Lincoln City and Blackpool have shared a long and often one-sided rivalry, a fixture that has given us moments of resolve and moments we would rather forget.
Across league and cup, there have been more than one hundred meetings, and Bloomfield Road has rarely been kind to City.
Head-to-head v Blackpool
| Competition | Lincoln wins | Draws | Blackpool wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| League | 12 | 11 | 33 |
| Cup | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FA Cup | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 13 | 11 | 36 |
Recent meetings
Our last trip to Blackpool was October 2024, and it produced a dramatic 1-1 draw. It was goalless at the break, then swung sharply on 70 minutes when Adam Jackson received a second yellow card. Blackpool went ahead soon after through Kyle Joseph. Even so, City showed great resolve, and Tom Hamer struck a 90th-minute equaliser to earn a point. CJ Hamilton created problems throughout for the hosts, and City collected bookings for Darikwa, Erhahon, and McGrandles, making the comeback even more impressive.
New Year’s Day 2024 saw us beaten 2-0 at Bloomfield Road, with Oliver Casey scoring on 29 minutes and CJ Hamilton adding a second deep into stoppage time. Although City had more of the ball, Blackpool’s efficiency in the final third proved decisive. In truth, this was the nadir of the post-Kennedy, early Skubala era.
A few months earlier, on 26 August 2023, we recorded a superb 3-0 home win, one of the standout performances of that early period of the season. That victory helped maintain momentum in the early weeks, even though the away meeting in January reversed the trend.
The 2020-21 season included two of the series’ most dramatic encounters. The play-off final at Wembley ended in a 2-1 defeat for City after a missed opportunity early on and a spirited but unsuccessful push late in the game.
The league match at Bloomfield Road that season is remembered far more fondly. City came from behind to win 3-2. Grant equalised from the penalty spot, then scored a second penalty after Blackpool had James Husband sent off. Lewis Montsma headed a late winner to complete a superb away day. CJ Hamilton and Demetri Mitchell scored for Blackpool, but their red card swung the game firmly toward City.
In 2019-20, Sincil Bank hosted a 1-0 City win in January sealed by Tyler Walker, though earlier that season we lost 2-1 away. Sean Scannell and Jordan Thompson scored early for Blackpool in that match, and Jack Payne pulled one back for City, but we could not force an equaliser.
That was Michael Appleton’s first game in charge, coming just days after we’d been stuffed 6-0 by Oxford at the Bank.
Several trips to Bloomfield Road during this period followed familiar patterns. On 20 February 1999, City claimed one of our best away results in the fixture, winning 1-0 through an 81st-minute goal from Paul Miller. It was a hard-working performance built on defensive organisation.
In February 2001, we lost 2-0 away with Dan Shittu and John Murphy scoring. That season did include a home draw and a Football League Trophy win, yet Blackpool remained strong on their ground.
Pre 1970
The early decades of the rivalry were dominated by Blackpool, especially in Lancashire. Heavy defeats such as 5-0 in 1910 and 6-0 in 1919 showed how tough the away trips were. City did claim isolated successes at Sincil Bank, including a 3-0 win in 1901 and a 1-0 win in 1912-13, but the away record remained sparse.
Bloomfield Road, before the Second World War, consistently presented problems for City. Even when we battled to draws, such as the 2-2 in February 1934, Blackpool usually proved the stronger side. Across the early 20th century, the fixture offered few bright moments for City on the road, though it built the foundation for a rivalry that continues today.
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