The 2020–21 Blackpool F.C. season was the club's 112th season in the English Football League, and their fourth-consecutive season in League One, the third tier of the Football League. The season covers the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.
Along with competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup. They were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the first round and the EFL Trophy in the second round. In the third round of the FA Cup, Blackpool defeated Premier League side West Bromwich Albion on penalties, giving the Seasiders a first FA Cup win over top-flight opposition since they beat Burnley 45 years prior. They were knocked out by Brighton in the following round.
The club finished third in League One and won promotion to the EFL Championship via the play-offs after a six-year absence.Blackpool 2–1 Lincoln City 1 – BBC Sport, 30 May 2021
It was head coach Neil Critchley's first full season in charge.
Pre-season On 12 June, the club announced their retained list. Eight players were released: goalkeeping trio Myles Boney, Mark Howard and Christoffer Mafoumbi, defender Sean Graham, midfielders Yusifu Ceesay and Sean Scannell, and forwards Armand Gnanduillet and Owen Watkinson. Club captain Jay Spearing turned down a new contract and also departed.
Goalkeeper Chris Maxwell signed a new two-year contract on 16 June.
On 17 June, head coach Neil Critchley brought in Mike Garrity to be his assistant. Garrity left Liverpool, whose Academy he had been working in since 2007.
Keshi Anderson, a forward, became the first arrival at the club on 29 June.
18-year-old Cameron Antwi signed his first professional contract on 3 July – a one-year deal, with the club having the option to extend for a second year. He had been in the club's academy."Antwi Signs On As A Pro - Blackpool Youngster Signs First Pro Deal With The Club" - Blackpool F.C., 3 July 2020
24-year-old centre-back Marvin Ekpiteta joined on a free transfer on 8 July, having let his contract with Leyton Orient run out. He signed a two-year contract, with the club having an option to extend for a further year.
The following day, Montenegrin midfielder Oliver Sarkic signed on a free transfer.
Forward Jerry Yates joined from Rotherham United for an undisclosed fee on 21 July. He was joined the next day by Mansfield Town winger CJ Hamilton, who signed a three-year contract. The club's fifth signing of the close season, the fee was undisclosed.
Forward Ryan Hardie returned to Plymouth Argyle on loan, this time for the season, having had a successful spell there last season. He made the move permanent on 29 January."Hardie Completes Permanent Move To Plymouth" - Blackpool F.C., 29 January 2021
Another forward, 16-year-old Tony Weston, joined Rangers on 31 July.
Centre-back Ryan Edwards joined Dundee United on 3 August.
On 6 August, midfielder Ethan Robson signed. He was a free agent, having left Sunderland after sixteen years. Forward Nathan Delfouneso joined Bolton Wanderers, managed by his former Seasiders teammate Ian Evatt, the same day.
Left-back Calum Macdonald joined Tranmere Rovers on a season-long loan on 19 August. He made the move permanent on 1 February."Macdonald In Permanent Tranmere Move" - Blackpool F.C., 1 February 2021
Another midfielder, Jordan Williams, signed on a free transfer on 24 August. He left to join Ian Evatt's Bolton Wanderers on transfer-deadline day.
On 25 August, former Manchester United Academy goalkeeper Alex Fojtíček joined. He had played a few pre-season friendlies on trial for Blackpool.
On 28 August, forward Adi Yussuf joined Wrexham on a season-long loan. His loan was cut short, with his returning to Bloomfield Road on 1 February, but he went back out on loan the following day, to Chesterfield.
