Tag: Sports

North Shore Golf Club

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Designed by Harry Colt Blackpool North Shore was established in 1904, and has been an Open Championship qualifying venue in the past with promising ‘fast undulating greens’. Blackpool’s Premier Social Club – We are very proud of our Club and would love to give you a tour of our facilities. If you are thinking about holding any event or function, we have 3 rooms available with different catering packages to suit. Blackpool North Shore Golf Club is a challenging 18 hole par 71 course, measuring 6,444 yards playing off the white tees. This course was home to the first fund raising event… Read more »

Stanley Park Golf Club

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The Stanley Park Golf Club is a standout location in Blackpool, renowned for its historic design by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the architect behind some of the world’s most prestigious courses, including Augusta National. Established in 1925, this 18-hole, par-70 course blends picturesque parkland with challenging features, such as strategically placed bunkers and natural hazards, creating a rewarding experience for players of all abilities. The club prides itself on accessibility, offering flexible options like pay-and-play alongside memberships. It also boasts a welcoming, community-focused atmosphere, with facilities that cater to both casual golfers and seasoned players. As of 2024, the course is… Read more »

Blackpool Sports Centre Opens

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On the site of the former park nurseries, the Blackpool Sports Centre was built in 1996, further enhancing Stanley Park’s reputation as a hub for sports and recreation. The sports hall, designed with versatility in mind, offers facilities for a wide range of activities, including badminton, table tennis, and 5-a-side football. It also features a 60-meter running track, catering to athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all levels. This development marked a significant investment in Blackpool’s sporting infrastructure, helping to provide local residents and visitors with access to high-quality facilities for both recreational and competitive sports. The Sports Centre is part… Read more »

Blackpool Cricket Club Opens

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Blackpool Cricket Club has a long and storied history, dating back to its origins in 1890. The club was initially based in various locations within the town before it found a permanent home at Stanley Park. The land, a sprawling 256-acre site, was gifted to Blackpool Corporation in 1924, as part of a grand vision for the development and expansion of the town’s public amenities. This ambitious project led to the creation of Stanley Park as a key community space, with facilities for leisure and sports. As part of the broader development, a cricket pitch was laid in 1925, alongside… Read more »

Blackpool’s Brian London Fights Muhammad Ali

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Brian London, who was originally named Brian Harper and born on 19 June 1934, was a well-regarded heavyweight boxer from Blackpool. Known for his grit and toughness, London made a name for himself in British boxing by winning both the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. A significant moment in his career was his fight against Muhammad Ali on 6 August 1966. Brian was nicknamed the “Blackpool Rock” because of his hard and durable nature in the ring. Before taking on Ali, he had already fought other notable opponents like Henry Cooper and Floyd Patterson. However, he was considered the underdog… Read more »

Lucy Morton, Britain’s first Women’s Olympic Swimming Champion

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Lucy Morton was born in 1898 in New Tatton, Cheshire, but her family relocated to Blackpool when she was a child. At the age of ten, she joined the local amateur swimming club. Blackpool Council supported her training by opening the local swimming baths early in the mornings and late in the evenings, long before the Olympic-sized Derby Baths opened in 1939. Lucy achieved considerable success, winning an Olympic gold medal in the 200m breaststroke at the 1924 Paris Summer Games. Her accomplishments began even earlier, as she held world swimming records in 1914, 1916, and 1920. From 1919 to… Read more »

The Legacy of Premier Bowl

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The tenpin bowling centre on Central Drive in Blackpool opened on 1 October 1965, just a short walk from the seafront. It had thirty-six Brunswick lanes all on one level with A2 type pinsetters. The centre operated until the early 1970s when the Rank Organisation decided to close all its remaining bowling centres, although the Blackpool Mecca Building remained. In the 1970s, it became well-known for The Highland Room, which was a major Northern Soul music venue. From 1977, it hosted the Commonwealth Sporting Club but closed down in the 1980s. It’s not clear if the building was used in... Read more »

Derby Baths on Blackpool Promenade

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Derby Baths in Blackpool, which opened on 22 July 1939, quickly became the town’s premier spot for swimming and recreation. Designed in the popular Art Deco style, it featured a large swimming pool, saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation areas. For decades, it was a central hub for the community, hosting events, fitness classes, and social gatherings, making it a beloved landmark in Blackpool. However, after years of declining visitor numbers and growing concerns about the building’s condition, Derby Baths closed on 31 December 1991. Although there were discussions about renovating and possibly reopening the facility, the decision was made to… Read more »

Blackpool Football Club reaches Premier League

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Blackpool is the only club to have moved up from every division of the Football League through the play-off system. They secured promotion after beating Cardiff City 3-2 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 22 May 2010. This win marked Blackpool’s return to the top level of English football after a 39-year absence. Manager Ian Holloway was ecstatic about the promotion stating that they achieved the impossible dream, and they have done it their way. Concluding that it was the proudest moment of his career. The club is now managed by Steve Bruce and has a Blackpool-born… Read more »

Stanley Matthews and the 1953 FA Cup Final

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Stanley Matthews is best known for his crucial role in Blackpool’s 1953 FA Cup victory over Bolton, a match often called “the Matthews Final.” He was the first footballer in Britain to be knighted, played in 54 international games, and was the first to win the European Footballer of the Year award in 1956. In 1962, he went back to Stoke and kept playing until he was fifty. The 1953 FA Cup final, also known as the Matthews Final, was the eighth to be held at Wembley Stadium after the Second World War. The football match was contested between Blackpool… Read more »