2023–24 Blackpool F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 115th season in the history of Blackpool F.C., and their first season back in League One since the 2020–21 season following their relegation the previous season. The club are participating in League One, the FA Cup and the 2023–24 EFL Trophy. They were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the second round.

Blackpool F.C.
2023–24 season
OwnerSimon Sadler
Head coachNeil Critchley[1]
StadiumBloomfield Road
League One6th
EFL CupSecond round
EFL TrophyGroup stage
Top goalscorerLeague: Jordan Rhodes (9)
All: Jordan Rhodes (9)

It is the club's 100th season in tangerine.[2]

Pre-season

On 2 June, Blackpool confirmed their first three pre-season friendlies, against Southport, Barrow and Morecambe.[3] A fourth fixture was later added, versus Hibernian.[4]

Blackpool made two signings which became official on 1 July: midfielder Albie Morgan and defender Matthew Pennington both arrived on free transfers, upon the expiration of their contracts with their previous clubs.

On 7 July, Blackpool travelled down the coast to Southport for their opening friendly. Goals from Kenny Dougall, Brad Holmes and Matty Virtue gave the visitors victory.

Blackpool hosted newly promoted Championship side Plymouth Argyle on 15 July. Plymouth won 2–1. Blackpool's goal came from Shayne Lavery's penalty.

Four days later, the Seasiders faced a Wolverhampton Wanderers XI at Compton Park Training Ground in a behind-closed-doors fixture. Blackpool won 4–2, with goals from Shayne Lavery (two) and Albie Morgan, as well as an own-goal.

Barrow was the destination on 22 July. Blackpool won 5–0, with goals from Matty Virtue, Shayne Lavery, Jake Beesley and Sonny Carey (two).

Fixtures and results

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

7 July 2023 Friendly Southport 0–3 Blackpool Blowick
19:45 BST Report Dougall
Holmes
Virtue 		Stadium: Haig Avenue
15 July 2023 Friendly Blackpool 1–2 Plymouth Argyle Blackpool
15:00 BST Lavery (pen.) Report Miller
Hardie 		Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 0 (behind-closed-doors)
19 July 2023 Friendly Wolverhampton Wanderers XI 2–4 Blackpool Wolverhampton
12:00 BST Report 67' (o.g.)
Lavery 90', 115'
Morgan 		Stadium: Compton Park Training Ground
Attendance: 0 (behind-closed-doors)
Note: 2 matches both an hour long
22 July 2023 Friendly Barrow 0–5 Blackpool Barrow-in-Furness
15:00 BST Report Virtue 15'
Lavery 17'
Beesley 54'
Carey 77', 90+4'		 Stadium: Holker Street
25 July 2023 Friendly Blackpool 1–2 Tranmere Rovers Blackpool
14:00 BST Dale 26' Report Jennings (pen.)
Walker 		Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
25 July 2023 Friendly Morecambe 1–1 Blackpool Morecambe
19:30 BST Bloxham 44' Report Lavery 56' Stadium: Mazuma Stadium
29 July 2023 Friendly Blackpool 3–0 Hibernian Blackpool
15:00 BST Lavery 60'
Dougall 84'
Dale 87'		 Report Stadium: Bloomfield Road

Season proper

August

Blackpool opened their league campaign on 5 August with a 2–0 victory over Burton Albion at Bloomfield Road, in what was Neil Critchley's first competitive fixture back in charge of the team. A double from Shayne Lavery midway through the first half proved to be the difference.[5]

Three days later, they booked their place in the second round of the EFL Cup after a 2–0 win at Derby County. Jake Beesley scored both Blackpool goals.[6] They will face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium in the week commencing 28 August.[7]

The club brought in midfielder Jensen Weir from Brighton & Hove Albion on a season-long loan on 11 August.[8]

A long trip to Exeter City on 12 August resulted in a point after a goalless draw. Blackpool dropped four places to eighth with the point.[9]

Port Vale were the visitors to Bloomfield Road on 15 August in a match that finished goalless. Blackpool remained eighth.[10]

The following day, midfielder Tashan Oakley-Boothe joined on a free transfer.

A third-successive scoreless match occurred on 19 August, when Blackpool hosted Leyton Orient. The Tangerines, still undefeated, dropped three places to eleventh.[11]

On 25 August, striker Jordan Rhodes joined the club, on loan from Huddersfield Town, for the remainder of the season.[12]

The club's first defeat occurred on 26 August, at Lincoln City, with a 3–0 scoreline for the hosts. Oliver Norburn was sent off for the visitors in the second half. Blackpool dropped four places to fifteenth.

