There's a lot of history wrapped up the whole FTFC debate on here in particular. In fact there's a lot of history wrapped up in Blackpool and Fleetwood the Towns and especially many of the rivalries we have experienced playing local football ourselves. So I think there's always going to be a certain amount of resentment towards the "Two- Scarves" types who say they support BFC, but then have put regular cash into the Fleetwood coffers.
I understand what you are saying about there always being local clubs and that Fylde are in Tier 6, but that doesn't mean we can afford to be complacent about them as 'rivals' and I don't mean 'rivals' in terms of seriously representing a threat to Blackpool or ever challenging us as equals, but rather in terms of a competing business (essentially feeding off the same pool of fans).
You are right that we have nothing to fear and (at least on the face of it) we probably have the best owner out of the available options in any case. Of course, in an ideal world, they might have pooled their resources, but too many cooks, too many ego's...It would never work out in any case.
Aye, agree with all that.
I think to some extent you could look at FTFC as bringing a degree of shape and meaning to an otherwise pretty drab season and a bit after the homecoming.
The two games against Fleetwood were my lads highlights. Without them,we didn't really have that many 'colourful' games.
I'd also wonder if what Pilley was up to helped crystalise opinion in our fanbase about Oyston's neglect. I can't really remember the timescales now but whilst we've always known he didn't give a shit about the wider structure of the club, seeing Pilley building what he has really brought that home. I might be wrong there and possibly Poolfoot came after the battle lines had been firmly drawn.
I dunno, I think what I'm saying is, I quite liked our rivalry with the Cods in lieu of Bolton being so shite it was meaningless, Wigan similar this year, and no one else being around us.
Rivalries also serve to create a broader football culture in the area. Dundee for example supports 2 clubs who have both had significant European runs in their history despite being smaller than Blackpool and Fleetwood combined. If Pilley stays on his project, it's going to put pressure on the Blackpool board not to become lazy, to work doubly hard to get the next generation etc.
I'm not really arguing the toss, I just think that the Cods are now a fact of life and it's healthier just to enjoy beating them than it is to fret too much about what they've done and how they've done it. I don't really like bankrolling through the leagues but there we go. It is what it is. I'm not sure if Fylde really have a long term future, I can see them being squeezed out as where they were an ',exciting project' - there's a far more exciting project now.
For the record, I ain't never been to either a Cods or Fylde match! (Except obviously as a Pool fan)