1999–2000 Blackpool F.C. season
# 1999–2000 Blackpool F.C. season

The 1999–2000 season was Blackpool F.C.'s 92nd season (89th consecutive) in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Two, then the third tier of English league football, finishing 22nd. As a result, they were relegated to the league's basement division.

Nigel Worthington resigned as manager during the season. He was replaced by the former Liverpool midfielder Steve McMahon.

The club suffered a tragedy on 30 January 2000 with the death of striker Martin Aldridge in a car crash near Northampton at the age of 25. Aldridge, who had been at Blackpool for 18 months, was on loan at Rushden & Diamonds at the time of his death.

John Murphy was the club's top scorer, with ten goals in all competitions.

On 15 January, Bloomfield Road hosted a "Break The Gate" promotion for the visit of Luton Town. Chairman Karl Oyston pledged that revenue generated from home supporters in excess of the hardcore 3500 would be made available to Steve McMahon for team strengthening. Two days later it was announced that £12,000 had been raised. The scheme was repeated for the visit of Brentford on 29 January.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 20 | Oxford United | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 43 | 73 | −30 | 45 | |
| 21 | Cardiff City | 46 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 45 | 67 | −22 | 44 | Relegated |
| 22 | Blackpool | 46 | 8 | 17 | 21 | 49 | 77 | −28 | 41 | Relegated |
| 23 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 40 | 74 | −34 | 39 | Relegated |
| 24 | Chesterfield | 46 | 7 | 15 | 24 | 34 | 63 | −29 | 36 | Relegated |

## Results

Blackpool's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |

### Football League Second Division

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 7 August 1999 | Wrexham | H | 2–1 | 5,008 | Ormerod (2) |
| 2 | 14 August 1999 | Luton Town | A | 2–3 | 5,176 | Ormerod, Nowland |
| 3 | 21 August 1999 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | 4,203 | Murphy |
| 4 | 28 August 1999 | Brentford | A | 0–2 | 5,353 | |
| 5 | 30 August 1999 | Oxford United | H | 1–1 | 3,670 | Carlisle |
| 6 | 4 September 1999 | Bristol City | A | 2–5 | 8,439 | Ormerod, Murphy |
| 7 | 11 September 1999 | Notts County | A | 1–2 | 5,512 | Carlisle |
| 8 | 18 September 1999 | AFC Bournemouth | H | 0–0 | 4,471 | |
| 9 | 25 September 1999 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 1–2 | 3,452 | Ormerod |
| 10 | 2 October 1999 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–3 | 7,715 | Ormerod |
| 11 | 9 October 1999 | Chesterfield | A | 0–0 | 2,804 | |
| 12 | 16 October 1999 | Bury | H | 0–5 | 5,270 | |
| 13 | 19 October 1999 | Oldham Athletic | H | 1–2 | 3,845 | Murphy |
| 14 | 23 October 1999 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 2–0 | 5,021 | Nowland, Lee |
| 15 | 2 November 1999 | Cardiff City | A | 1–1 | 4,223 | Murphy |
| 16 | 6 November 1999 | Wigan Athletic | H | 2–2 | 4,535 | Murphy, Durnin |
| 17 | 14 November 1999 | Burnley | A | 0–1 | 12,898 | |
| 18 | 23 November 1999 | Millwall | H | 1–2 | 2,819 | Murphy |
| 19 | 27 November 1999 | Cambridge United | H | 2–1 | 4,040 | Murphy, Clarkson |
| 20 | 4 December 1999 | Wrexham | A | 1–1 | 2,668 | Hills |
| 21 | 18 December 1999 | Preston North End | A | 0–3 | 16,821 | |
| 22 | 26 December 1999 | Stoke City | H | 1–2 | 5,214 | Nowland |
| 23 | 28 December 1999 | Scunthorpe United | A | 0–1 | 4,476 | |
| 24 | 3 January 2000 | Colchester United | H | 1–1 | 3,462 | Bent |
| 25 | 8 January 2000 | Reading | A | 1–1 | 7,297 | Matthews |
| 26 | 15 January 2000 | Luton Town | H | 3–3 | 5,262 | Ablett, Clarkson, Bushell |
| 27 | 22 January 2000 | Gillingham | A | 3–1 | 6,805 | Richardson, Matthews, Bushell |
| 28 | 29 January 2000 | Brentford | H | 0–1 | 5,270 | |
| 29 | 5 February 2000 | Oxford United | A | 1–0 | 5,179 | Murphy |
| 30 | 8 February 2000 | Reading | H | 0–2 | 4,791 | |
| 31 | 12 February 2000 | Bristol City | H | 1–2 | 5,066 | Murphy |
| 32 | 19 February 2000 | Cambridge United | A | 2–0 | 4,636 | Carlisle, Newell |
| 33 | 26 February 2000 | AFC Bournemouth | A | 0–2 | 4,464 | |
| 34 | 4 March 2000 | Notts County | H | 2–1 | 4,277 | Lumsdon, Clarkson |
| 35 | 7 March 2000 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1–5 | 6,451 | Gill |
| 36 | 11 March 2000 | Cardiff City | H | 2–2 | 5,015 | Gill, Hills |
| 37 | 18 March 2000 | Millwall | A | 1–1 | 10,506 | Gill |
| 38 | 21 March 2000 | Burnley | H | 1–1 | 8,029 | Gill |
| 39 | 25 March 2000 | Stoke City | A | 0–3 | 10,002 | |
| 40 | 1 April 2000 | Preston North End | H | 0–0 | 9,042 | |
| 41 | 8 April 2000 | Colchester United | A | 1–1 | 3,351 | Thomas |
| 42 | 15 April 2000 | Scunthorpe United | H | 0–2 | 5,542 | |
| 43 | 22 April 2000 | Bury | A | 2–3 | 3,857 | Gill, Newell |
| 44 | 24 April 2000 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–1 | 5,635 | Gill, Thomas |
| 45 | 29 April 2000 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–1 | 6,290 | Carlisle |
| 46 | 6 May 2000 | Chesterfield | H | 2–2 | 3,860 | Gill, Coid |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R1 | 30 October 1999 | Stoke City | H | 2–0 | 4,721 | Carlisle, Nowland |
| R2 | 20 November 1999 | Hendon | H | 2–0 | 2,975 | Clarkson, Durnin |
| R3 | 13 December 1999 | Arsenal | A | 1–3 | 34,143 | Clarkson |

