Seasiders review of 2003

The Seasiders almost mounting a play-off push, work almost starting on the new south stand and almost finding the formula that will end mo35re than a quarter of a century in the lower divisions.

The year started with a visit by relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town. The game saw a debut for new signing, former Manchester United winger, Ben Thornley and a last-minute equaliser through a John Hills penalty.

Just three days later, we were back at a packed Bloomers to see Crystal Palace's visit in the FA Cup third round. Pre-match confidence was high, and was even higher still when Tony Popovic headed into his own net. However, two goals from the tricky Tommy Black were enough to take Palace through.

That was to be Blackpool's last defeat for almost two months, with impressive performances away at the likes of eventual champions Wigan and some useful home results.

Evolver, that came to an end on the last Saturday in February, when a brace by Tranmere's Ian Hume gave the Wirral outfit victory, despite a superb free-kick equaliser from Paul Evans.

Amazingly, the victory over Wycombe the following Saturday was to be Blackpool's last victory of the season.

Barnsley snatched victory at Bloomfield Road, Pool blew a 2-0 lead at Stockport and even relegated Cheltenham beat Steve McMahon's side 3-0 in a miserable couple of months, not helped by injuries to loan players, Colin Hendry and Paul Evans.

After the season ended with a 1-1 draw against Chesterfield, McMahon got to work. The now traditional clear-out saw the likes of former skipper, Ian Hughes and St Annes based former England youth star, Jamie Milligan, told that their services were no longer required.

Another local boy, John Hills, also left, disappointed by the contract on the table at Bloomfield Road. He eventually stepped up a division to join Gillingham.

Kirk Hilton was the first of a flurry of summer signings. He was soon joined by former loan man, Leam Richardson, ex-Burnley skipper, Steve Davis and, after weeks of speculation, Barnsley's Mike Sheron, who made a goalscoring debut against Burnley in the opening game of the Isle of Man tournament.

The summer also saw work start to demolish the old south and east stands. While a new temporary stand for the east side is in place, work on the permanent south stand remains on Seasiders supporters' Christmas wish list.

The fixture computer wasn't kind, sending Blackpool to pre-season favourites, QPR, on the first day of the new term. But the 5-0 defeat was a hangover from hell for Blackpool, with Rangers in irresistible form.

Despite a win over Barnsley in the league cup, the despair turned towards anger as unfancied Wycombe stormed into a 2-0 lead at Bloomfield Road, but a Scott Taylor brace and a Kirk Hilton goal brought Blackpool three points.

The early weeks of the season followed an unfamiliar pattern, with away results better than those at home.

Disappointing home defeats against the likes of Bournemouth, Wrexham and Grimsby contrasted with good away wins at previously unhappy hunting grounds such as Boundary Park, Hillsborough and Edgeley Park.

A good run in November and December -- inspired by loanee, Steve Elliott -- again took Blackpool to the edge of the play-off zone. Let's just hope that 2004 brings more glory to Bloomfield Road than 2003.

Quiz time

Test your sporting knowledge

QUESTIONS:

1. Who rode Monty's Pass to success in the Martell Cognac Grand National ...?

2. ... And who did they beat into second place by 12 lengths?

3. After nearly 18 minutes of competition covering four-and-a-half miles involving two teams which involved two sets of brothers, the winning margin was a foot... who won and what was the race?

4. Who secured Rugby League's Challenge Cup final by just two points...?

5. ... And what was the winning score?

6. Who received the PFA player of the year award?

7. Who dumped Ronnie O'Sullivan out at the first round stage of the World Snooker Championship?

8. Who contested the World Snooker Championship final ...?

9. ... And who emerged triumphant and what was the winning margin?

10. Who spun out of Lord's and into the celebrity limelight with a surprise announcement in April?

11. Where did Ferrari secure their first win of the season in the Formula One Championship, and why did the winner wear a black armband?

12. Who won the Powergen Cup final at Twickenham...?

13. ... And who did they beat?

14. Who took six days to complete the London Marathon?

15. Which trainer had the perfect ending to a notable career with a winner, Sky Cab, at Sandown Park?

16. Which horse became the first since L'Escargot to win consecutive Gold Cups?

17. Where did England's rugby union team clinch the Grand Slam...?

18. ... And what had Martin Johnson refused to do just before the national anthems were played?

