Blackpool F.C.
1952–53 season
ManagerJoe Smith
First Division7th
FA CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Stan Mortensen &
Allan Brown (15)

All: Stan Mortensen (18)
Highest home attendance36,159 vs Preston North End, First Division, 25 August 1952
Lowest home attendance13,284 vs Stoke City, First Division. 15 April 1953
Average home league attendance25,835

The 1952–53 season was Blackpool F.C.'s 45th season (42nd consecutive) in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing seventh.

They were also the winners of the FA Cup, the only time they have done so to date, beating Bolton Wanderers 4–3 in the final. Although it subsequently became known as "The Matthews Final", Stan Mortensen, Blackpool's top scorer in all competitions that season, scored a hat-trick in the match. It remained the only such feat achieved in an FA Cup Final held at the original Wembley Stadium.

Stan Mortensen was the club's top scorer for the ninth consecutive season, with eighteen goals in all competitions. He shared the accolade in the league with Allan Brown. The two scored fifteen goals apiece.

First-team squad

Name Position(s) Nationality Place of birth Date of Birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
George Farm GK Scotland Slateford 13 June 1924 (aged 27) 177 0 Scotland Hibernian September 1948 Free transfer
Willie Hall GK England Walton-le-Dale 6 February 1926 (aged 26) 0 0 England Preston North End July 1949
Harry Sharratt GK England Wigan 16 December 1929 (aged 22) 0 0 England Wigan Athletic May 1952
Full-backs
John Crosland FB England Lytham St Annes 10 November 1922 (aged 29) 38 0 England Ansdell Rovers May 1946
David Frith FB England Liverpool 17 March 1929 (aged 23) 0 0 Apprentice May 1949
Tommy Garrett LB England South Shields 28 February 1926 (aged 26) 114 0 England Horden Colliery Welfare October 1944
Roy Gratrix FB England Salford 9 February 1932 (aged 20) 0 0 England Taylor Brothers March 1953
Dai Powell LB Wales Swansea 19 January 1935 (aged 17) 0 0 Apprentice December 1952
Eddie Shimwell RB England Birchover 27 February 1920 (aged 32) 219 7 England Sheffield United 20 December 1946 £7,000
Jackie Wright FB England Atherton 11 August 1926 (aged 25) 54 0 England Mossley June 1946
Half-backs
Jack Ainscough CH England Adlington 26 March 1926 (aged 26) 2 0 England Astley Bridge August 1949
Ewan Fenton RH Scotland Dundee 17 November 1929 (aged 22) 34 1 Scotland Lochee Harp November 1946
Stan Hepton WH England Leeds 3 December 1932 (aged 19) 0 0 England Ashley Road Methodists March 1950
Harry Johnston CH/LH/RH England Manchester 26 September 1919 (aged 32) 297 11 England Droylsden October 1936 Free transfer
Hughie Kelly LH Scotland Valleyfield 23 July 1923 (aged 28) 167 3 Scotland Jeanfield Swifts August 1944
Cyril Robinson LH England Bulwell 4 March 1929 (aged 23) 11 2 England Mansfield Town September 1949
Forwards
Allan Brown IF Scotland Kennoway 12 October 1926 (aged 25) 61 19 Scotland East Fife December 1950 £26,500
Dave Durie IF England Blackpool 13 August 1931 (aged 20) 0 0 England Oxford Amateurs May 1952
Sandy Harris OR Scotland Hong Kong 22 October 1934 (aged 17) 0 0 Scotland Scone November 1951
Albert Hobson OR England Glossop 7 April 1925 (aged 27) 42 1 England Glossop August 1945
Stanley Matthews OR England Stoke-on-Trent 1 February 1915 (aged 37) 164 5 England Stoke City 10 May 1947 £11,500
George McKnight IF Northern Ireland Newtownards 17 November 1923 (aged 28) 41 10 Northern Ireland Coleraine June 1946
Stan Mortensen CF England South Shields 26 May 1921 (aged 31) 242 170 England South Shields ex-schoolboys May 1938
Jackie Mudie IF Scotland Dundee 10 April 1930 (aged 22) 61 25 Scotland Lochee Harp May 1947
Bill Perry OL England Johannesburg 10 September 1930 (aged 21) 98 10 Union of South Africa Johannesburg Rangers November 1949
Alan Withers OL England Bulwell 20 October 1930 (aged 21) 14 6 England Aspley Boys Club 4 July 1949
Graham Williams OF Wales Wrexham 31 December 1936 (aged 15) 0 0 England Wolverhampton Wanderers
Billy Wright OL England Blackpool 4 March 1931 (aged 21) 5 1 Apprentice May 1950
Len Stephenson CF England Blackpool 14 July 1930 (aged 21) 4 1 England Highfield Youth Club November 1948
Ernie Taylor IF England Sunderland 2 September 1925 (aged 26) 31 5 England Newcastle United 10 October 1951 £25,000

