The 1897âÂÂ98 season was Blackpool F.C.'s second consecutive season in the Football League. They competed in the sixteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing eleventh.
New signings for the season included Jack Cox from South Shore, Jack Leadbetter, Frank Wilson, and McHardie. Out had gone Fred Thompson (after making only six appearances the previous season), Tom Bradshaw, and John Clarke.
Cox was the club's top scorer, with twelve goals in seventeen appearances. Goalkeeper William Douglas was ever-present throughout the club's 30 league games for the second consecutive season.
The season commenced with a trip to local rivals Burnley. The hosts won 5âÂÂ1, and even Blackpool's goal was scored by a Clarets player.
Seven days later, the fixture was reversed. Jimmy Martin, Blackpool's second-top scorer the previous season, scored the home side's goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw.
Three consecutive defeats followed: 2âÂÂ0 at home to Manchester City, 1âÂÂ0 at Newton Heath, and 4âÂÂ1 at Gainsborough Trinity. Laurence Halsall scored Blackpool's goal in the latter game.
On 9 October, Blackpool recorded their first win of the season, 2âÂÂ1 at home to Burton Swifts. Jack Cox, in only his second start for the club since his arrival from South Shore, scored both Blackpool goals.
Cox scored another brace in the following game, a 4âÂÂ1 victory over Small Heath at Stanley Park's Athletic Grounds. John Clarkin and Bob Birkett netted the other goals for the home side.
On 23 October, Blackpool travelled to Newcastle United and returned empty-handed after a 2âÂÂ0 defeat.
November proved to be a fruitless month, with defeats at Leicester Fosse (4âÂÂ1), Darwen (3âÂÂ1), Woolwich Arsenal (2âÂÂ1) and Luton Town (3âÂÂ1). Martin scored Blackpool's goals in the first three losses, and Clarkin in the final one.
After a three-week break, Blackpool beat Gainsborough Trinity 5âÂÂ0 at the Athletic Grounds. Cox, Harry Stirzaker and Jack Parkinson scored, alongside two own-goals by the visitors.
Cox scored two more in the following game a week later, a 3âÂÂ2 home defeat by Newcastle.
1897 was closed out with a 6âÂÂ0 defeat at Walsall.
Blackpool began the New Year with a 3âÂÂ3 draw at home to Woolwich Arsenal. Cox netted twice, with Birkett also scoring.
On 8 January, Parkinson and Martin combined to lift Blackpool to a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Leicester Fosse.
Continuing their inconsistent season, the Seasiders lost the following game, their third consecutive home match, 4âÂÂ0 to Newton Heath.
At the end of the month, Blackpool travelled to Small Heath and recorded a 3âÂÂ2 victory. Parkinson, Martin and Cox were the scorers.
February began with a defeat, 3âÂÂ2 at Lincoln City; however, Blackpool exacted revenge six days later in the return match: two goals apiece from Birkett and Cox, plus one more from Parkinson, gave them a 5âÂÂ0 victory. This was Cox's final appearance for Blackpool before he was sold to Liverpool, but his twelve goals remained unbeaten in the remaining nine games.
Birkett scored in the following game, at Burton Swifts on 26 February, but he could not carry them to victory, Swifts winning 2âÂÂ1.
Blackpool didn't play again until 19 March, when they travelled to Grimsby Town. The home side won 3âÂÂ0.
Seven days later, Blackpool hosted Loughborough. Goals from Birkett and Jack Leadbetter, his first of the season, gave Blackpool a 2âÂÂ0 victory.
March ended with a 3âÂÂ3 draw at Manchester City, featuring two goals from Parkinson and one from Clarkin.
Another draw followed, this time 1âÂÂ1 with Walsall, in the first of five consecutive home games for Blackpool. Martin scored his seventh of the season.
On 8 April, Clarkin scored the only goal of the game as Blackpool beat Darwen.
Eight days later, Leadbetter scored his second goal of the season in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Grimsby.
Leadbetter was also one of the scorers as Blackpool completed a double over Loughborough. Parkinson (two) and Birkett scored the other goals of the 4âÂÂ0 victory. Blackpool started the match a man short.
The season ended with a single-goal victory over Luton, Clarkin scoring his fifth of the campaign.
Players used: 19
Total goals scored: 46 (plus three own-goals)
The following players left after the final game of the previous season: