1950`spoolfan
Well-known member
As the years have sped by my attendance at `pool games has gradually reduced from the start of a lifetime`s support 74 years ago that began at the age of just four when my father ,a season ticket holder for many years, took me to a reserve game. The first first team game I can remember going to was a 6-3 victory over Newcastle in late 1951. Very sweet revenge for the cup final defeat by them that I had watched earlier that year on a neighbour`s television at the age of 5.
So it`s been a very long journey experiencing all the many ups and downs along the way. I moved away from Blackpool when I left school in 1963 but remained a big fan (as my brother once said to me you can change your job, you can change your wife but you can never change your football team} and have watched some games in every season since and last night was both my first time attending a game this season and my first visit to Port Vale despite being fairly lame from a recent hip replacement at the bequest of my youngest son who although a Blades supporter where he was born is also a keen `pool follower as his second team.
Last night Initially I saw and heard plenty of support for the tangerines but by the time we trailed 2-0 that had virtually evaporated and by the time we had gone 3 down the chants became angry and negative. As I sorrowfully hobbled from the ground when the match ended the abuse reached an intensity for the players and particularly for the manager that I had never ever before witnessed in all my years as a Blackpool supporter .
I am not sure whether I will ever see another live Blackpool game. My beloved brother, a lifetime season ticket holder who would get me tickets when I visited and got me tickets for both the more recent play off finals at Wembley (Cardiff, what a great day that was and West Ham , we were distinctly unlucky that day) remained living locally all his life but sadly he died three years ago .
I understand the great disappointment of our fans last night especially on top of recent away performances which of course I very much felt too but the extreme vitriol I saw and heard left me feeling rather sad and disillusioned.
So it`s been a very long journey experiencing all the many ups and downs along the way. I moved away from Blackpool when I left school in 1963 but remained a big fan (as my brother once said to me you can change your job, you can change your wife but you can never change your football team} and have watched some games in every season since and last night was both my first time attending a game this season and my first visit to Port Vale despite being fairly lame from a recent hip replacement at the bequest of my youngest son who although a Blades supporter where he was born is also a keen `pool follower as his second team.
Last night Initially I saw and heard plenty of support for the tangerines but by the time we trailed 2-0 that had virtually evaporated and by the time we had gone 3 down the chants became angry and negative. As I sorrowfully hobbled from the ground when the match ended the abuse reached an intensity for the players and particularly for the manager that I had never ever before witnessed in all my years as a Blackpool supporter .
I am not sure whether I will ever see another live Blackpool game. My beloved brother, a lifetime season ticket holder who would get me tickets when I visited and got me tickets for both the more recent play off finals at Wembley (Cardiff, what a great day that was and West Ham , we were distinctly unlucky that day) remained living locally all his life but sadly he died three years ago .
I understand the great disappointment of our fans last night especially on top of recent away performances which of course I very much felt too but the extreme vitriol I saw and heard left me feeling rather sad and disillusioned.