The club was founded as Blackpool Metal Mechanics in 1947 before changing their name to Blackpool Mechanics. They initially played in local leagues on the Fylde coast. They won the Fylde District League Division Two title in the 1950–51 season and were promoted to Division One, where between 1953–54 and 1957–58 they were champions twice and runners-up three times in five consecutive seasons. They also won a number of local cup competitions, including the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield in 1957–58.[2]
In 1959 the club took the decision move up the leagues and joined the West Lancashire League. In their first season, 1959–60, they were runners-up. In 1960–61 they were champions and also won the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield again. The following season they were again West Lancashire League champions.[2] In 1962 they joined the Lancashire Combination Division Two. The division was disbanded in 1968, with the league becoming a single division. The 1971–72 season saw a third-place finish. In the 1972–73 season they won the Lancashire Combination Bridge Shield and in 1974–75 finished as runners-up in the league, just one point behind champions Darwen.
With the formation of the North West Counties Football League, they were placed in Division Three, finishing sixth in their first season in the new League. They were promoted as champions to Division Two in 1985–86. They were briefly promoted to Division One in 1991–92 before being relegated back to Division Two, renamed Division One in 2006.[2]
In May 2005 Lytham St. Annes FC, who had just won the West Lancashire League Division One title, merged into the Mechanics after resigning from the West Lancashire league.[3] In May 2008 the Mechanics merged with Squires Gate Junior FC, with the club renamed AFC Blackpool.[2] The name change depended upon Blackpool giving it their full approval, and in July 2008 they confirmed to the Lancashire Football Association that they had no objections and that they were keen to help the club.[4]
As champions of Division One in 2010–11, they were promoted to the Premier Division. On 21 March 2015 some Blackpool fans boycotting their match with Leeds in protest at chairman Karl Oyston's management of the club decided to attend AFC Blackpool's match against Bootle.[5] The game saw an attendance of 503 compared with an average of 35 that season; some Leeds fans also attended the match as part of a combined general protest "against the Football League."[6][7] The club were relegated to the North West Counties League First Division at the end of the 2015–16 season, in which they finished bottom of the table.
The club play at The Mechanics, Jepson Way having originally played at Stanley Park Arena.
In December 2007, the club announced plans for a £60,000 refurbishment programme, including improvements to the pitch, as well as new crowd barrier fencing and concreting the spectators area right round the pitch. Drainage work began on the pitch in April 2008, as well as levelling and reseeding the pitch. Following the club's name change in May 2008 they leased a further piece of land next to the ground to accommodate the enlarged club. Also investment to improve the facilities was begun. It was also decided that the ground would take the name The Mechanics to maintain the link with the past.[2]
In February 2006 the club had to switch their match against F.C. United of Manchester to Blackpool's Bloomfield Road ground due to the anticipated large crowd.[8] Around 4,300 spectators saw Mechanics lose the game 4–2, bringing in £10,000 for the club.
The ground has four stands. On the east side is the main stand which contains the dressing rooms, club offices and clubhouse with two rows of spectator seating. On the West side is a 100 capacity seated stand with the dugouts either side. There are small terraced stands behind each goal.
