1896–97 Blackpool F.C. season

The 1896–97 season was Blackpool F.C.'s debut season in the Football League. They competed in the sixteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing eighth.

Blackpool F.C.
1896–97 season
ManagerNone
Second Division8th
FA CupFifth round qualifying
Top goalscorerLeague: Jack Parkinson (12)
All: Jack Parkinson (14)
Highest home attendance5,000 vs Newton Heath, 17 October 1896, Second Division
5,000 vs Grimsby Town, 1 January 1897, Second Division
5,000 vs Darwen, 16 April 1897, Second Division[i]
Lowest home attendance1,000 v. Woolwich Arsenal, 4 January 1897, Second Division
1,000 vs Walsall, 13 February 1897, Second Division[i]
Average home league attendance2,833[i]

Jack Parkinson was the club's top scorer, with fifteen goals to his name. Tommy Bowman, William Douglas and Bob Norris were ever-present during the club's 30 league games.

Season review

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Blackpool's first game in the Football League took place on 5 September 1896, at Lincoln City's Sincil Bank. The visitors' starting eleven that day was: William Douglas, Henry Parr (captain), Tommy Bowman, Alex Stuart, Harry Stirzaker, Bob Norris, John Clarkin, Sam Donnelly, Jack Parkinson, Bob Parkinson and Charlie Mount. Mount scored Blackpool's first League goal, but they slipped to a 3–1 defeat.

A week later, Blackpool travelled to Darwen and chalked up their first victory, 3–2.

On 19 September, Burton Wanderers were the first visitors to Raikes Hall for a Football League game, and they returned whence they came with a 5–0 defeat behind them.

For the final game of September, the Seasiders hosted Manchester City. The match finished 2–2.

Another road trip ensued, on 3 October, to Leicester Fosse. The Midlanders took both points with a 2–1 victory.

After a fortnight's break, Blackpool welcomed North-West neighbours Newton Heath to Raikes Hall. The home side ran out 4–2 winners.

The following week, at Burton Swifts, Blackpool drew 2–2.

November began with a trip to Manchester City. The host won 4–2.

Lincoln City travelled to the Lancashire coast on 14 November, and Blackpool recorded their first win for a month. Bob Birkett, on his debut and in his only appearance of the season, scored Blackpool's first goal in a 3–1 victory.

Two weeks later, Notts County were the visitors, and Blackpool were the victors for the second consecutive game, this time with a 3–2 result.

Blackpool didn't play again until a 19 December visit to Woolwich Arsenal. They lost 4–2.

On Boxing Day, Blackpool travelled to Newton Heath and lost 2–0 in what appears to be, at around 10,000, the largest crowd of the season in a game involving Blackpool.

1897 began with a New Year's Day victory at home to Grimsby Town.

On 4 January, Woolwich Arsenal made the trip up from London. They returned to the capital with a point after a 1–1 draw.

Twelve days later, Blackpool travelled north-east to Newcastle United. The Magpies won 4–1.

On 23 January, Small Heath were the visitors to Raikes Hall. They won 3–1.

A third consecutive defeat occurred at Loughborough at the end of the month. The match ended 1–4.

After another break, Blackpool hosted Walsall on 13 February and chalked up their first win in four games with a 3–2 result.

Grimsby was the destination the following weekend. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.

Blackpool took on Leicester Fosse on 27 February, and ran out 3–0 winners.

Into March, and an away game against Small Heath. Blackpool won 3–1.

A third consecutive victory followed on 13 March — 4–1 at home to Newcastle United.

The Seasiders' good form ended in the following game, a 3–1 defeat at Notts County.

On 27 March, Blackpool returned to winning ways when Loughborough travelled to Raikes Hall. The hosts won 4–1.

Two days later, Blackpool travelled to Burton Wanderers and lost 3–1.

Two more defeats ensued: 2–0 at Gainsborough Trinity, and the same scoreline at Walsall.

Seven months after they met in East Lancashire, on 16 April Darwen travelled west to the coast. Jack Parkinson's strike gave Blackpool both points.

A 3–0 home victory over Burton Swifts ensued, before the final game of the season saw Gainsborough Trinity visit the seaside for a 1–1 draw.

Three players appeared in each of Blackpool's 30 matches: Douglas, Bowman and Norris.