Results On 8 August, Blackpool made the short trip down the coast to play Southport to kick-off their pre-season campaign — their first fixture in 151 days. Grant Ward opened the scoring in the first half, before further second-half strikes from Sullay Kaikai and debutant pair Keshi Anderson and Jerry Yates sealed a 4–0 victory for Neil Critchley's side."Southport 0-4 Blackpool: Neil Critchley's men cruise to comfortable pre-season win on long-awaited return to action" - Blackpool Gazette, 8 August 2020
Seven days later, Blackpool travelled to Vale Park to take on Port Vale. A Sullay Kaikai goal two minutes before half-time was cancelled out early in the second half by Scott Burgess. Keshi Anderson, like Kaikai, scored his second goal of pre-season to restore the visitors' lead.Report: Port Vale 1 Blackpool 2 - Blackpool F.C., 15 August 2020
Barrow visited Bloomfield Road on 18 August. Jordan Thorniley put the hosts ahead on 38 minutes. Dior Angus levelled for David Dunn's men with 20 minutes left, before Matty Virtue restored Blackpool's lead after 81 minutes."Blackpool 2-1 Barrow: Seasiders maintain winning start to pre-season with victory against David Dunn's League Two newcomers" - Blackpool Gazette, 18 August 2020
Premier League Everton made the short trip to the Fylde Coast on 22 August. The hosts went 3–0 up inside 12 minutes through goals by CJ Hamilton, Sullay Kaikai and Grant Ward. Everton replied before half-time with goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson got a second after the break to make it 3–3, which is how the match finished.Report: Blackpool 3 Everton 3 - Blackpool F.C., 22 August 2020
Blackpool fell to a 3–2 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers on 25 August. Matty Virtue scored Blackpool's goal, making the score 1–2 late in the first half.Report: Blackpool 1 Blackburn Rovers 3 - Blackpool F.C., 25 August 2020
A planned friendly against Oldham Athletic was cancelled due to Blackpool's involvement in the EFL Cup.
A final friendly took place at Anfield against Liverpool on 5 September. Blackpool went 2–0 up inside 34 minutes, through CJ Hamilton and a penalty from Jerry Yates, before Joël Matip pulled one back two minutes before the break. Sadio Mané levelled for the hosts on 52 minutes. Two minutes later Roberto Firmino put Liverpool ahead for the first time. Harvey Elliott made it 4–2 on 69 minutes, and Takumi Minamino added a fifth three minutes later. Divock Origi made it 6–2 with five minutes remaining. Sepp van den Berg scored Liverpool's seventh on 88 minutes."Liverpool v Blackpool LIVE: Jurgen Klopp names strong side as Seasiders take on Premier League champions at Anfield" - Blackpool Gazette, 5 September 2020
In detail
Season proper August Blackpool's season opened with an EFL Cup first-round tie with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on 29 August. The match finished goalless after 90 minutes and went to penalties, with Stoke being the victors 5–4.Stoke City 0–0 Blackpool - BBC Sport, 29 August 2020
Striker Joe Nuttall was loaned out to Northampton Town for the season on 31 August.
September September began with another new signing, with forward Bez Lubala joining, for an undisclosed fee, from Crawley Town.
Midfielder Ben Garrity joined Oldham Athletic on loan for the season on 2 September.
The following day, midfielder Dan Kemp joined on a season-long loan from West Ham United. He was recalled by the Premier League club on 15 January."Kemp Recalled By West Ham United" - Blackpool F.C., 15 January 2021
The arrival of left-back Demetri Mitchell on 4 September made it four transactions in as many days, and brought the Seasiders number of incomings for the season to eleven.
Blackpool and Barrow played out a goalless draw in the EFL Trophy on 8 September. Blackpool won the penalty shootout 5–3, however, thus gaining a bonus point.Blackpool 0 Barrow 0 - Sky Sports, 8 September 2020
Blackpool opened their League campaign at Plymouth Argyle on 12 September. They lost to Luke Jephcott's headed goal on three minutes.Plymouth 1–0 Blackpool - BBC Sport, 12 September 2020
Last season's Player of the Year Liam Feeney was loaned out to Tranmere Rovers for the season on 17 September.
