent days cleaning seats, sweeping and scrubbing stairways, and generally making much-neglected stands fit for fans again.

There were more than 16,000 supporters in the ground for that game and what is equally remarkable is that most of them took their rubbish home with them in an expression of community-minded care for our football club.

Out of that initiative was born the BFC Volunteers group, whose members regularly clean the seats pre-match, pick up litter post-match and carry out minor works around the stadium.

That is a labour of love, a social bond and a connection to the club that has saved Blackpool FC thousands of pounds over the last few seasons.

We could always do with more volunteers; of course, many hands make lighter work.

If you live locally, have free time on – typically – Monday or Friday mornings and would like to get involved, please get in touch with me at [email protected] or phone me on 07711 796685.

UTMP!