19. Which jockey and horse teamed up to win the Dubai Gold Cup?

20. Which driver clinched his maiden Grand Prix victory in the race at Malaysia... ?

21. ... And in the same race who became the first Spaniard to earn a place on the podium in nearly half a century of the World Championship?

22. Who scored 140 of his team's 359 runs in cricket's World Cup final?

23. What world record score did Matthew Hayden reach against Zimbabwe at the WACA...?

24. Who ended Tim Henman's run in Wimbledon?

25. Who did India beat to reach cricket's World Cup final?

26. Which Zimbabweans made a black armband protest during cricket's World Cup, signifying that they were in mourning for the death of democracy in their country?

27. Who brought the curtain down on an illustrious career with a fifth place finish in a final at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham?

28. Ashia Hanson and Marlon Devonish won gold for Great Britain in the World Indoor Athletics Championship, but in which events?

29. Who did Richard Johnson ride to victory in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham?

30. Who won his 13th Grand Prix to open the season with a win in Melbourne?

31. Who had Manchester United just lost to when the infamous Sir Alex Ferguson 'boot in the face of Beckham' incident took place?

32. Which rugby union international player jogged out at Twickenham to roars of approval at winning his 100th cap?

33. Who scored 183 as England picked up victory in the fifth Test in the Ahes in Sydney?

34. How did Tony Popovic's goal help to set up an historic victory at Upton Park?

35. Who became the first bowler to take 500 one-day international wickets?

36. Ellen MacArthur and her team were thwarted in their attempt at winning the Jules Verne Trophy when their mast broke... but what was the name of their stricken yacht?

37. Who started the year as she intended to go on, with a world record performance in a 10 kilometre road race?

38. Who won the Australian Open men's lawn tennis title for the fourth time, a record for a non-Australian?

39.Who became only the fifth player in the history of tennis to hold four Grand Slam titles at the same time when she won the Australian Open?

40.Who scored Liverpool's goals when they beat Manchester United in the Worthington Cup final?

41. In which event did the Swiss team, led by skipper Russell Coutts, thrash New Zealand 5-0 to take a prestigious trophy in March?

42. What was Manchester United's points-winning margin over Arsenal in the Premiership race?

43. How many Premiership hat-tricks did Ruud van Nistelrooy score?

44. How many points did West Ham United go down with?

45. Who scored for Celtic in their Uefa Cup final defeat at the hands of FC Porto?

46. What was the score when England met South Africa in Rugby Union's World Cup pool C match?

47. From eighth place at Tattenham Corner, who steered Kris Kin through to victory in the Vodafone Derby?

48. Who won silver in the 800 metres for women at the World Athletics Championship?

49. Who tied for second place behind Ben Curtis at The Open?

50. Who scored the FA Cup-winning goal and did it come in the first or second half?

ANSWERS

1 Barry Geraghty; 2 Supreme Glory; 3 Oxford won the Boat Race; 4 Bradford; 5 22-20; 6 Thierry Henry; 7 Marco Fu; 8 Mark Williams and Ken Doherty; 9 Williams won 18-16; 10 Phil Tufnell retired from first-class cricket; 11 The San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, and Michael Schumacher was remembering his mother, who had died only hours earlier; 12 Gloucester; 13 Northampton; 14 Michael Watson; 15 Josh Gifford; 16 Best Mate; 17 Ireland; 18 Change line-up positions; 19 Frankie Dettori and Moon Ballad; 20 Kimi Raikkonen; 21 Fernando Alonso; 22 Ricky Ponting; 23 380; 24 Sebastian Grosjean; 25 Kenya; 26 Andy Flower and Henry Olonga; 27 Colin Jackson; 28 Triple jump and 200 metres; 29 Rooster Booster; 30 David Coulthard; 31 Arsenal; 32 Jason Leonard; 33 Michael Vaughan; 34 He scored Australia's first goal in their 3-1 win over England; 35 Wasim Akram; 36 Kingfisher II; 37 Paula Radcliffe; 38 Andre Agassi; 39 Serena Williams; 40 Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen; 41 The America's Cup; 42; Five; 43 Three; 44 Forty-two; 45 Henrik Larsson scored twice; 46 25-6; 47 Kieren Fallon; 48 Kelly Holmes; 49 Thomas Bjorn and Vijay Singh; 50 Robert Pires, first half, for Arsenal against Southampton.