First-team squad

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Name Position(s) Nationality Place of birth Date of Birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
William Douglas GK   Dundee 0 0   Derby County 5 September 1896[a]
Full-backs
Bob Birket FB   Weeton (1874-11-17)17 November 1874 (aged 21) 0 0   Liverpool 28 July 1896
Harry Parr FB   Blackpool (1868-04-18)18 April 1868 (aged 28) 0 0   St. John's 5 September 1896[a]
Half-backs
Tommy Bowman WH   Tarbolton (1873-10-26)26 October 1873 (aged 22) 0 0   Annbank 5 September 1896[a]
George Colville RH   Tarbolton (1876-03-18)18 March 1876 (aged 20) 0 0   Annbank 10 June 1896
Bob Norris LH   Leeds (1875-03-12)12 March 1875 (aged 21) 0 0   South Shore 30 May 1896
John Scarr LH   Blackpool (1874-10-05)5 October 1874 (aged 21) 0 0 16 April 1897[a]
Harry Stirzaker CH   Fleetwood (1869-02-07)7 February 1869 (aged 27) 0 0   Fleetwood Rangers 1894
Alex Stuart WH 0 0   South Shore 5 September 1896[a]
Fred Thompson CH 0 0 23 January 1897[a]
Forwards
Tom Bradshaw OR   Hambleton (1876-03-15)15 March 1876 (aged 20) 0 0   Preston North End 27 November 1896
John Clarke CF   0 0   Bury 27 January 1897
John Clarkin CF   Neilston 1872 (aged 23–24) 0 0   Newton Heath 5 September 1896[a]
Sam Donnelly IR   Annbank (1874-01-01)1 January 1874 (aged 22) 0 0   Notts County 5 September 1896[a]
Nicholas Gillett CF   Lytham St Annes 1874 (aged 21–22) 0 0 15 December 1896[a]
Jimmy Martin IF   Parkhead 1875 (aged 20–21) 0 0   Bolton Wanderers 1 November 1895
Charlie Mount OF   Cambuslang (1873-03-27)27 March 1873 (aged 23) 0 0   Cambuslang 5 September 1896[a]
Peter O'Connor CF 0 0 12 September 1896[a]
Jack Parkinson CF   Blackpool (1874-08-27)27 August 1874 (aged 21) 0 0   South Shore 5 September 1896[a]
Bob Parkinson CF   Preston (1873-03-27)27 March 1873 (aged 23) 0 0   Luton Town 26 May 1896
George Winstanley IF   Blackpool 1875 (aged 20–21) 0 0 30 January 1897[a]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Date of the player's first appearance for the club as the date of signing is unknown.

Source: [1]

Competitions

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Overall record

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Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Second Division 5 September 1896 24 April 1897 Matchday 1 8th 30 13 5 12 59 56 +3 043.33
FA Cup 15 December 1896 20 January 1897 Third round qualifying Fifth round qualifying 4 2 1 1 6 5 +1 050.00
Total 34 15 6 13 65 61 +4 044.12

Source: Competitions

Football League Second Division

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
6 Manchester City 30 12 8 10 58 50 1.160 32
7 Gainsborough Trinity 30 12 7 11 50 47 1.064 31
8 Blackpool 30 13 5 12 59 56 1.054 31
9 Leicester Fosse 30 13 4 13 59 57 1.035 30
10 Woolwich Arsenal 30 13 4 13 68 70 0.971 30
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

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In summary
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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts W D L GF GA Pts W D L GF GA Pts
30 13 5 12 59 56 1.054 31 11 3 1 39 16 25 2 2 11 20 40 6

Source: [citation needed]

