The 2025–26 season was the 117th season in the history of Blackpool Football Club, and their third-consecutive season in League One, the third tier of English professional football. They were also active in three cup competitions: they were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the first round, reached the second round of the EFL Trophy and the third round of the FA Cup.
Managerial changes On 4 October, Steve Bruce was sacked as head coach after 61 games in charge and a 34.4% win ratio. Seventeen days later, former Blackpool captain Ian Evatt was appointed as the new head coach on a three-year contract.
Pre-season Transfers which were announced in June and became official on 1 July:
centre-back Fraser Horsfall, having left Stockport County on a free transfer fellow centre-back Michael Ihiekwe, joining on a free transfer from Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Sonny Carey, signing for Charlton Athletic after rejecting the offer of a new contract from Blackpool midfielder George Honeyman, who left Millwall on a free transfer goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli, upon the expiration of his contract with Wycombe Wanderers defender Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel joined Port Vale midfielder Oliver Norburn joined Notts County goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell signed for Derby County On 25 June, forward Jake Beesley joined Burton Albion and defender Matthew Pennington signed for Bradford City, both for an undisclosed fee. The same day, forward Niall Ennis, who had been on loan with the club the previous season, signed from Stoke City for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.
Midfielder Jordan Brown joined from Leyton Orient on 8 July, again for an undisclosed amount.
On 15 July, defender Danny Imray joined on a season-long loan from Crystal Palace. He was recalled by the Premier League club in January.
Another midfielder, Rob Apter, signed for Charlton Athletic on 17 July for an undisclosed fee.
On 18 July, Birmingham City goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell joined on loan until the end of the campaign.
Josh Miles joined Irish club Waterford for an undisclosed fee on 25 July.
Fixtures The first two pre-season friendlies to be announced was against Squires Gate and AFC Fylde on 12 July. On 5 June, Blackpool announced a home friendly with West Bromwich Albion had been arranged for 19 July. A friendly against Salford City at the Manchester club's Peninsula Stadium was scheduled for 22 July. On 20 June, a fifth friendly was announced against Doncaster Rovers.
A behind-closed-doors friendly against Accrington Stanley was also announced.
Season proper August On 1 August, Swedish winger Emil Hansson joined Blackpool on a season-long loan from Birmingham City. The following day, Blackpool began the League One season with a 3–2 home defeat to Stevenage. George Honeyman (on his debut) and Niall Ennis scored the goals for the hosts.
Four days later, the club signed forward Malcolm Ebiowei from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee.
On 7 August, Blackpool signed Northern Ireland forward Dale Taylor from Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to have broken the club's incoming transfer record.
Two days later, Blackpool made it two defeats in as many fixtures, after a 4–1 scoreline at Exeter City. Ashley Fletcher scored his first goal of the season for the visitors, who dropped to 22nd place. Due to a clerical error, resulting in an issue with his registration with the Football League, Dale Taylor was unable to make his debut.
On 12 August, Blackpool exited the EFL Cup at the first hurdle. They lost 1–0 to Port Vale at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool recorded their first victory on 16 August, a 3–2 scoreline against Huddersfield Town at Bloomfield Road. Niall Ennis, who scored two of the hosts' goals, was sent off late in the first half. Lee Evans scored the other goal for Blackpool, who climbed five places to 17th with the three points.
A third defeat for Blackpool in their opening four league games followed at Mansfield Town on 19 August. Mansfield scored twice in the first ten minutes of the second half to take all three points.
A trip to Plymouth Argyle on 23 August resulted in a single-goal defeat, dropping Blackpool two places to 20th.
Bolton Wanderers visited Bloomfield Road on 30 August, and returned home with a point after a 1–1 draw. Blackpool's goal was an own goal by visiting goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe. The hosts remained 20th in the table.
September After a two-week break, on 13 September Blackpool lost by a single goal at Northampton Town. They dropped one place to second-bottom, having picked up four points from a possible 21.
Blackpool got their first victory in exactly one month on 16 September, a 5–0 scoreline over Barrow in the League Trophy. Scott Banks (2) and Dale Taylor scored their first goals for the club, with Andy Lyons and Ashley Fletcher scoring the other goals.
A second-successive victory followed on 20 September, a single-goal victory over Barnsley at Bloomfield Road in League One. Jordan Brown's goal came in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Blackpool climbed one place to 22nd.
On 27 September, Blackpool lost 1–0 at Bradford City. This was followed by a 2–2 home draw against Luton Town, despite the hosts having been two goals up inside an hour.
October On 4 October, AFC Wimbledon beat Blackpool 2–0 at Bloomfield Road. Steve Bruce was sacked as manager shortly thereafter, replaced in the interim by coaches Stephen Dobbie and Steve Banks.
Seven days later, Blackpool lost for the eighth time in their opening twelve league fixtures, this time at Stockport County, leaving them second-bottom in the table.
On 14 October, Blackpool recorded their second-consecutive win in the EFL League Trophy, beating Nottingham Forest Under-21s 2–1 at Bloomfield Road. Emil Hansson and Josh Bowler scored for the hosts.
A draw followed on 18 October, 1–1 at home to Wycombe Wanderers in League One. The visitors equalised twelve minutes into stoppage time.
Ian Evatt was installed as the club's new head coach on 21 October, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. Four days later, Blackpool beat second-bottom Peterborough United 2–1 at London Road Stadium, with goals by Josh Bowler and Scott Banks. Blackpool switched places in the table with the hosts, leading to Darren Ferguson's dismissal as manager a few hours later.