Blackpool were knocked out of the EFL Cup at the second-round stage by Wolverhampton Wanderers on 29 August, after a 5–0 scoreline at Molineux.[13] It was their fifth-consecutive game without a goal, a total of 450 minutes.

On 30 August, winger Karamoko Dembélé joined on a season-long loan from Brest. Tom Trybull was released by mutual consent the following day.

September

On 2 September, Blackpool beat Wigan Athletic 2–1, with goals from Jordan Rhodes (on his home debut) and Kenny Dougall (a 94th-minute winner). Blackpool climbed three places to twelfth with the victory.

Three days later, Blackpool travelled up the coast to face Barrow in the EFL Trophy. Goals from Sonny Carey and new arrival Kylian Kouassi gave Blackpool the three points.

After an eleven-day international break, Blackpool visited Wycombe Wanderers. They were beaten 2–0, and dropped two places to fourteenth in the table.

On 23 September, Blackpool beat Reading 4–1 at Bloomfield Road. Jordan Rhodes scored a hat-trick (the first Blackpool player to do so since Nathan Delfouneso in 2018); the other goal came from Kylian Kouassi on his starting debut. Blackpool remained fourteenth.

A second-successive victory followed on 30 September with a 1–0 scoreline at Barnsley. Jordan Rhodes scored from the penalty spot, his fifth goal in three games. Blackpool climbed three places to eleventh.

October

Derby County beat Blackpool 3–1 at Bloomfield Road on 3 October, inflicting the Seasiders' first home defeat of the campaign. The hosts dropped two places to thirteenth.

On 7 October, Blackpool travelled to London to face Charlton Athletic. The visitors let slip a two-goal lead and had to settle for a draw. Jordan Rhodes (with his sixth goal of the campaign) and Kylian Kouassi, with his first for the club, were Blackpool's goal scorers. They climbed three places to tenth with the point.

Blackpool made it two wins out of two in the EFL Trophy on 10 October, with a 5–2 scoreline against Liverpool F.C. Academy. Kylian Kouassi scored a hat-trick; the other two goals came from Albie Morgan and Andy Lyons, on his return to the team following a family bereavement.[14]

Blackpool beat Stevenage Borough 3–0 at Bloomfield Road on 14 October, the goals coming from Jordan Rhodes, Owen Dale and CJ Hamilton. Blackpool climbed three places to seventh, although several teams around them had their matches postponed due to international call-ups.

A trip to Oxford United a week later resulted in a 1–1 draw, with Blackpool equalising in stoppage time through Jordan Rhodes. They remained seventh.

Blackpool climbed into the play-off places with a 3–2 victory at home to Cheltenham Town on 24 August. The hosts' goals came from Shayne Lavery, Jordan Rhodes (his ninth goal in ten appearances) and Karamoko Dembélé (his first goal for the club).

League One
Main article: 2023–24 EFL League One

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
3 Barnsley 14 8 2 4 29 13 +16 26 Qualification for League One play-offs
4 Bolton Wanderers 13 8 2 3 25 18 +7 26
5 Peterborough United 14 7 4 3 21 14 +7 25
6 Blackpool 14 6 5 3 19 15 +4 23
7 Stevenage 15 6 5 4 19 16 +3 23
8 Derby County 13 6 3 4 20 12 +8 21
9 Lincoln City 13 6 3 4 18 13 +5 21
Updated to match(es) played on 24 October 2023. 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[15]

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
14 6 5 3 19 15  +4 23 5 2 1 15 7  +8 1 3 2 4 8  −4

Last updated: 21 October 2023.
Source: Soccerway

Results

On 22 June, the EFL League One fixtures were released.[16]

