A Q and A with...

Last updated : 17 April 2006 By Smallsy
Name, age and location?

Peter Gillatt website editor of Seasiders.net since 1997 a 43 year-old "sandgrownun" i.e born in the shadow of the Tower and now living in Lytham St Annes.

How long have you supported Blackpool?

I've followed the Tangerines since 1970.

What was you're first game as a Blackpool supporter?

My first game was our first home match in the old First Division on a warm sunny Monday evening on August 17th 1970 against Liverpool the game ended 0-0 in front of over 27,000. Blackpool: Thompson, Armfield, Mowbray, Bentley, James, Hatton, Brown, Craven, Pickering, Suddick, Hutchison whilst Liverpool had Clemence, Lawler, Ross, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Callaghan, Evans, Graham, McLaughlin, Thompson in their side that night.

Best game you've seen?

Best game the 10-0 defeat of Lanerossi Vicenza in the Anglo-Italian Cup 1972 unbelievable! Blackpool defeated 6 top Italian sides on the way to two Finals in Italy. Most memorable - The 2001 play-off final 4-2 win over Leyton Orient at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Blackpool were in 91st position earlier in the season and we returned straight back to League One at the first time of asking with an unforgettable final which saw the Seasiders recover from being behind twice.

Worst game you've seen?

Worst game - Boxing Day 1994 Bootham Crescent freezing cold and wet through on the open end. 3-0 down at half-time I said if York scored again I'm off they did within 10 minutes of the restart. Most disappointing the 1991 Play-off final on a Friday night at Wembley against Torquay United we lost on penalties I was devastated and didn't get home until 4.00am - I was best man at my mates wedding the next day!

Highlight of the season?

The 5-2 Sky televised defeat of Scunthorpe United was a rare highlight and Simon Grayson's first game in charge. It finally ended a depressing series of Live TV defeats at Bloomfield Road. The weekend win over Swansea ranks as a close second!

Lowlight of the season?

For me the 1-0 defeat away at Bradford City was a punch below the belt. it was the second time in two seasons they had snatched victory with an injury time goal after we had largely outplayed them and sent us spiralling back towards the relegation zone.

Best player in current squad?

Captain fantastic is Peter Clarke our England U21 star captured from Everton and last years player of the season by a mile and looks like he will be retaining that honour again this year.

Worst/biggest underachiever in the club?

The youngsters have largely under achieved Matthew Blinkhorn, Jamie Burns to name but two but all have been given a chance and failed to seize the opportunity forcing Grayson to trawl constantly through the loan market.

You're proudest ever moment as a Blackpool supporter?

Indulge me with this one! On my 40th birthday I was at then named McAlpine Stadium to see Blackpool take a 2-0 first leg Northern Area LDV final lead against Huddersfield Town. I watched the Terriers whittle the lead away in minutes and went on to totally dominate the second leg. But with the game at 2-2 and no further score the game rested on a golden goal in injury time. I openly admit to requesting some divine intervention as we were quite appalling and couldn't see us progressing when a John Hills cross found the diminutive Martin Bullock at the far post and the little midfield dynamo volleyed home from close range sending the fans and myself into dreamland. It was our first and only shot on target in the entire game and sent Blackpool to their first domestic final since Matthews Cup Final of 1953.

Are you happy with you're manager/chairman board etc...?

If Simon Grayson keeps the Seasiders in League One he deserves at least another shot next season. However, Owen Oyston and his Chairman son Karl Oyston have recently sold the entire footballing side of the club to Latvian banker Valery Belokon who has promised investment and ties with Latvian football he may therefore insist on bringing in his own man.

How are you fairing this season?

As poor as last season hardly ever maintaining any consistency in the League and battling against relegation once again. Steve McMahon and Colin Hendry have both come and gone since Pool arrived in the Division and fans have largely began to give up of ever returning to the Championship, a Division we last played in some 26 years ago.

How do you think you'll finish this year?

I don't really care so long as its not in any of the last four places!

Which team do you most enjoy a victory over and why?

Whichever Division they may be in - it will always be Preston North End - two teams which find themselves at both ends of the M55 they are our nearest football neighbours and as such and have historically always been our No.1 rivals.

How much do u know about the bees?

Brentford have always given a good account of themselves in all their games against Blackpool and did so early this season with both Isaiah Rankin and Lloyd Owusu catching the eye. To be honest and you'll have to forgive me but I've been far to focussed on the teams that are largely alongside us in the relegation fight to be taking much interest in the top of the table promotion battle especially as most Pool fans agree that its been a very poor League this year.

What score do you predict on Monday?

Well if we can keep ten men on the park - unlike the earlier encounter at Bloomfield Road - then we stand as good a chance as any to earn at least a point as we did outplay the Bees for large spells earlier this season. It will be tough as you are fighting for points yourself and as such my head tells me it may just be another defeat on the road for the Seasiders 2-1.

Who do you think is going up?

Alongside yourselves I see Southend as the automatics and maybe Huddersfield through the play-offs.

Who do you think is going down?

Pick any team from the bottom 8-9! its that close but MK Dons surely can't escape and both Walsall and Swindon have struggled for a long time this season anyone else could end up in the final place including ourselves but if I had to pick one it would be Yeovil Town.

Good Luck!