AFC Blackpool

AFC Blackpool is a non-league football club based in the Squires Gate suburb of the Lancashire resort that was formed in 1947 originally as Blackpool Metal Mechanics FC, playing in local competition.

The club began life playing their home matches at Stanley Park Arena next to the town's cricket club in Division Two of the Fylde District Football League, moving to their new home which would later become Jepson Way in tribute to long serving secretary Walter Jepson as their title was shortened to Blackpool Mechanics FC.

The team won promotion to Division One in 1950-51, going on to become champions twice and runners-up three times in five consecutive seasons between 1953-54 and 1957-58. The club made the move to join the West Lancashire League in 1959.

After ending as the competition runners-up in 1959-60 and then champions in 1960-61 and 1961-62, ‘The Mechs’ progressed to the Lancashire Combination three years later. He team ended as league runners-up in 1974-75.

The Mechs became founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982, finishing as Division Three champions in 1985-86. A further promotion followed in 1991-92. However, Division One proved too tough with Blackpool going back down a level twelve months later.

Mechanics former badge

Mechanics continued in the second tier without any real hope of promotion or threat of relegation under manager and former player Stuart Parker. Meanwhile, just long the coast Lytham St Annes FC won the West Lancashire League Division One title in 2004-05.

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 were required to give approval for the move, which they did, offering support along the way.

Parker returned as manager in 2007 after a couple of years away, taking the side to the Division One title in 2010-11 and then steadying in the Premier Division before dropping back down a the end of the 2015-16 campaign.

Dave Worthington took over as manager in May 2017 with Parker moving to the role of chairman. Martin Baird was appointed as manager in December 2018 after the club had been placed in Division One North following league restructuring.

AFC were in second place when the 2019-20 campaign ended early owing to the outbreak of Coronavirus and then mid-table in 2020-21 when play was halted again, with Baird departing in October 2021 before returning a month later.

The side went on to reach the playoffs in 2021-22, losing in the semifinals to Golcar United on penalties. This was backed up by a midtable place twelve months later.

AFC Blackpool will play in the North West Counties League Division One North in the 2024-25 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.

Having been to Wren Rovers and Squires Gate it now time to take 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. Jepson Way had small covered areas behind both goals and seated stands facing each other across the pitch.

One had 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 if ever required.

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 further up the coast.