Sunday 9th January 1921

Over the Christmas period of 1920 Blackpool played Barnsley twice and both games resulted in a 1-0 win for Pool. In the second encounter which was fiercely fought, Horace Fairhurst sustained a head injury and although he reported for training at the Balmoral Hotel for the FA Cup tie at Darlington on 8 January 1921, he was deemed “not recovered sufficiently to run the risk of playing him”. He had already missed the League game against Notts County on 1 January 1921 for, although he was originally named in the side, he had what was called “a touch of gastritis” and consequently did not travel due to his reported illness. Whilst at one point it looked as though he would recover, he subsequently died from his injury on 9 January 1921.  “We have lost one of the best backs in England,” said a Blackpool spokesman.
 

Tuesday 9th January 1968

Bill Bentley signed by Stan Mortensen on 9 January 1968 for a fee of £27,500 from Stoke City made his League debut for Blackpool two days later against Charlton Athletic when Blackpool lost 3-2. He was an aggressive, hard-tackling defender and very quickly the chant at Bloomfield Road was “Billy Bentley, Hatchet Man. He scored his first senior goal for the club in the 1-0 victory over Bristol City on 14 March 1970. He earned himself the Green headline BENTLEY’S BELTER SEALS POINTS with a sub-headline of “Pool’s midfield star shines in tough game”. The goal came in the 86th minute when “Suddick found Hutchison, and the winger switched the ball inside to Bentley in an open space. The never-say-die midfield man ran forward a few yards and unleashed a left-footer from 25 yards, which tore into the net to give Gibson no chance.” He supplied the “superb through pass” from which John Craven equalised in the Anglo-Italian Cup Final against Bologna on 12 June 1971 and Blackpool went on to win 2-1 after extra-time. He had missed the first two games of the Anglo-Italian campaign but went on to play in the final three. He scored a stunning winning goal against Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup on 3 January 1976 as Blackpool won 1-0. It was to be his only FA Cup goal in 11 appearances in the competition. Blackpool gave him a free transfer in recognition of services rendered on 31 May 1977. He had played in defence, midfield where he struck up a good understanding with Terry Alcock, and occasionally in attack, where although not a prolific goalscorer, when he did score they were usually spectacular goals. He joined Port Vale in July 1977.

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.