  Win   Draw   Loss

5 August 2023 1 Blackpool 2–0 Burton Albion Blackpool
15:00 BST Beesley Yellow card 14'
Lavery 19', 25'
Norburn Yellow card 32'
Connolly Yellow card 67'
Dougall Yellow card 89'		 Report Brayford Yellow card 6' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 10,943
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
12 August 2023 2 Exeter City 0–0 Blackpool Exeter
15:00 BST Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,340
Referee: Hugh Gilroy
15 August 2023 3 Blackpool 0–0 Port Vale Blackpool
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 11,416
Referee: Ross Joyce
19 August 2023 4 Blackpool 0–0 Leyton Orient Blackpool
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 10,146
Referee: Marc Edwards
26 August 2023 5 Lincoln City 3–0 Blackpool Lincoln
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: LNER Stadium
Attendance: 8,012
Referee: Martin Coy
2 September 2023 6 Blackpool 2–1 Wigan Athletic Blackpool
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 11,537
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
16 September 2023 7 Wycombe Wanderers 2–0 Blackpool High Wycombe
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 4,691
Referee: Neil Hair
23 September 2023 8 Blackpool 4–1 Reading Blackpool
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 10,104
Referee: Tom Reeves
30 September 2023 9 Barnsley 0–1 Blackpool Barnsley
15:00 BST
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 13,005
Referee: Charles Breakspear
3 October 2023 10 Blackpool 1–3 Derby County Blackpool
19:45 BST Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 11,137
Referee: Will Finnie
7 October 2023 11 Charlton Athletic 2–2 Blackpool Charlton
15:00 BST Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 13,120
Referee: Andy Davies
14 October 2023 12 Blackpool 3–0 Stevenage Borough Blackpool
15:00 BST Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 10,516
Referee: Paul Howard
21 October 2023 13 Oxford United 1–1 Blackpool Littlemore
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 9,417
Referee: Thomas Kirk
24 October 2023 14 Blackpool 3–2 Cheltenham Town Blackpool
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 9,288
Referee: Adam Herczeg

FA Cup
Main article: 2023–24 FA Cup

The Tangerines were drawn away to Bromley in the first round.[17]

  Win   Draw   Loss

4 November 2023 First Round Bromley v Blackpool Bromley
15:00 GMT
      		Stadium: Reloc8 Em Community Stadium

      EFL Cup
      Main article: 2023–24 EFL Cup

      Blackpool were drawn away to Derby County in the first round[18] and to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the second round.[19]

        Win   Draw   Loss

      8 August 2023 First round Derby County 0–2 Blackpool Derby
      19:45 BST Report Beesley 7', 32' Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
      Attendance: 7,033
      Referee: Jeremy Simpson
      29 August 2023 Second round Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 Blackpool Wolverhampton
      19:45 BST
      		Report
      		Stadium: Molineux
      Referee: Jarred Gillett

      EFL Trophy
      Main article: 2023–24 EFL Trophy

      In the group stage, Blackpool were drawn into Northern Group A alongside Barrow, Morecambe and Liverpool U21.[20]

      Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
      1 L1 Blackpool 2 2 0 0 0 7 2 +5 6 Advance to Round 2
      2 ACA Liverpool U21 2 1 0 0 1 5 5 0 3
      3 L2 Morecambe 2 1 0 0 1 3 4 −1 3
      4 L2 Barrow 2 0 0 0 2 1 5 −4 0
      Updated to match(es) played on 10 October 2023. Source: EFL.com

        Win   Draw   Loss

      5 September 2023 Group stage Barrow 0–2 Blackpool Barrow-in-Furness
      19:00 BST Report
      		Stadium: SO Legal Stadium
      Attendance: 1,436
      Referee: Matthew Corlett
      10 October 2023 Group stage Blackpool 5–2 Liverpool Academy Blackpool
      19:00 BST Report Stadium: Bloomfield Road
      Attendance: 2,683
      Referee: Scott Simpson

      Transfers

      In
      Date Pos Player From Fee Ref
      27 June 2023GKRichard O'DonnellRochdaleUndisclosed[21]
      29 June 2023CMOliver NorburnPeterborough UnitedUndisclosed[22]
      1 July 2023CMAlbie MorganFree agency—[23]
      1 July 2023CBMatthew PenningtonFree agency—[24]
      12 July 2023CFKyle JosephSwansea CityUndisclosed[25]
      17 July 2023CMJosh MilesSouthportUndisclosed[26]
      18 July 2023GKMackenzie ChapmanFree agency—[27]
      16 August 2023CMTashan Oakley-BootheFree agency—[28]
      25 August 2023CFKylian KouassiFree agency—[29]

      Out
      Date Pos Player To Fee Ref
      30 June 2023LWKeshi AndersonFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023DMLiam BridcuttFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023LBLuke GarbuttFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023LBHarvey HughesFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023LBReece JamesSheffield WednesdayUndisclosed[31]
      30 June 2023LWBeryly LubalaFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023CFGary MadineFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023GKChris MaxwellFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023GKStuart MooreFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023CBCurtis NelsonFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023DMKevin StewartFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023CMJoe StrawnFree agency—[30]
      30 June 2023CBJordan ThornileyFree agency—[30]
      12 July 2023CFJerry YatesSwansea CityUndisclosed[32]
      31 August 2023DMTom TrybullFree agency—[33]

