Why you first started watching Blackpool FC

Neighbour took me to a cup game v Derby in the 70s. I’m from Liverpool and watching them by going on the morning bus from Talbot rd was a chore as a teenager, so gradually switchEd to the pool
 
My dad took me, can’t remember how old I was, Stanley Mathews was playing. That’s ab the only thing he ever did for me. After that I went with my mates when I was about 17.
 
My Uncle Bernie bought me a season ticket for my 10th birthday. This was the season we were in the old first division 1970. Jimmy’s last season which included 3-4 against Chelsea and 3-3 (I think) against Man City. Well and truly hooked I was.
 
Local shopkeeper took me and a mate. Told us to turn up at 5 to 1 to get the bus (No 3), then asked if we wanted to buy sweets. I asked for toilet rolls. He went mental, 'why is your bloody mother asking for toilet rolls at this time....' I said they were for me to throw on the pitch. I got sweets and probably 4 extra 000's and 0000's as way of an apology.
 
I honestly cannot say why. Definitely midweek - cos’ it was an FA Cup replay.
Yes, it was that replay. ‘V’ Norwich, 1963. Looked a goal to me but I was in the Scratching Shed.
 
My Dad used to come home from work and we would catch the 2nd half of a Central league game around the time Bally was manager so 79/80, I was captivated, fascinated and hooked on anything BFC from then on.
 
Was never interested in bfc at all till I was about 14 and my mate from school offered me a free season ticket as someone in his family that had one never used it. His mum and dad were foster carers for a few kids and got a free tickets for the ones they looked after due to some kind of council scheme I think? One of the kids they used to get for never wanted to go so I continued to use it for about 3 years or so!
 
My Dad trying to find something to do with me when he had me on a Saturday!
 
Both sets of grandparents lived in Blackpool so we were regular visitors from Yorkshire. Loved coming over so much so that from about 13 years old I used to come over by myself by train on a Friday to stay with my grandad. Think he secretly enjoyed it more than he let on especially when he started sending me to the bookies with his bets. Was taken under the wing by two blokes called Ian and Austin who were pals of my parents in the scratching sheds and the rest is history. Bumped into Ian in the toilets at Cheltenham in the perfect 10 season which was brilliant and we even left his mum’s second wedding to see the season opener against chesterfield many moons ago and watched a 0-0 thriller on my birthday. Couldn’t be happier to be a Seasider and have much more pride in my club than my Liverpool and Leeds supporting siblings.
 
My Dad used to sit me on the wall in the south paddock ever since I could walk.

I don't recall ever having a choice whether to go or not and it's been second nature for me for over 50 years ever since.
 
Macseasider said:
My dad finally took me in circa 1982 after me begging him to go with him and my older brother. Walking up and entering the ground at the top of the old kop was the most amazing sight it I'd ever seen. Still get that buzz today when entering a football stadium and seeing the arena / stands / pitch.
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Not the same entering at pitch level though for some reason?
 
My Dad took me in 83ish, a 1-2 defeat against Peterborough.
Then went watching United regularly with a friend of the family until 91/92, when Billy Ayre drew me back in….
 
Been to a few games with my Dad moved away then came back as a ten year old started going with my neighbour's and their two kids.
Hooked straight away still see them at games and both now in their 70's.
 
Because they won the FA Cup the year I was born, because I lived 3,000 miles away as a kid with no natural affinity to any other English club, because my grandparents used to send me football annuals that featured the Blackpool stars of the 1950s. By the time I moved to the UK they were the only team for me.
 
Qblock said:
Not the same entering at pitch level though for some reason?
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I agree, used to go in the east and loved walking up the steps from the turnstiles and turning right to smell the tea stall and see the pitch and suss out how full the south paddock was.
 
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My dad took me gainst Stoke 70/71. Possibly pestered to go due to having a Gordon Banks England poster on the back of my bedroom door , don't think he played though.
 
My old man took me. End of 1975/6 season, can't honestly remember who we played, I was only 6, we sat in the seats that were in the Scratching Shed that season, I do know that. That scorching hot summer I dragged him down to the club shop to buy me a scarf, and we went to most home games in that good season under Allan Brown 1976/7. Mainly in the West Stand.
 
fcblackpool said:
Local shopkeeper took me and a mate. Told us to turn up at 5 to 1 to get the bus (No 3), then asked if we wanted to buy sweets. I asked for toilet rolls. He went mental, 'why is your bloody mother asking for toilet rolls at this time....' I said they were for me to throw on the pitch. I got sweets and probably 4 extra 000's and 0000's as way of an apology.
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Can you image throwing toilet rolls now with the cost of living?
 
A lot of people are saying their dad took them. My situation was slightly different. It was me who asked my dad to take me as I saw Blackpool on TV in the late 70's and instantly liked the colours. He was a lapsed fan at the time. I asked which team it was playing in Tangerine and he said it was Blackpool, your local team. I then asked if he would take me and from that moment, he was no longer a lapsed fan!
 
First game I went to, like so many others, was with my big brother. Would have been 7 or 8 years old. It was around about 1960 and was a night match and I will never forget the sight of the Blackpool team warming up as we came up the wooden ? steps in the west.The spectacle of the floodlights on the tangerine shirts against the green of the grass was truly amazing, and like macseasider said earlier that buzz has stayed with me and still "gets" me when I approach the ground. utmp
 
For the want of repeating myself anyone who doesn't know my story.
Family from Brum, I was born in Blackpool '63
Only time my old man would go to Bloomfield Rd was when Pool were playing the Villa or a "big" team
He first started taking me around '68 season.
Wasn't until I started secondary school that I started going 15-20 games a season with school mates.
 
Athers said:
World Cup Italia 90 got me into football so my dad and grandad took turns taking me to games.

Barclays League Division 4
Blackpool 0 Rochdale 0
September 1st 1990

A real classic to prepare me for a life of let downs
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was that Sinclairs first game for us?
 
Football is (or was) a predominantly a Dad/son thing. My Dad always banged on about Mathews in the late fifties/early sixties but he was never a football fan, too busy earning to support us lot probably! Eventually started going with brother and a group of mates in the sixties. Armfield, Glyn James, Johnny Green, Ray Charnley and his ears, I got the bug. I now go with my son and hopefully one day grandson/daughter.
 
Got a bit fed up watching Spurs. Uncle Norman used to bang on about Pool in the 50's so took in a game. Reading away circa 1983/4. Got beat, it snowed but I was hooked.
 
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