Saturday 28th December 1957

Blackpool fielded a side in a First Division match that cost them absolutely nothing in transfer fees. The side that took the field in the game against Bolton Wanderers was Caine, Armfield, Martin, Fenton, Gratrix, Kelly H, Harris, Peterson, Mudie, Durie and Perry and they had all cost the bare minimum £10 signing on fee. This was the eleven that took on Bolton at Bloomfield Road on a sunny December afternoon in front of a crowd of 19,858.  Despite goals from Jackie Mudie in the 19th minute and Sandy  Harris who shot Blackpool within a goal on 79 minutes. The game eventually finished 3-2. The local press comment on the side that cost nothing was an encouraging one “Beaten but fighters to the end”.  Farm, Matthews and Jimmy Kelly returned for the next game so Blackpool’s’ one game run as a “cost nothing side” was over; the monied replacements did not disgrace themselves as Arsenal were beaten at Highbury for the first time in Blackpool’s history,.

Saturday 28th December 1968

London’s only League game was abandoned by the referee at half time in the second Division encounter between Cyrstal Palace and Blackpool. The Seasiders re-visited Selhurst Palace on January 25th on another very cold day finding themselves a goal down at the interval when Kember scored for the home team, but a second half rally by Pool goals from Craven and a penalty from Johnstone gave Pool a 2-1 win in front of 17,003 crowd.

Alan Suddick 1976

What turned out to be his final game for Blackpool was in the Central League side against Bury reserves on 28 December 1976 when "Hockaday had a golden opportunity to add to Blackpool's total when a cross from Suddick found him five yards out with only Darcy to beat" but he missed and the game ended in a 2-2 draw.

Colin Morris 1979

A Blyth-born outside right who was signed by Blackpool from Southend United on 28 December 1979 in a straight swap for Derek Spence, a deal that was valued at £175,000, then the club record fee. Ironically Morris very nearly did not come to Blackpool because Blackpool manager Stan Ternent, desperately wanting a winger, had originally targeted Millwall's Tony Towner. Blackpool had an offer of £150,000 turned down by Millwall who wanted over £200,000 so Blackpool dropped out of the race to sign him. Then Morris was wanted by Cardiff City, Ipswich Town and Chelsea, who pulled out of a £250,000 deal for the player a couple of months earlier when their accountant made them shelve the transfer deal. Southend decided that they needed a striker rather than a winger so the deal with Spence went through. Morris had begun his career as an apprentice at Burnley before signing for the club as a professional in August 1971. He played nine League games and made one substitute appearance for Burnley before a transfer to Southend United in January 1977. He had played 133 League games for Southend United, scoring 33 goals. Blackpool officials made a motorway dash to sign him but initially the deal was dependant on Spence moving to Roots Hall. Stan Ternent remarked, "All personal terms have been agreed between the clubs and the players. Now it's up to Derek. This move offers him a new challenge."

Michael Flynn 2003

Scored what turned out to be his only League goal for Blackpool in the 45th minute of a 4-2 defeat by Wrexham on 28 December 2003.

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BLACKPOOL ON THIS DAY

Blackpool Football Club On This Day chronicles, in diary form, the major events in the Seasiders long and colourful history.

Full of fascinating daily facts and trivia about Blackpool FC's glorious history and colourful tradition that has been compiled and researched by a passionate Seasider fan Peter Gillatt an online fans site editor since 1996.

"This book is, therefore, an ideal opportunity for both me and all Blackpool Supporters to recall events in the clubs history." "Jimmy Armfield OBE, CBE"

Blackpool - On This Day is available now at £6.99 from Amazon and also from Waterstone's, HMV, WHSmiths, signed copies are only available from the Stripe Publishing bookshop on eBay.