Source: [1]

Competitions

Overall record

Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
First Division 23 August 1952 25 April 1953 Matchday 1 7th 42 19 9 14 71 70 +1 045.24
FA Cup 10 January 1953 2 May 1953 Third round Winners 7 6 1 0 14 8 +6 085.71
Total 49 25 10 14 85 78 +7 051.02

Source: Competitions

Football League First Division

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
5 Charlton Athletic 42 19 11 12 77 63 1.222 49
6 Burnley 42 18 12 12 67 52 1.288 48
7 Blackpool 42 19 9 14 71 70 1.014 47
8 Manchester United 42 18 10 14 69 72 0.958 46
9 Sunderland 42 15 13 14 68 82 0.829 43
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

In summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGAvPtsWDLGFGAPtsWDLGFGAPts
42 19 9 14 71 70 1.014 47 13 5 3 45 22 31 6 4 11 26 48 16

Source:

By matchday
Matchday123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAHAHHAAHAHAHHAAHHA
ResultWDWWLWWWWLWLLDLWDDWLWDLLLDDWWLWWLLWWWDLDWL
Position1213643213223465664544578910878777777657547
Source: 11v11
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
In detail
23 August 1952 (1952-08-23) 1 Portsmouth 0–2 Blackpool Portsmouth
Brown 4'
Mortensen 49'
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 43,478
Referee: R.J. Leafe
25 August 1952 (1952-08-25) 2 Blackpool 1–1 Preston North End Blackpool
Mortensen Wayman 37' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 36,159
Referee: C. Fletcher
30 August 1952 (1952-08-30) 3 Blackpool 3–0 Bolton Wanderers Blackpool
Taylor
Matthews
Barrass (o.g.)
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 31,317
Referee: F. Thurman
6 September 1952 (1952-09-06) 4 Aston Villa 1–5 Blackpool Aston
Dixon Taylor
Mortensen
Brown
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 52,688
Referee: A.E. Ellis
10 September 1952 (1952-09-10) 5 Chelsea 4–0 Blackpool Fulham
Bentley 5'
Gray 11'
McNichol 69', 90'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 47,632
Referee: F.L. Overton
13 September 1952 (1952-09-13) 6 Blackpool 2–0 Sunderland Blackpool
Mortensen
Perry
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 35,350
Referee: A.W. Luty
15 September 1952 (1952-09-15) 7 Blackpool 3–1 Chelsea Blackpool
Perry
Mortensen
Matthews
Bentley 4' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 28,892
Referee: F.L. Overton
20 September 1952 (1952-09-20) 8 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–5 Blackpool Wolverhampton
Flowers 42'
Swinbourne 64'
Mortensen 28'
Matthews 34'
Perry 49'
Taylor 68'
Brown 80'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 48,598
Referee: C. Fletcher
27 September 1952 (1952-09-27) 9 Blackpool 8–4 Charlton Athletic Blackpool
Hammond 6' (o.g.)
Brown 7', 43', 44'
Mortensen 26'
Garrett 46'
Matthews 63'
Taylor 65'
Evans 29', 70'
Lock 75' (pen.)
Vaughan 82'
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 33,498
Referee: C.W. Bucknall
4 October 1952 (1952-10-04) 10 Arsenal 3–1 Blackpool Highbury
Logie
Roper
Taylor 20' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 66,642
Referee: J.R. Dunbar
11 October 1952 (1952-10-11) 11 Blackpool 4–2 Burnley Blackpool
Mortensen 33'
Perry 60', 70'
Brown 82' (pen.)
Elliott 62' (pen.)
Shannon 72'
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 35,671
Referee: G. Black
18 October 1952 (1952-10-18) 12 Tottenham Hotspur 4–0 Blackpool Tottenham
Ramsey (pen.)
Duquemin
Baily
Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 53,928
Referee: P.F. Power
25 October 1952 (1952-10-25) 13 Blackpool 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday Blackpool
Woodhead Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 28,162
Referee: T.W. Glendenning
1 November 1952 (1952-11-01) 14 Cardiff City 2–2 Blackpool Cardiff
Northcott
Chisholm
Taylor
Hobson
Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 43,662
Referee: H. Ball
8 November 1952 (1952-11-08) 15 Blackpool 0–2 Newcastle United Blackpool
Robledo
Brander
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 26,362
Referee: T. Seymour
15 November 1952 (1952-11-15) 16 West Bromwich Albion 0–1 Blackpool West Bromwich
Mortensen Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 33,712
Referee: L.N. Peake
22 November 1952 (1952-11-22) 17 Blackpool 1–1 Middlesbrough Blackpool
Brown 7' Norris 9' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 19,934
Referee: A. Wilkinson
