Supporters' bar named in honour of Jimmy Armfield to open for Blackpool fans near Bloomfield Road stadium

A group of Pool fans have joined together to convert the three-storey former Bar 1 pub into a venue where Seasiders can congregate before and after match days.

It is hoped the Bloomfield Road venue will officially open on Saturday, October 3.

According to the website, the bar will be open on Saturday match days from 7am until 9pm.

“We are pleased to announce that The Armfield project is now officially underway,” the organisers said in a statement on their website.

“After three months of detailed negotiations, the necessary paperwork is signed and in place, the power and water is now on and so the 'real' work begins.

“The most common pieces of advice we have received during this period have varied between the downright negative such as 'sheer madness, you must be crazy setting up a club at a time like this' and the slightly less negative 'it's a great idea and I wish you luck but it will probably fail just like it did with the previous tenants'.

“Being from Blackpool we all like a challenge and maybe that's the kind of encouragement we needed.

“We are a single-minded group of lifelong BFC supporters who are self financing this operation and determined to deliver a supporters’ club that the fan base, the club and local community can be proud of.”

Named after club stalwart Jimmy Armfield, the bar will also feature rooms named after Billy Ayre and Brett Ormerod.

“The Armfield family have given their support and approval of the club, along with Billy Ayre’s family and Brett Ormerod who will both have rooms dedicated to them,” the organisers said.

“The Armfield family, the Ayre family and Brett have been invited to open the venue.

“We have also consulted with Blackpool Football Club and all supporter groups who have given it their full backing.

“We would like to thank the Armfield family for allowing us to use their name for this supporters’ club.

“Jimmy Armfield is a legend at Bloomfield Road and always will be. His statue proudly stands outside Bloomfield Road diagonally opposite the Armfield Club.”

If you’re interested in sponsoring, call Andy Higgins on 07809 556422.

To find out how you can purchase a season ticket or membership, visit http://www.thearmfieldclub.co.uk

You can also find the venue on Twitter @ArmfieldClub, on Facebook by searching Armfield Club Blackpool and on Instagram at ArmfieldClub.