1995–96 Blackpool F.C. season
The 1995–96 season was Blackpool F.C.'s 88th season (85th consecutive) in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Two, then the third tier of English league football, finishing third, their highest league finish since the 1976–77 season. They made the end-of-season play-offs, but lost to Chris Kamara's Bradford City at the semi-finals stage. They won the first leg 2–0, but lost 3–0 in the return leg at Bloomfield Road, a result that cost Sam Allardyce his job, in his second season. In 2020, Andy Preece stated that the majority of the playing staff suffered a major dose of complacency after the first leg of the semi-final. "There was a feeling all around the club that we were there. Even in the programme they put directions for Wembley. Bradford probably picked up on a lot of that."[1]
| 1995–96 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner |
|
| Manager | Sam Allardyce |
| Division Two | 3rd |
| FA Cup | Third round |
| League Cup | First round |
| Top goalscorer | Tony Ellis & Andy Preece (14) |
Tony Ellis was the club's top scorer in the league for the second consecutive season, tied with Andy Preece on fourteen goals apiece.
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swindon Town | 46 | 25 | 17 | 4 | 71 | 34 | +37 | 92 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Oxford United | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 76 | 39 | +37 | 83 | Promoted |
| 3 | Blackpool | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 67 | 40 | +27 | 82 | Participated in play-offs |
| 4 | Notts County | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 63 | 39 | +24 | 78 | |
| 5 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 77 | 60 | +17 | 73 |
References
- "Andy Preece Talks Tangerine" – Deidcated 2 U podcast, episode 21, 12 November 2020
- Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.