      Loaned in
      Date Pos Player From Fee Ref
      11 August 2023CMJensen WeirBrighton & Hove AlbionEnd of season[34]
      25 August 2023CFJordan RhodesHuddersfield TownEnd of season[35]
      30 August 2023RWKaramoko DembéléBrestEnd of season[36]

      Loaned out
      Date Pos Player To Until Ref
      4 August 2023RBJack MooreChorley31 October 2023[37]
      27 August 2023CBAlex LankshearDorking Wanderers27 August 2023[38]
      1 September 2023 MF Rob Apter Tranmere Rovers January 2024 [39]
      1 September 2023LWOwen MoffatDunfermline AthleticEnd of season[40]
      8 September 2023CFZak EmmersonEastbourne Borough1 January 2024[41]
      8 September 2023CFBrad HolmesSouthport2 December 2023[42]
      8 September 2023CMLuke MarietteSouthport7 October 2023[42]

      References
      1. "Neil Critchley Returns As Head Coach". Blackpool FC. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
      2. FC, Blackpool (2023-07-05). "LeoVegas Become Principal Front Of Shirt Partner". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
      3. "Pre-Season Friendlies Announced". Blackpool FC. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
      4. "Blackpool To Host Hibernian In Pre-Season". Blackpool FC. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
      5. FC, Blackpool (2023-08-05). "Report: Blackpool 2-0 Burton Albion". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
      6. FC, Blackpool (2023-08-08). "Report: Derby County 0-2 Blackpool". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
      7. FC, Blackpool (2023-08-09). "Blackpool To Travel To Wolves In Carabao Cup". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
      8. FC, Blackpool (2023-08-11). "Jensen Weir Signs On Loan". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
      9. "Live Commentary - Exeter vs Blackpool | 12.08.2023". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
      10. "Sky Bet League One (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
      11. "Blackpool 0-0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
      12. FC, Blackpool (2023-08-25). "Jordan Rhodes Joins On Loan". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
      13. "Wolves 5-0 Blackpool: Matt Doherty scores two on second debut as Gary O'Neil's men cruise". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
      14. "EFL Trophy (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
      15. "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
      16. "Blackpool To Host Burton Albion On Opening Day". Blackpool FC. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
      17. "Blackpool To Travel To Bromley In Emirates FA Cup". Blackpool FC. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
      18. "Blackpool To Travel To Derby County In Carabao Cup". Blackpool FC. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
      19. "Blackpool to travel to Wolves in Carabao Cup". Blackpool FC. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
      20. "Carabao Cup And EFL Trophy Draw Details Confirmed". Blackpool FC. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
      21. "O'Donnell Becomes Third Summer Signing". Blackpool FC. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
      22. "Norburn Signs For Pool". Blackpool FC. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
      23. "Albie Morgan Becomes First Summer Signing". Blackpool FC. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
      24. "Pennington Pens Deal At Blackpool". Blackpool FC. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
      25. "Kyle Joseph Becomes Fifth Summer Signing". Blackpool FC. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
      26. "Josh Miles Signs For Blackpool". Blackpool FC. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
      27. "MacKenzie Chapman Signs Contract". Blackpool FC. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
      28. "Oakley-Boothe joins Blackpool". Blackpool FC. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
      29. "Kylian Kouassi joins the Seasiders". Blackpool FC. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
      30. "Retained List Confirmed". Blackpool FC. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
      31. "Blackpool's James makes permanent Sheff Wed move". British Broadcasting Corporation. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
      32. "Jerry Yates Departs". Blackpool FC. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
      33. "Tom Trybull Departs". Blackpool FC. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
      34. "Blackpool sign Brighton's Weir on season-long loan". British Broadcasting Corporation. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
      35. "Jordan Rhodes joines on loan". Blackpool F.C. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
      36. "Karamoko Dembele Signs For Pools". Blackpool FC. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
      37. "Jack Moore Joins Chorley On Loan". Blackpool FC. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
      38. "Lankshear loaned to Dorking Wanderers". Blackpool FC. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
      39. FC, Blackpool (2023-09-01). "Apter Joins Tranmere Rovers On Loan". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
      40. "Moffat joins on loan". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
      41. "Zak Emmerson joins Eastbourne Borough on loan". Blackpool FC. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
      42. "Brad Holmes and Luke Mariette join Southport on loan". Blackpool FC. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
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