The 2024–25 season is the 116th season in the history of Blackpool Football Club, and their second-consecutive season in League One,[3] the third tier of English professional football. The also participated in three cup competitions: they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the second round, of the EFL Cup in the third round and of the EFL Trophy in the knockout stage.
The club was managed by Neil Critchley,[4] in his second season of his second spell at the club, until 21 August, when he was sacked. Richard Keogh replaced him in the interim. Steve Bruce was appointed as the club's new head coach on 3 September.[5]
Pre-season
Blackpool hosting Sunderland in a friendly on 27 July
Two new signings occurred in June, to become official on 1 July: Jordan Rhodes,[7] who was on loan at the club the previous season, joined on a free transfer, as did fellow striker Ashley Fletcher.[8] They were followed by defenders Zac Ashworth and Hayden Coulson, the latter of whom was at Blackpool on loan the previous season.
On 8 July, Welsh midfielder Lee Evans joined on a free transfer.[9]
The club's first pre-season friendly took place at AFC Fylde on 12 July. The hosts won 3–1, with Jake Daniels scoring Blackpool's goal.
A week later, Blackpool played Cádiz CF as part of the club's training stint in Spain. The match finished goalless.
Forward Zak Emmerson joined FC Halifax Town on a permanent transfer on 23 July. The fee was not disclosed.[10] Later in the day, Blackpool travelled to West Bromwich Albion. Goals from Sonny Carey and Ashley Fletcher gave Blackpool a 2–1 victory.
On 27 July, Blackpool hosted Sunderland at Bloomfield Road. Josh Clarke's strike for the visitors was the only goal of the game.
Two more defeats followed—at Tranmere and at home to Accrington Stanley—before pre-season was brought to a close with a 2–0 victory at Neil Critchley's former club, Crewe Alexandra.
On 5 August, defender Elkan Baggott joined on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town. Three days later, Elliot Embleton, previously on loan at Blackpool, was signed on a permanent basis on a two-year contract.
Blackpool began their League One campaign with a 2–1 defeat at Crawley Town on 10 August. Ashley Fletcher scored on his debut for the visitors in the 74th minute, having come on as a substitute two minutes earlier.[11]
A second-successive League One defeat followed at home (3–0 to Stockport County) on 17 August. Blackpool dropped to second-bottom in the table.[13] Neil Critchley was sacked four days later, with Richard Keogh replacing him in the interim.
After three years at Bloomfield Road, goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw joined Plymouth Argyle for an undisclosed fee on 23 August.
On 24 August, Blackpool drew 4–4 at Cambridge United, despite leading 4–1. James Husband scored twice, with the other goals coming from Kyle Joseph and Dom Ballard, his first goal for the club. Blackpool climbed one place to 22nd with the point.
Three days later, Blackpool reached the third round of the EFL Cup, after a 2–1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Jake Beesley and Hayden Coulson scored the visitors' goals.[14] It will be Blackpool's first appearance in the third round since the 2018–19 season. Earlier in the day, 22-year-old goalkeeper Harry Tyrer joined on a season-long loan from Everton.[15]
On 30 August, transfer deadline day, forward Kylian Kouassi joined League Two Salford City on loan until the end of the season.[16] Right-back Odeluga Offiah arrived at Bloomfield Road on loan from Brighton for the rest of the season.
Blackpool drew 2–2 with Wycombe Wanderers at Bloomfield Road on 31 August. The hosts' goals came from Kyle Joseph and Jake Beesley. They climbed one place to 21st with the point.[17]
On 3 September, Blackpool beat Crewe Alexandra 4–1 at Bloomfield Road in the group stage of the EFL Trophy, maintaining Richard Keogh's unbeaten start as interim manager. Jordan Rhodes, Sonny Carey and CJ Hamilton (2) got Blackpool's goals.[18] Immediately after the match, Steve Bruce was announced as Blackpool's new head coach.[19]
Blackpool beat Exeter City 2–1 at Bloomfield Road on 14 September, after a 94th-minute winner by James Husband, in Steve Bruce's first game in charge. CJ Hamilton scored Blackpool's first goal. The hosts climbed to 19th in the table with the three points.