By matchday
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Matchday123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
GroundAAHHAHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHHH
ResultLWWDLWDLWWLLWDLLLWDWWWLWLLLWWD
Position121366981011981013111112131312111110910101010101088
Source: 11v11
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
In detail
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5 September 1896 (1896-09-05) 1 Lincoln City 3–1 Blackpool Lincoln
Lines  
Kirton   
Mount   Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 1,000
12 September 1896 (1896-09-12) 2 Darwen 2–3 Blackpool Darwen
Hunt  
McClung  
Donnelly   
Mount  
Stadium: Barley Bank
Attendance: 3,000
19 September 1896 (1896-09-19) 3 Blackpool 5–0 Burton Wanderers Blackpool
Clarkin  
Stirzaker  
O'Connor  
Mount  
Donnelly  
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 3,000
26 September 1896 (1896-09-26) 4 Blackpool 2–2 Manchester City Blackpool
J. Parkinson  
Bowman  
Hill  
Mann  
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 4,000
3 October 1896 (1896-10-03) 5 Leicester Fosse 2–1 Blackpool Leicester
Dorrell  
Carnelly  
Donnelly   Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 6,000
17 October 1896 (1896-10-17) 6 Blackpool 4–2 Newton Heath Blackpool
J. Parkinson   
Mount  
Martin  
Bryant  
Draycott  
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 5,000
24 October 1896 (1896-10-24) 7 Burton Swifts 2–2 Blackpool Burton-on-Trent
Rae  
Heald  
J. Parkinson  
Martin  
Stadium: Peel Croft
Attendance: 3,000
7 November 1896 (1896-11-07) 8 Manchester City 4–2 Blackpool Manchester
Sharples  
Meredith  
Lewis  
Bannister  
J. Parkinson  
Martin  
Stadium: Hyde Road
Attendance: 6,000
14 November 1896 (1896-11-14) 9 Blackpool 3–1 Lincoln City Blackpool
Birket  
Clarkin  
Mount  
Gillespie   Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 1,500
28 November 1896 (1896-11-28) 10 Blackpool 3–2 Notts County Blackpool
Martin   
Stirzaker  
Bull  
Boucher  
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 2,500
19 December 1896 (1896-12-19) 11 Woolwich Arsenal 4–2 Blackpool Plumstead
Haywood   
Crawford   
B. Parkinson  
Donnelly  
Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 6,000
26 December 1896 (1896-12-26) 12 Newton Heath 2–0 Blackpool Manchester
Cassidy    Stadium: Bank Street
Attendance: 8,000
1 January 1897 (1897-01-01) 13 Blackpool 1–0 Grimsby Town Blackpool
Norris   Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 5,000
4 January 1897 (1897-01-04) 14 Blackpool 1–1 Woolwich Arsenal Blackpool
Martin   Brock   Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 1,000
16 January 1897 (1897-01-16) 15 Newcastle United 4–1 Blackpool Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Wardrope  
Auld  
Collins  
Smellie  
Bowman   Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 6,000
23 January 1897 (1897-01-23) 16 Blackpool 1–3 Small Heath Blackpool
Bradshaw   Hare  
Inglis   
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 2,000
30 January 1897 (1897-01-30) 17 Loughborough 4–1 Blackpool Loughborough
Jones    
Roulston  
Stirzaker   Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,200
13 February 1897 (1897-02-13) 18 Blackpool 3–2 Walsall Blackpool
Clarke  
J. Parkinson  
Parr  
Davies  
Griffin  
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 1,000
20 February 1897 (1897-02-20) 19 Grimsby Town 2–2 Blackpool Grimsby
Fletcher  
Bell  
Martin  
Clarke  
Stadium: Abbey Park
Attendance: 6,000
27 February 1897 (1897-02-27) 20 Blackpool 3–0 Leicester Fosse Blackpool
Bradshaw  
Clarke  
J. Parkinson  
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 1,000
6 March 1897 (1897-03-06) 21 Small Heath 1–3 Blackpool Birmingham
Hodgetts   J. Parkinson  
Martin  
Clarke  
Stadium: Muntz Street
Attendance: 6,000
13 March 1897 (1897-03-13) 22 Blackpool 4–1 Newcastle United Blackpool
Clarkin   
Bradshaw  
J. Parkinson  
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 3,000
20 March 1897 (1897-03-20) 23 Notts County 3–1 Blackpool Nottingham
Murphy  
Boucher  
Langham  
Bradshaw   Stadium: Trent Bridge
Attendance: 7,000
27 March 1897 (1897-03-27) 24 Blackpool 4–1 Loughborough Blackpool
Clarkin  
Clarke   
Bradshaw  
Roulston   Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 2,500
29 March 1897 (1897-03-29) 25 Burton Wanderers 3–1 Blackpool Burton-on-Trent
King  
Arkesden  
Handley  
Martin   Stadium: Derby Turn
3 April 1897 (1897-04-03) 26 Gainsborough Trinity 2–0 Blackpool Gainsborough
Brown  
Webster  
Stadium: The Northolme
Attendance: 2,000
10 April 1897 (1897-04-10) 27 Walsall 2–0 Blackpool Walsall
Johnson  
Griffin  
Stadium: Hilary Street
Attendance: 3,000
16 April 1897 (1897-04-16) 28 Blackpool 1–0 Darwen Blackpool
J. Parkinson   Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 5,000
19 April 1897 (1897-04-19) 29 Blackpool 3–0 Burton Swifts Blackpool
Martin  
J. Parkinson   
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 3,000
24 April 1897 (1897-04-24) 30 Blackpool 1–1 Gainsborough Trinity Blackpool
Clarkin   Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 3,000