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Not to be confused with Blackpool F C A F C Blackpool is a football club based in Blackpool Lancashire England The club currently play in the North West Counties League Division One North Based at Jepson Way they are nicknamed The Mechanics or The Mechs and are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association AFC BlackpoolFull nameAssociation Football Club BlackpoolNickname s The MechanicsFounded1947 as Blackpool Metal Mechanics GroundThe Mechanics Jepson Way BlackpoolCapacity2 000 250 seated 1 ChairmanStuart ParkerManagerMartin BairdLeagueNorth West Counties League Division One North2021 22North West Counties League Division One North 4th of 19Home coloursAway colours Contents 1 History 1 1 Season by season record 2 Ground 3 Honours 4 Records 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory Edit Blackpool Mechanics club crest The club was founded as Blackpool Metal Mechanics in 1947 before changing their name to Blackpool Mechanics They initially played in local leagues on the Fylde coast They won the Fylde District League Division Two title in the 1950 51 season and were promoted to Division One where between 1953 54 and 1957 58 they were champions twice and runners up three times in five consecutive seasons They also won a number of local cup competitions including the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield in 1957 58 2 In 1959 the club took the decision move up the leagues and joined the West Lancashire League In their first season 1959 60 they were runners up In 1960 61 they were champions and also won the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield again The following season they were again West Lancashire League champions 2 In 1962 they joined the Lancashire Combination Division Two The division was disbanded in 1968 with the league becoming a single division The 1971 72 season saw a third place finish In the 1972 73 season they won the Lancashire Combination Bridge Shield and in 1974 75 finished as runners up in the league just one point behind champions Darwen With the formation of the North West Counties Football League they were placed in Division Three finishing sixth in their first season in the new League They were promoted as champions to Division Two in 1985 86 They were briefly promoted to Division One in 1991 92 before being relegated back to Division Two renamed Division One in 2006 2 In May 2005 Lytham St Annes FC who had just won the West Lancashire League Division One title merged into the Mechanics after resigning from the West Lancashire league 3 In May 2008 the Mechanics merged with Squires Gate Junior FC with the club renamed AFC Blackpool 2 The name change depended upon Blackpool giving it their full approval and in July 2008 they confirmed to the Lancashire Football Association that they had no objections and that they were keen to help the club 4 As champions of Division One in 2010 11 they were promoted to the Premier Division On 21 March 2015 some Blackpool fans boycotting their match with Leeds in protest at chairman Karl Oyston s management of the club decided to attend AFC Blackpool s match against Bootle 5 The game saw an attendance of 503 compared with an average of 35 that season some Leeds fans also attended the match as part of a combined general protest against the Football League 6 7 The club were relegated to the North West Counties League First Division at the end of the 2015 16 season in which they finished bottom of the table Season by season record Edit Season Division Position Notes1947 48 Fylde District Football League Division Two1948 49 Fylde District Football League Division Two1949 50 Fylde District Football League Division Two1950 51 Fylde District Football League Division Two 1 Champions1951 52 Fylde District Football League Division One1952 53 Fylde District Football League Division One1953 54 Fylde District Football League Division One1954 55 Fylde District Football League Division One1955 56 Fylde District Football League Division One1956 57 Fylde District Football League Division One1957 58 Fylde District Football League Division One1958 59 Fylde District Football League Division One1959 60 West Lancashire League 2 Runners up1960 61 West Lancashire League 1 Champions1961 62 West Lancashire League 1 Champions1962 63 Lancashire Combination Division Two 11 201963 64 Lancashire Combination Division Two 14 181964 65 Lancashire Combination Division Two 9 171965 66 Lancashire Combination Division Two 11 141966 67 Lancashire Combination Division Two 10 161967 68 Lancashire Combination Division Two 10 17 League reduced to single division1968 69 Lancashire Combination 9 221969 70 Lancashire Combination 9 201970 71 Lancashire Combination 7 161971 72 Lancashire Combination 3 151972 73 Lancashire Combination 7 201973 74 Lancashire Combination 8 201974 75 Lancashire Combination 2 20 Runners up1975 76 Lancashire Combination 4 181976 77 Lancashire Combination 9 181977 78 Lancashire Combination 14 181978 79 Lancashire Combination 9 151979 80 Lancashire Combination 15 171980 81 Lancashire Combination 16 181981 82 Lancashire Combination 8 181982 83 North West Counties