Fans' message of hope in uncertain times for Blackpool FC

Despite a mixed season on the pitch, the Seasiders have averaged crowds of close to 9,000, almost three-times the official figure during the boycott.

Christine Seddon, who chairs Blackpool Supporters’ Trust, was among those happily back in the habit of attending home games when coronavirus struck.

She continues to fight the good fight, lobbying for change in football governance after Blackpool fans were let down by the EFL and FA for so long.

Christine told The Gazette: “This is very different to the boycott. Last time we were missing watching our own team but the rest of football was still going on.

“As a Trust we were still going to the home games and still engaging with the fans – it was just that we were standing outside, not inside!

“You still felt like you were connected to the world of football, even though we weren’t physically watching our team.

“This, on the other hand, is just weird. It’s particularly upsetting for us because we’ve only had our club back for 12 months or so and we’ve only had Simon Sadler as owner for nine months.

“So much progress was being made and we were just at that stage, after all the turmoil, of becoming excited about the future with a popular new manager.

“Suddenly, bang, that’s it – it’s all gone and there is nothing to replace it with.”

But Christine has a hopeful message, adding: “Although there isn’t an end date as such, it’s not as open-ended as the situation with the Oystons was. We just have to keep going.

“We will get there in the end.

“I just hope that because people will be so starved of any type of sport, particularly football, they’ll come flocking back in big numbers.

“Then we’ll be able to say: ‘This time we’re back and we’re here to stay, no interruptions.’”

Tim Fielding, BST’s first chair, was another leading light in the fans’ struggle. Now BST’s honorary vice-president, Fielding was given a role on Blackpool’s interim board prior to Sadler’s takeover last year.

He told The Gazette: “It’s been quite surreal the fact that all football has been suspended.

“When you go home, you’d normally flick on the TV and look at the sport channels. Now you just switch on the news and wait for the latest update from the Government.

“I’ll be honest, since it happened I haven’t thought too much about football. There’s so little to talk about at the minute.

“Before the suspension we had just seen a new manager come in and there was a lot of interest.

“We also had a massive game against Sunderland in the offing, which was pulled at the last minute.

“There was also the trip to Shrewsbury Town to look forward to and a load of coaches had already been booked, hoping for a good day out.

“Managing my business, it’s probably been the most challenging time in my 30 years as a lawyer. I’ve not really had much chance to even think about football.”

It’s just been all-consuming but hopefully we all come through it safely.”