29 November 1952 (1952-11-29) 18 Liverpool 2–2 Blackpool Liverpool
Payne Perry
Taylor
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 32,336
Referee: H. Jackson
6 December 1952 (1952-12-06) 19 Blackpool 4–1 Manchester City Blackpool
Brown
Mortensen
Taylor
Williamson Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 19,496
Referee: R.P. Hartley
13 December 1952 (1952-12-13) 20 Stoke City 4–0 Blackpool Stoke-on-Trent
Mountford
Oscroft
Fenton (o.g.)
Stadium: Victoria Ground
Attendance: 19,118
Referee: B.J. Flanagan
20 December 1952 (1952-12-20) 21 Blackpool 3–2 Portsmouth Blackpool
Fenton
Perry
Taylor
Harris 37'
Froggatt 88'
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 13,562
Referee: R.J. Leafe
25 December 1952 (1952-12-25) 22 Blackpool 0–0 Manchester United Blackpool
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 27,778
Referee: W.H.E. Evans
26 December 1952 (1952-12-26) 23 Manchester United 2–1 Blackpool Manchester
Carey 40'
Lewis 80'
Mortensen 10' Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 49,934
Referee: W.H.E. Evans
1 January 1953 (1953-01-01) 24 Preston North End 4–2 Blackpool Preston
Wayman
Morrison
Finney
Hobson
Perry
Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 30,696
Referee: C. Fletcher
3 January 1953 (1953-01-03) 25 Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Blackpool Bolton
Wheeler
Moir
Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 36,572
Referee: F. Thurman
17 January 1953 (1953-01-17) 26 Blackpool 1–1 Aston Villa Blackpool
Mudie Gibson Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 21,258
Referee: A.E. Ellis
24 January 1953 (1953-01-24) 27 Sunderland 1–1 Blackpool Sunderland
Wright Hepton Stadium: Roker Park
Attendance: 53,653
Referee: A.W. Luty
7 February 1953 (1953-02-07) 28 Blackpool 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Blackpool
Brown 4', 84' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 21,702
Referee: C. Fletcher
21 February 1953 (1953-02-21) 29 Blackpool 3–2 Arsenal Blackpool
Mudie 20', 27'
Brown 85'
Mercer 54'
Goring 77'
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 30,034
Referee: J.R. Dunbar
23 February 1953 (1953-02-23) 30 Charlton Athletic 2–0 Blackpool Charlton
Firmani 7'
Kiernan 31'
Hepton Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 15,913
Referee: C.W. Bucknall
3 March 1953 (1953-03-03) 31 Burnley 0–1 Blackpool Burnley
Perry 65' Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 20,874
Referee: G. Black
7 March 1953 (1953-03-07) 32 Blackpool 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur Blackpool
Mudie
Perry
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 26,796
Referee: P.F. Power
14 March 1953 (1953-03-14) 33 Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Blackpool Sheffield
Marriott
Sewell
Perry 65' Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 40,961
Referee: T.W. Glendenning
25 March 1953 (1953-03-25) 34 Blackpool 0–1 Cardiff City Blackpool
Northcott Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 15,227
Referee: H. Ball
28 March 1953 (1953-03-28) 35 Newcastle United 0–1 Blackpool Newcastle upon Tyne
Taylor Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 41,205
Referee: T. Seymour
3 April 1953 (1953-04-03) 36 Blackpool 2–1 Derby County Blackpool
Taylor
Mortensen
McLaren Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 27,382
Referee: E. Plinston
4 April 1953 (1953-04-04) 37 Blackpool 2–0 West Bromwich Albion Blackpool
Mortensen Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 30,592
Referee: L.N. Peake
6 April 1953 (1953-04-06) 38 Derby County 1–1 Blackpool Derby
Lee Mortensen Stadium: The Baseball Ground
Attendance: 24,795
Referee: E. Plinston
11 April 1953 (1953-04-11) 39 Middlesbrough 1–1 Blackpool Middlesbrough
Mannion 14'
Fitzsimons 32', 43'
Spuhler 36', 79'
Durie 11' Stadium: Ayresome Park
Attendance: 38,847
Referee: A. Wilkinson
15 April 1953 (1953-04-15) 40 Blackpool 1–1 Stoke City Blackpool
Perry Mountford Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 13,284
Referee: B.J. Flanagan
18 April 1953 (1953-04-18) 41 Blackpool 3–1 Liverpool Blackpool
Garrett
Perry
Mudie
Smyth Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 20,073
Referee: G. Gibson
25 April 1953 (1953-04-25) 42 Manchester City 5–0 Blackpool Manchester
Cuncliffe
McCourt
Spurdle
Williamson
Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 35,507
Referee: R.P. Hartley