FA Cup

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15 December 1896 (1896-12-15) Third round qualifying Darwen 1–2 Blackpool Darwen
Kinsella   11' B. Parkinson   20'
Donnelly   47'
Stadium: Barley Bank
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: J. Lewis
2 January 1897 (1897-01-02) Fourth round qualifying Chorley 0–1 Blackpool Chorley
J. Parkinson   Stadium: Dole Lane
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: R.E. Lythgoe
15 January 1897 (1897-01-15) Fifth round qualifying Newton Heath 2–2 Blackpool Manchester
Donaldson  
Gillespie  
Stirzaker  
Norris  
Stadium: Bank Street
Attendance: 1,500
20 January 1897 (1897-01-20) Fifth round qualifying replay Blackpool 1–2 Newton Heath Blackpool
J. Parkinson   Cassidy  
Bryant  
Stadium: Raikes Hall
Attendance: 1,500

Squad statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Nat. Name Second Division FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   William Douglas 30 0 4 0 34 0
DF   Bob Birket 1 1 0 0 1 1
DF   Harry Parr 29 1 4 0 33 1
MF   Tommy Bowman 30 2 4 0 34 2
MF   George Colville 5 0 3 0 8 0
MF   Bob Norris 30 1 4 1 34 2
MF   John Scarr 3 0 0 0 3 0
MF   Harry Stirzaker 27 3 4 1 31 4
MF Alex Stuart 21 0 1 0 22 0
MF Fred Thompson 6 0 0 0 6 0
FW   Tom Bradshaw 18 5 3 0 21 5
FW   John Clarke 13 6 0 0 13 6
FW   John Clarkin 28 6 3 0 31 6
FW   Sam Donnelly 14 5 4 1 18 6
FW   Nicholas Gillett 2 0 1 0 3 0
FW   Jimmy Martin 23 10 4 0 27 10
FW   Charlie Mount 9 5 0 0 9 5
FW Peter O'Connor 4 1 0 0 4 1
FW   Jack Parkinson 27 12 4 2 31 14
FW   Bob Parkinson 8 1 1 1 9 2
FW   George Winstanley 2 0 0 0 2 0
  • Players used: 21
  • Goals scored: 65 (including 0 own-goals)

Goalscorers

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Rank Pos. Player Second Division FA Cup Total
1 FW   Jack Parkinson 12 2 14
2 FW   Jimmy Martin 10 0 10
3 FW   John Clarke 6 0 6
FW   John Clarkin 6 0 6
FW   Sam Donnelly 5 1 6
6 FW   Tom Bradshaw 5 0 5
FW   Charlie Mount 5 0 5
8 MF   Harry Stirzaker 3 1 4
9 MF   Tommy Bowman 2 0 2
MF   Bob Norris 1 1 2
FW   Bob Parkinson 1 1 2
12 DF   Harry Parr 1 0 1
FW   Peter O'Connor 1 0 1
DF   Bob Birket 1 0 1
Own Goals 0 0 0
Total 59 6 65

Clean sheets

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Rank Pos. Player Second Division FA Cup Total
1 GK   William Douglas 5 1 6

Transfers

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Transfers out

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Date Pos. Nat. Name To Fee
3 October 1896[a] CF Peter O'Connor Free agency
14 November 1896[a] OF   Charlie Mount Cambuslang
20 January 1897[a] IR   Sam Donnelly Annbank
23 January 1897[a] CF   Bob Parkinson Warmley
30 January 1897[a] CF   Nicholas Gillett Free agency
27 February 1897[a] IF   George Winstanley South Shore
29 March 1897[a] RH   George Colville Hibernian
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Date of the player's last appearance prior to leaving the club as the exact date of the transfer is unknown.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Attendances were approximated by the reporter at the ground.

References

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General

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Books

  • Calley, Roy (2011). Blackpool: The Complete Record. DB Publishing. ISBN 978-1859839768.

Websites

Specific

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  1. ^ Blackpool F.C. 1896–97 Squad at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)