Tag: Sports

Blackpool-Born Simon Sadler Buys His Local Football Club

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Simon Sadler, born on 18 October 1969 in Blackpool, is a British entrepreneur and the founder of Segantii Capital Management. He became the owner of Blackpool Football Club in 2019, purchasing a 96.2% stake and ending the Oyston family’s 32-year control. In his second full season at the helm, Sadler oversaw the club’s promotion to the Championship, marking their return to the second tier of English football after a six-year absence. Sadler grew up on Bispham Road in Blackpool and had a summer job renting deckchairs. He attended Moor Park Primary School, Warbreck School, and Blackpool and the Fylde College before… Read more »

Tarzan’s Johnny Weissmuller Swims in Derby Baths

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Johnny Weissmuller performed in “The Water Follies” at the Derby Baths in Blackpool in 1949. The Derby Baths was a swimming complex known for its Art Deco architecture and Olympic-sized seawater pool. It also had high diving boards and was popular for international competitions. Johnny Weissmuller was born Johann Peter Weißmüller on 2 June 1904. He was a Hungarian-born ethnic German American Olympic swimmer, water polo player and actor. He was known for having one of the best competitive-swimming records of the 20th century. He set world records alongside winning five gold medals in the Olympics. He won the 100m freestyle and… Read more »

Sports Historian Gerry Wolstenholme Writes First Book

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Born in Blackpool, Gerry Wolstenholme is an author and sports historian from Blackpool who wrote about football and cricket. He penned his first book in 1992 and became a strong supporter of Blackpool F.C. He attended Northlands school between the ages of three and five, and then Devonshire Road School in Blackpool and Baines Grammar School in Poulton-le-Fylde. He saw an advertisement for Civil Service examinations and decided to take them. He passed, and moved to London to begin working at Her Majesty's Treasury in Whitehall. He was promoted, and worked in the office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He... Read more »

Jimmy Armfield: A Footballing Great

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Jimmy Armfield was a distinguished English footballer, manager, and broadcaster. Born in 1935, Denton, Lancashire, he moved to Blackpool during World War II, a town closely tied to his footballing legacy. Armfield spent his entire professional playing career with Blackpool FC, making 627 appearances between 1954 and 1971 as a right-back. Known for his defensive skill and leadership, he captained the club for a decade. Internationally, he earned 43 caps for England from 1959 to 1966, captaining the national team 15 times. He was part of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad but did not play due to injury. After retiring… Read more »

Legend Sir Bill Beaumont Joins Fylde Rugby Club

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Sir Bill Beaumont, born on 9 March 1952, in Chorley, Lancashire, is a distinguished figure in rugby union, celebrated for his contributions both on and off the field. He was also a one-club player who joined Fylde Rugby Club as a 17-year-old in 1969, then retiring in 1982 due to an injury. He earned 34 England caps, 21 as captain, led the side to the Grand Slam in 1980, and captained the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa. Post-retirement, Beaumont remained a prominent figure in rugby as a broadcaster, and columnist. As a player, he earned 34 caps for England between… Read more »

Revoe Sports Village

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The Revoe Sports Village is a major community development project in Blackpool aimed at revitalising the Revoe area with enhanced sports and recreational facilities. It is part of Blackpool’s £39.5 million Town Deal, with £6.5 million specifically allocated for the sports village. The project involves creating community sports pitches and other amenities to promote physical activity and social engagement. It is closely linked with Blackpool Football Club’s plans to construct a new East Stand at Bloomfield Road, enhancing the club’s infrastructure while providing additional community benefits. However, as of January 2025, the project has faced delays due to escalating costs,…

Mac Barlow Becomes Manager of Blackpool FC Ladies

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Mac Barlow was born on 31 May 1967 in Blackpool and is an English football manager and former football player. She became the manager of Blackpool FC Ladies in May 2009 and is well known amongst women’s football fans, having had a long playing career. For more on women’s football, have a look at our post featuring a 1937 match between France and England in Blackpool. Barlow played for Preston Rangers WFC and was part of the team reached the semi-finals of the FA Women’s Cup in 1982–83 and 1989–90, where she played left back. In 1997, they became Preston… Read more »

Women’s Football in Blackpool

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The early beginnings of organised women’s football trace back to the late 19th century, a time when the sport was still finding its footing among male players. The first recorded women’s match took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 7 May, 1881. This game featured teams representing Scotland and England and was a bold step in introducing women to the football scene. However, it was not without challenges. The match faced disruption from the crowd, and societal attitudes at the time were largely dismissive of women participating in such a physically demanding activity. By the 1890s, efforts to formalise women’s football… Read more »

Gerry North Wins Two Major Titles in One Year

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Born in Chester in 1936, Gerry North had a distinguished career as a long-distance runner, representing several clubs including Blackpool and Fylde AC, Belgrave Harriers, and City of Portsmouth AC. His impressive personal bests included 3:57.2 for 1500m, 14:06.1 for 5000m, and 29:06.2 for 10,000m. In 1962, he gained national recognition for his victory in the English Championship cross-country event near Blackpool, defeating European three-mile record-holder Bruce Tulloh by two seconds in a thrilling race. North’s win, along with his inter-counties title in the same year, marked a rare and significant achievement. Though small in stature, Gerry North was known… Read more »

Clive Tyldesley Joins ITV as Senior Sports Commentator

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Clive Tyldesley (born 21 August 1954) is a renowned English sports commentator, best known for his long tenure as ITV’s senior football commentator from 1998 to 2020. Over the course of his career, he covered five World Cups, five European Championships, 17 UEFA Champions League finals, and nine FA Cup finals, making him one of the most recognisable voices in British sports broadcasting. Tyldesley currently serves as the lead commentator for CBS Sports’ live UEFA Champions League coverage in the United States and also contributes to Amazon Prime’s Premier League broadcasts. In 2021, he published his first book, Not for… Read more »