### Football League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R1 1st Leg | 10 August 1999 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 2–1 | 3,298 | Hughes, Clarkson |
| R1 2nd Leg | 24 August 1999 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 1–3 | 4,800 | Clarkson |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R1 | 7 December 1999 | Notts County | A | 1–0 | 4,721 | Clarkson |
| R2 | 11 January 2000 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–0 | 1,844 | Matthews |
| QF | 25 January 2000 | Stoke City | H | 1–2 | 4,943 | Jaszczun |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Tony Caig |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Andy Couzens |
| 3 | DF | ENG | John Hills |
| 4 | DF | ENG | David Bardsley |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Clarke Carlisle |
| 6 | DF | WAL | Ian Hughes |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Junior Bent |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Phil Clarkson |
| 10 | MF | ENG | Steve Bushell |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Brett Ormerod |
| 12 | FW | ENG | Mike Newell |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Adam Nowland |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Barry Shuttleworth |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Phil Thompson |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Phil Robinson |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Steve Garvey |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Richard Forsyth |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Paul Beesley |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Phil Barnes |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Wayne Gill |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Darren Connell |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Danny Coid |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Rickie Lambert |
| 26 | FW | ENG | John Murphy |
| 27 | DF | ENG | Gary Ablett |
| 28 | GK | ENG | Adam Rachel |
| 30 | MF | ENG | Kevin Richardson |
| 31 | DF | ENG | Tommy Jaszczun |
| 33 | FW | WAL | James Thomas (on loan from Blackburn Rovers) |
| 34 | DF | WAL | Eifion Jones |
| 35 | MF | ENG | Richie Wellens |
| 36 | DF | ENG | Wayne Maden |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Martin Aldridge (died) |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Marvin Bryan (to Bury) |
| 22 | MF | ENG | David Lee (on loan from Wigan Athletic) |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Rob Matthews (on loan from Stockport County) |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Chris Lumsdon (on loan from Sunderland) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 27 | MF | NIR | Jim Whitley (on loan from Manchester City) |
| 27 | MF | ENG | John Durnin (on loan from Portsmouth) |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Brian Quailey (on loan from West Bromwich) |
| 29 | DF | NIR | Nigel Worthington (player-manager; to Norwich) |
| 32 | FW | JAM | Darren Byfield (on loan from Aston Villa) |