Swindon Town visited the seaside on 19 September. A first-half double from CJ Hamilton gave the Seasiders the three points.Blackpool 2–0 Swindon Town - BBC Sport, 19 September 2020
Left-back Luke Garbutt joined on a free transfer on 22 September, having left Everton.
A 2–0 defeat at Gillingham seven days later dropped Blackpool down to 13th.Gillingham 2–0 Blackpool - BBC Sport, 26 September 2020
October Midfielder Nathan Shaw joined AFC Fylde on loan on 2 October. Initially intended to be until the end of the season, he returned in January after AFC Fylde's season was put on hold due to COVID-19.
Blackpool hosted Lincoln City on 3 October. CJ Hamilton put the Tangerines ahead on 17 minutes, before the first of two goals from Jorge Grant brought matters level on 24 minutes, via the penalty spot. Demetri Mitchell scored his first goal for Blackpool on 82 minutes, restoring their lead, but another penalty from Grant levelled proceedings again three minutes later. James Husband was sent off a minute earlier. Lewis Montsma scored what proved to be the winner on 88 minutes. Blackpool dropped to 21st place with the defeat.Blackpool 2 Lincoln 3 - Sky Sports, 3 October 2020
On 5 October, Icelandic defender Daníel Leó Grétarsson joined the club from Aalesunds, while defender/midfielder Daniel Ballard joined on loan from Arsenal until January.
The following day, Blackpool drew 1–1 with Accrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy, but they missed out on a bonus point by losing in the subsequent penalty shootout. Keshi Anderson opened his scoring account for the Seasiders.Accrington 1 Blackpool 1 - Sky Sport, 6 October 2020
On 9 October, Michael Nottingham left the club, joining recent opponents Accrington Stanley.
The following day, Ipswich Town visited Bloomfield Road and returned south with all three points after a 4–1 victory. Luke Chambers put them ahead on 16 minutes, before Gwion Edwards and Teddy Bishop made it 3–0 at half-time. Gary Madine, with his first goal of the season, pulled one back for the Seasiders on the hour mark. Edwards scored his second with ten minutes remaining. Blackpool's fourth defeat in their opening five League games, they dropped one place to 22nd.Blackpool 1–4 Ipswich - BBC Sport, 10 October 2020
Transfer deadline day, 16 October, saw two arrivals and one departure. Out, on loan to Newport County, went midfielder Jamie Devitt. Inbound were forward Ben Woodburn, on loan from Liverpool, and Australian midfielder Kenny Dougall, on a free transfer.
On 17 October, Blackpool ended their run of defeats with a 1–1 draw at Crewe Alexandra, Blackpool manager Neil Critchley's first club of his short playing career. Mikael Mandron opened the scoring for the Railwaymen on 54 minutes. Grant Ward scored his first goal of the campaign to bring the visitors level on 71 minutes.Crewe Alexandra 1–1 Blackpool - BBC Sport, 17 October 2020
Charlton Athletic returned south with all three points after a single-goal victory at Bloomfield Road on 20 October. James Husband was sent off inside two minutes for the hosts, for whom it was a fifth defeat in their first seven League fixtures.Blackpool 0–1 Charlton Athletic - BBC Sport, 20 October 2020
Blackpool travelled to Burton Albion on 31 October. A Jerry Yates double, either side of Daníel Leó Grétarsson's own goal, gave the Tangerines all three points. They climbed to 16th place with the victory.Burton Albion 1–2 Blackpool - BBC Sport, 31 October 2020
November On 3 November, Blackpool beat Wigan by a single Sullay Kaikai goal. The victory lifted them to 12th.Blackpool 1–0 Wigan Athletic - Sky Sports, 3 November 2020
Five days later, the Seasiders made it into the hat for the second-round draw of the FA Cup with a 3–0 win at Eastbourne Borough, the biggest game in the hosts' history.Eastbourne 0–3 Blackpool - Sky Sports, 8 November 2020"FA Cup picture special - Eastbourne Borough take on Blackpool" - Sussex Express, 9 November 2020