AFC Blackpool

AFC Blackpool are a non league football club based in the Squires Gate suburb of the Lancashire resort. The club were formed in 1947 as Blackpool Metal Mechanics FC, playing in local competition. 'The Mechs' began life playing their home matches at Stanley Park Arena next to the town's cricket club.

After a few years they shortened their name to Blackpool Mechanics FC and in 1959 they joined the West Lancashire League, from where they progressed to the Lancashire Combination three years later. The Mechs became founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982.

Mechanics former badge

Lytham St Annes FC won the West Lancashire League Division One title in 2005, when they merged with Mechanics as the club progressed on the pitch. In February 2006 FC United of Manchester were due to play at Jepson Way in the NWCL, but the club moved the game to Blackpool's Bloomfield Road ground. The game attracted a gate of 4,300 which netted around £10,000 in valuable income.

In May 2008 Squires Gate Junior FC merged with Mechanics, which led to a change of names to AFC Blackpool. Blackpool FC had to give approval for the move, which they did offering support along the way.

AFC Blackpool will play in the North West Counties League Premier Division in the 2013-14 season.


My visit

Wednesday 1st February 2012

I had awoken early in my Travelodge room by the North Pier in Blackpool and taken the number 17 bus to Squires Gate to visit the three non league clubs located within five minutes of each other.

I had been to Wren Rovers and Squires Gate and now had a walk across the frozen ground on a beautiful bright morning round Jepson Way to The Mechanics, as the ground had been renamed to reflect their past history. The fields near to the ground had sports pitches and then Blackpool Airport, and I was delighted to arrive to found the ground open although no-one was around.

There were small covered areas behind both goals and seated stands facing each other across the pitch, one with the clubhouse and changing facilities built into the back of it. The rest of the ground consisted with flat grass and hard standing. It was a nice enough venue with scope for further development.

I headed back down Squires Gate Lane towards Starr Gate on the sea front with the intention of catching a bus to Fleetwood. However, a bus came along near the Halfway House pub heading back into the centre of town. I had a lovely ride taking in the Pleasure Beach, Waterloo Bowling Green and past Bloomfield Road in time for some nutrition before heading up the coast.