Blackpool SLO column: Looking back to the past and forward to the future

Here’s an interesting statistic for fact lovers: the last time the Seasiders played a game on February 29 was way back in 1992!

The wonderful Billy Ayre was manager at the time and we drew 1-1 at home against Maidstone United with Andy Garner netting our goal.

Oh, and we went on to win promotion via the play-offs.

Promotion may be a stretch for us in this campaign, unless we can turn in another ‘perfect 10’ – or close to – but after Tuesday’s dramatic win over Bolton Wanderers and a much better performance than we’ve seen in a while, it really feels like we’re beginning to get our bounce back.

Of course there is uncertainty in the air following the dismissal of Simon Grayson the other week, and although I’m requested as SLO to refrain from commenting about on-field matters, I believe it’s reasonable to make two observations at this point.

The first is that the squad seems to be a happier, more positive bunch of lads than it looked to be a few weeks ago.

The second is that I’m certain the board of BFC regards the appointment of a new manager as a vital building block in setting the club up to achieve Simon Sadler’s vision for Blackpool in the next few years. They know they need to get the right man and they will take time to do that if required.

Meanwhile, we have a game against Ipswich Town to look forward to tomorrow, and it is thankfully something to be able to anticipate watching the Seasiders again. Although the visitors are better placed in the league table, we more than held our own in the 2-2 draw at Portman Road back in November.

Their form appears to be dipping as ours picks up, so we have every reason to feel positive.

What the club and the players need is our massive support. It’s nearly a year since we got our club back.

The football is improving, the atmosphere inside Bloomfield Road is transformed and what we really need is for the whole town to get behind the lads and get the stadium rocking again.

If you haven’t been to a game for a while, now is a good time to reconnect. If you have friends or colleagues who might be up for it, why not invite them along?

It should be a cracker of a game. Let’s get behind our team in tangerine and – who knows? – maybe roar them on to back-to-back wins.

The club will be holding the second structured dialogue meeting between the directors and delegates representing seven prominent supporters’ organisations next week.

These meetings provide for more in-depth discussion about issues of concern to supporters than is possible at a large fans’ forum – although the club will probably schedule another one of these at some point, maybe when the new manager is in place.

Topics for next week’s meeting have been submitted in advance by supporters’ groups, and if you are a member of one of those groups, you should have been able to have input via your delegates.

Structured dialogue is a key mechanism for the club and its fanbase to build an open and constructive debate about core principles and goals in the ongoing regeneration of our football club.

One of the ideas that came out of the last meeting was for the club to re-engage with local grassroots youth football in the Poulton-le-Fylde and Blackpool leagues.

This it is doing and many of those youth teams are getting invitations to come and watch games from the Family Stand between now and the end of the season.

Young supporters are the future lifeblood of the fanbase after all. We hope they will enjoy the football now on offer and will begin a lifelong affiliation with their hometown club.

If any fan or fans’ group is still planning to send in a flag to join the fantastic array already up in the Kop, please note that the club would like to start phase two in the Armfield Stand at the end of March, so you’ve got until the Sunderland home fixture in two weeks’ time to get those flags and banners in to me. Either drop them in at the main reception or mail them to SLO, Blackpool FC, Seasiders Way, Blackpool FY1 6JJ.

As Supporters’ Liaison Officer, I have an open door to any fan who wishes to come and talk about any aspect of being a supporter of Blackpool FC.

As a reminder, I am available at the club most Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am-4pm. You can also reach me via twitter: @BFCSLO, via email: [email protected] and on Facebook: Blackpool FC Supporters’ Liaison Officer.

Finally, to reiterate my sign-off from last month’s column: Together, we will make this the club of our dreams. Keep the faith. Come on you Pool!