On 1 November, Blackpool secured a place in the second round of the FA Cup, beating Scunthorpe United at Bloomfield Road by a single Ashley Fletcher goal after 17 minutes.
November Blackpool continued their 100% start under Ian Evatt with a 3–1 victory over Cardiff City at Bloomfield Road on 8 November. Ashley Fletcher scored twice and Tom Bloxham got the third for the hosts, who climbed two places to 21st.
On 11 November, Blackpool lost 2–1 at Tranmere Rovers in the EFL Trophy, but still progressed to the next stage of the competition after finishing second in the group.
A second-consecutive defeat followed on 15 November, 1–0 at Burton Albion. Blackpool dropped one place to 22nd.
A week later, Blackpool returned from Leyton Orient with a point after Ashley Fletcher's injury-time equaliser in a 1–1 draw. The visitors remained 22nd.
Blackpool lost 3–0 at home to Reading on 29 November. They remained 22nd.
December Blackpool exited the EFL Trophy in the second round after a 4–2 defeat at League Two Harrogate Town on 2 December.
On 7 December, Blackpool beat Mark Hughes's Carlisle United 4–1 at Bloomfield Road to reach the third round of the FA Cup. Ashley Fletcher (2), Tom Bloxham and Scott Banks scored for Blackpool.Blackpool 4–1 Carlisle United – Sky Sports, 7 December 2025
Three days later, Blackpool won 3–0 at Rotherham United, with goals by Danny Imray, Tom Bloxham and Ashley Fletcher. Blackpool remained 22nd.
Blackpool dropped to second-bottom after a 2–2 draw at home to Lincoln City on 13 December. The hosts' goals came from Lee Evans (penalty) and Ashley Fletcher.
On 20 December, Blackpool won 2–0 at Wigan Athletic. Ashley Fletcher (his thirteenth goal of the season) and Dale Taylor (his first league goal for the club) were the scorers.
Blackpool beat Doncaster Rovers 1–0 at Bloomfield Road on 26 December. Tom Bloxham got the goal on 17 minutes, having come on as an early substitute for the injured Dale Taylor. It was their first Boxing Day victory since 2016. Blackpool climbed to 19th with the three points.
2025 was closed out with a fourth victory and fourth clean sheet in five games with a 4–0 victory at home to Rotherham. Josh Bowler, Danny Imray, Ashley Fletcher and Tom Bloxham got the goals. The visitors were reduced to ten men on 58 minutes. Blackpool climbed six places to 13th.
January The new year began with a 5–1 defeat at Port Vale, with Blackpool having been reduced to ten men in the first half after James Husband was sent off. Tom Bloxham got Blackpool's goal, which opened the scoring. The visitors dropped four places to 13th.
On 4 January, Blackpool lost 2–1 at home to Bradford City. Ashley Fletcher scored his fifteenth goal in all competitions for Blackpool, who dropped to 18th.
Blackpool exited the FA Cup at the third-round stage on 10 January at the hands of Ipswich Town.
On 14 January, defender Kamarl Grant joined on loan from Millwall until the end of the season. Three days later, Blackpool lost a third-successive league match, 2–1 at Barnsley. They dropped two places to 20th.
Five days later, with the club having six players out injured, James Husband serving the remainder of his ban and Danny Imray having been recalled from his loan, Blackpool brought in Bolton Wanderers midfielder Joel Randall on loan until the end of the season. He was followed by forward Michael Obafemi, on loan from Burnley.
Blackpool won for the first time in 2026 with a 2–0 scoreline at home to Northampton Town on 24 January. Zac Ashworth, with his first goal for the club, and Ashley Fletcher, from the penalty spot, were the scorers. It was Fletcher's eighteenth goal of the season. Blackpool climbed to 17th in the table.
A 2–1 defeat at home to Stockport County followed on 27 January. Josh Bowler scored in injury time for the hosts, who climbed one place to 16th despite the loss.
On 31 January, Blackpool lost their fifth league game out of six with a single-goal scoreline at Luton Town. They remained 16th.
February On 2 February 2026, transfer-deadline day, right-back Reuell Walters joined Blackpool on loan from Luton Town for the remainder of the season. He was followed by midfielder Karoy Anderson from Charlton Athletic. Midfielder Leighton Clarkson signed from Aberdeen on a two-and-a-half-year contract. Departing, on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee, was midfielder Lee Evans to Bradford City.
Blackpool drew 2–2 at Huddersfield Town on 7 February, despite having been two goals up at half time. Ashley Fletcher and Karoy Anderson, on his debut, got the goals for the visitors, who dropped one place to 17th.
Competitions League One
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches On 26 June, the League One fixtures were released, with Blackpool hosting Stevenage on the opening weekend.
FA Cup
Blackpool were drawn at home to Scunthorpe United in the first round, to Carlisle United in the second round and away to Ipswich Town in the third round.
EFL Cup
EFL Trophy
Blackpool were drawn against Barrow, Tranmere Rovers and Nottingham Forest U21 in the group stage. After finishing second in the group, they were then drawn away to Harrogate Town in the round of 32.
Transfers
In DatePos.PlayerFromFeeRef. 25 June 2025 CF Undisclosed 1 July 2025 CB Free 1 July 2025 CB 1 July 2025 CM 1 July 2025 GK 8 July 2025 CDM Undisclosed 5 August 2025 RW 7 August 2025 CF 1 September 2025 RW Free 30 January 2026 GK Undisclosed 2 February 2026 CM
Out DatePos.PlayerToFeeRef.25 June 2025 CF Undisclosed CB 17 July 2025 RW 25 July 2025 CM 2 February 2026 CM
Loaned in