League Division Three 6 181983 84 North West Counties League Division Three 7 181984 85 North West Counties League Division Three 5 181985 86 North West Counties League Division Three 1 15 Champions promoted1986 87 North West Counties League Division Two 12 181987 88 North West Counties League Division Two 15 221988 89 North West Counties League Division Two 16 181989 90 North West Counties League Division Two 3 161990 91 North West Counties League Division Two 5 181991 92 North West Counties League Division Two 3 18 Promoted1992 93 North West Counties League Division One 22 22 Relegated1993 94 North West Counties League Division Two 13 181994 95 North West Counties League Division Two 8 161995 96 North West Counties League Division Two 15 181996 97 North West Counties League Division Two 18 201997 98 North West Counties League Division Two 21 211998 99 North West Counties League Division Two 19 191999 2000 North West Counties League Division Two 15 182000 01 North West Counties League Division Two 6 202001 02 North West Counties League Division Two 8 212002 03 North West Counties League Division Two 14 182003 04 North West Counties League Division Two 14 202004 05 North West Counties League Division Two 10 192005 06 North West Counties League Division Two 9 192006 07 North West Counties League Division Two 13 182007 08 North West Counties League Division Two 9 18 Division Two renamed First Division Club renamed AFC Blackpool2008 09 North West Counties League First Division 15 182009 10 North West Counties League First Division 15 172010 11 North West Counties League First Division 1 18 Champions promoted2011 12 North West Counties League Premier Division 9 222012 13 North West Counties League Premier Division 10 222013 14 North West Counties League Premier Division 13 222014 15 North West Counties League Premier Division 18 212015 16 North West Counties League Premier Division 22 22 Relegated2016 17 North West Counties League First Division 19 22Ground EditThe club play at The Mechanics Jepson Way having originally played at Stanley Park Arena In December 2007 the club announced plans for a 60 000 refurbishment programme including improvements to the pitch as well as new crowd barrier fencing and concreting the spectators area right round the pitch Drainage work began on the pitch in April 2008 as well as levelling and reseeding the pitch Following the club s name change in May 2008 they leased a further piece of land next to the ground to accommodate the enlarged club Also investment to improve the facilities was begun It was also decided that the ground would take the name The Mechanics to maintain the link with the past 2 In February 2006 the club had to switch their match against F C United of Manchester to Blackpool s Bloomfield Road ground due to the anticipated large crowd 8 Around 4 300 spectators saw Mechanics lose the game 4 2 bringing in 10 000 for the club The ground has four stands On the east side is the main stand which contains the dressing rooms club offices and clubhouse with two rows of spectator seating On the West side is a 100 capacity seated stand with the dugouts either side There are small terraced stands behind each goal Honours EditLancashire Combination Bridge Shield winners 1972 North West Counties Football League First Division champions 2010 11 Third Division champions 1985 86 West Lancashire Football League Champions 1960 61 1961 62 Fylde District League Division One champions twice Division Two champions 1950 51 Lancashire FA Amateur Shield Winners 1957 58 1960 61Records EditBest FA Cup performance First qualifying round 2000 01 2004 05 2015 16 9 10 Best FA Trophy performance First qualifying round 1974 75 1975 76 9 Best FA Vase performance Second round 2010 11 10 Record attendance 4 300 vs FC United of Manchester 18 February 2006 at Bloomfield Road 11 At The Mechanics 770 vs Bury AFC 5 February 2022See also EditA F C Blackpool players A F C Blackpool managersReferences Edit Mike Williams amp Tony Williams 2012 Non League Club Directory 2013 p646 ISBN 978 1 869833 77 0 a b c d e History A F C Blackpool Archived from the original on 28 August 2008 Retrieved 18 September 2008 Mechanics in merger with LSA Blackpool Gazette 12 March 2007 Retrieved 29 September 2007 AFC Blackpool is born Blackpool Gazette 20 February 2006 Retrieved 29 September 2007 Blackpool 1 1 Leeds United BBC Retrieved 10 October 2015 Blackpool fans to watch AFC Blackpool BBC Retrieved 10 October 2015 Blackpool fans boycott Leeds game BBC Retrieved 10 October 2015 Mechs talk to Pool about big match switch Blackpool Gazette 20 October 2005 Retrieved 29 September 2007 a b Blackpool Mechanics at the Football Club History Database a b AFC Blackpool at the Football Club History Database Blackpool Mech 2 FC United 4 Manchester Evening News 20 February 2006 Retrieved 18 January 2017 External links EditOfficial website AFC Blackpool North West Counties League AFC Blackpool Blackpool Gazette Coordinates 53 46 42 77 N 3 01 13 79 W 53 7785472 N 3 0204972 W 53 7785472 3 0204972 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A F C Blackpool amp oldid 1132831728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