Sheffield Wednesday, with a single-goal victory, knocked Blackpool out of the EFL Cup at the third-round stage on 17 September.[20]
On 20 September, young striker Jake Daniels was loaned to Warrington Rylands for a month.[21] The following day, Blackpool travelled to Charlton Athletic, and returned north with all three points in a 2–1 victory. An own-goal from the hosts was followed by Albie Morgan's first goal of the campaign. The visitors climbed to 13th with the victory.[22]
Blackpool visited Huddersfield Town on 24 September, and returned with a 2–0 victory. Kyle Joseph, with his third league goal of the campaign, put the visitors ahead on 31 minutes. CJ Hamilton doubled their advantage five minutes into first-half injury time, netting his fourth goal of the season. Blackpool climbed four places to 9th with the three points.[23]
On 28 September, Blackpool hosted Burton Albion in a League One fixture. They won 3–0, with goals from Odeluga Offiah (his first for the club), Lee Evans and Rob Apter (also his first for the club). Blackpool climbed five places to fourth with the three points, their fourth-consecutive league victory.[24] Steve Bruce won the EFL League One Manager of the Month award for September off the back of the wins.[25]
Blackpool made it seven league games unbeaten on 1 October with a 1–1 draw with Lincoln City at Bloomfield Road. Kyle Joseph got Blackpool's goal sixteen minutes from time, his fourth goal of the campaign; Lincoln equalised four minutes into injury time. Blackpool slipped two places to sixth with the point.[26]
A defeat, the club's first under Steve Bruce, followed at Mansfield Town on 5 October. 2–0 was the scoreline. Blackpool dropped four places to tenth.[27] This was followed, two weeks later, by a 2–1 home defeat to Barnsley; Oliver Casey got Blackpool's goal, an equaliser, but the visitors scored the winner in injury time. Blackpool dropped another four places to 14th with the defeat.[28] A minute's applause took place in the fourth minute of the game in memory of the four-year-old grandson of Steve Bruce who died the previous day. Bruce was absent for the fixture.[29]
On 22 October, Blackpool lost a third game in succession, this time 5–1 at Peterborough United. Kyle Joseph scored Blackpool's goal, making him the club's leading goal scorer in all competitions. Steve Bruce was again absent from the game. Blackpool dropped two places to 16th with the defeat.[30]
Six days later, Blackpool drew 2–2 with Wigan Athletic at Bloomfield Road, having gone two goals behind. Both of the hosts' goals were own-goals by Wigan players.[31]
On 2 November, with Steve Bruce back in the dugout, Blackpool reached the second round of the FA Cup after a 2–0 victory at Gillingham, one of Bruce's former clubs. Sonny Carey scored both goals.[32]
Blackpool's winless streak stretched to six league games on 9 November, after a 3–0 defeat to Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road. They dropped two places to 18th.[33]
On 12 November, Blackpool travelled to Harrogate Town in the EFL Trophy. The visitors came from two goals down to draw 2–2, with Jordan Rhodes and Ryan Finnigan. They won the subsequent penalty shootout 5–4, winning a bonus point.[34]
Blackpool made it eight league games without a win after losing 2–1 at Bolton Wanderers on 23 November. Kyle Joseph scored the visitors' goal, his sixth of the season. Blackpool dropped one place to 19th.[35]
A victory followed at Bristol Rovers on 26 November, with goals by Dom Ballard and Lee Evans (penalty). Blackpool climbed three places to 16th with the three points.[36]
On 1 December, Blackpool exited the FA Cup after a second-round defeat to Birmingham City at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool travelled to Shrewsbury Town on 4 December, and returned with all three points. The goals came from an own-goal from the hosts and Josh Onomah, his first for the club. The visitors climbed two places to 12th with the victory.[37]
Ten days later, Blackpool made it three consecutive league victories after taking all three points at Reading, with goals from Albie Morgan, Ashley Fletcher and Rob Apter. Blackpool climbed two places to tenth with the win.[38]
A goalless draw at home to Stevenage followed on 21 December, then a 2–1 Boxing Day defeat at Wrexham.
On 29 December, Blackpool held table-topping Birmingham to a goalless draw at St. Andrew's. The Tangerines dropped to 15th place in the table with the point.
Updated to match(es) played on 29 December 2024. Source: EFL Official Website Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[39]