FA Cup

10 January 1953 (1953-01-10) Third round Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Blackpool Sheffield
Sewell 75' Matthews
Taylor
Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 60,199
Referee: H. Jackson
31 January 1953 (1953-01-31) Fourth round Blackpool 1–0 Huddersfield Town Blackpool
Garrett Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 29,293
Referee: B.M. Griffiths
14 February 1953 (1953-02-14) Fifth round Blackpool 1–1 Southampton Blackpool
Perry Horton Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 27,543
Referee: B.J. Flanagan
18 February 1953 (1953-02-18) Fifth round replay Southampton 1–2 Blackpool Southampton
Walker Horton 47' (o.g.)
Brown 49'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 29,223
Referee: B.J. Flanagan
28 February 1953 (1953-02-28) Sixth round Arsenal 1–2 Blackpool London
Logie Brown
Taylor
Stadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 69,158
Referee: A.W. Luty
21 March 1953 (1953-03-21) Semi-final Blackpool 2–1 Tottenham Hotspur Aston
Perry 8'
Mudie 89'
Duquemin 50' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 68,221
Referee: A.E. Ellis
2 May 1953 (1953-05-02) Final Blackpool 4–3 Bolton Wanderers Wembley
15:00 BST Mortensen 35', 68', 89'
Perry 90+2'
Lofthouse 2'
Moir 40'
Bell 55'
Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
Referee: B.M. Griffiths

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos. Nat. Name First Division FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Scotland George Farm 38070450
GK England Willie Hall 300030
GK England Harry Sharratt 100010
DF England John Crosland 25030280
DF England David Frith 10000100
DF England Tommy Garrett 38271403
DF England Roy Gratrix 000000
DF Wales Dai Powell 000000
DF England Eddie Shimwell 35070420
DF England Jackie Wright 000000
MF England Jack Ainscough 400040
MF Scotland Ewan Fenton 28160341
MF England Stan Hepton 110011
MF England Harry Johnston 36070430
MF Scotland Hughie Kelly 31030340
MF England Cyril Robinson 201030
FW Scotland Allan Brown 2615523117
FW England Dave Durie 810081
FW Scotland Sandy Harris 200020
FW England Albert Hobson 17200172
FW England Stanley Matthews 20471275
FW Northern Ireland George McKnight 201030
FW England Stan Mortensen 3415233618
FW Scotland Jackie Mudie 20571276
FW England Bill Perry 3612734315
FW England Alan Withers 000000
FW Wales Graham Williams 000000
FW England Billy Wright 700070
FW England Len Stephenson 000000
FW England Ernie Taylor 3811724513
Players used:24
Goals scored:85
(including 3 own goals)

Goalscorers

Rank Pos. Player First Division FA Cup Total
1FWEngland Stan Mortensen15318
2FWScotland Allan Brown15217
3FWEngland Bill Perry12315
4FWEngland Ernie Taylor11213
5FWScotland Jackie Mudie516
6FWEngland Stanley Matthews415
7DFEngland Tommy Garrett213
8FWEngland Albert Hobson202
9 MFScotland Ewan Fenton101
MFEngland Stan Hepton101
FWEngland Dave Durie101
Own Goals213
Total711485

Clean sheets

Rank Pos. Player First Division FA Cup Total
1GKScotland George Farm10111

Transfers

Transfers in

Date Pos. Nat. Name From Fee
May 1952GKEnglandHarry SharrattWigan Athletic
May 1952IFEnglandDave DurieOxford Amateurs
December 1952LBWalesDai PowellFree agency
March 1953FBEnglandRoy GratrixTaylor Brothers
OFWalesGraham WilliamsWolverhampton Wanderers

Transfers out

Date Pos. Nat. Name To Fee
May 1952CHEnglandEric HaywardRetired

References

General

Books

  • Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.

Websites

Specific

  1. Blackpool F.C. 1952–53 Squad at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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