Blackpool Supporters Trust column: A reminder that football is not the be-all and end-all

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In our lifelong obsession with our football clubs, it is sometimes salutary to be reminded that football is merely a sport rather than anything more important.

Such a moment arrived last week, when the awful news emerged that our manager Steve Bruce’s grandson had died unexpectedly.

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Very few of us have experienced a tragedy such as this, and it is difficult to put yourself in the place of Steve and his family and understand how they must be feeling.

This is also one of those moments when the football community shows the very best of itself.

Blackpool's Albie Morgan and Barnsley's Adam Phillips are joined by the players, officials and fans of both sides in clapping in remembrance of Steve Bruce's grandson  Picture: Lee Parker/CameraSportBlackpool's Albie Morgan and Barnsley's Adam Phillips are joined by the players, officials and fans of both sides in clapping in remembrance of Steve Bruce's grandson  Picture: Lee Parker/CameraSport
Blackpool's Albie Morgan and Barnsley's Adam Phillips are joined by the players, officials and fans of both sides in clapping in remembrance of Steve Bruce's grandson Picture: Lee Parker/CameraSport
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The minute’s applause in the early moments of our game with Barnsley was both heartwarming and immaculately observed.

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BST would like to thank visiting supporters and the match officials for playing a full part.

We were pleased to see Blackpool launch a new 18-game season ticket offer to tempt fans into a full campaign.

More needed to be done to get fans into Bloomfield Road and this was good, proactive thinking on their part.

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It does not entirely mitigate the original pricing strategy, or the individual match ticket prices, but it is a welcome step in the right direction for which the club should be applauded.

With that in mind, BST have put our money behind this initiative as we have bought five adult and five child season tickets under this scheme.

We have agreed with our award-winning Community Trust that those tickets will go to deserving causes in our local community, who otherwise might not be able to afford to go to games.

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Aside from being a community-based organisation, we are also an open and democratic one.

This is an important time of year for us as we prepare for our AGM and annual elections to our committee.

The AGM is being held in the Armfield Club before our home game with Rotherham United on December 7.

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We are planning to make it a social event, as well as a business one, and would particularly welcome Blackpool fans who are not BST members, as well as local people who want to know a bit more about who we are and what we do.

If you are a Blackpool fan and a BST member, this is your annual chance to stand for election to the committee.

Members can nominate themselves up until November 15 but, if committee life sounds too formal and you want to volunteer any help, email our secretary at [email protected]

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Finally, football is a sport awash with commemorative items but, occasionally, a real gem of genuine historical significance comes to light – and BST has become aware of one in particular.

The owner of a commemorative shield has kindly donated it to BST for a potential sale or auction, raising funds for the Trust to support some Blackpool or community-related scheme.

We suspect this might well be the oldest piece of Blackpool FC memorabilia in circulation.

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We think it was awarded to Tom Hargreaves, who scored the club’s first goal, for winning the Fylde Football Cup in 1887.

We’ve already had valuable assistance from Blackpool FC historian Gerry Wolstenholme and Blackpool FC Former Players Association’s John Cross, for which we are very grateful.

Anyone with further expertise that would help us can get in touch at the email address above.