The 2010–11 season was Blackpool F.C.s debut season in the Premier League, after winning the 2009–10 Championship play-off final in what was their 99th consecutive season in the Football League. It was also their 28th overall season in English football's top tier, but their first since 1971. It was Ian Holloway's second season as manager. The club finished 19th and were relegated back to the Championship.
Season summary The talk during the build-up to the new season was mainly centred around the club's lack of activity in the transfer market. Indeed, 81 days passed between the play-off final and the first arrivals at Bloomfield Road for the forthcoming season. After the release of five players, plus the sale of Ben Burgess to Notts County and the forced retirement of Stephen McPhee, coupled with the departure of the five loan players who finished the 2009–10 campaign at the club, Ian Holloway had just fifteen senior players at his disposal."Barclays Premier League kicks off on 14 August" – BBC Sport On 11 August, however, the club replaced those five players with a quintet of new faces."Blackpool sign quintent ahead of Premier League debut" – BBC Sport A sixth, Chris Basham from Bolton Wanderers, followed two days later."Blackpool sign Chris Basham from Bolton Wanderers" – BBC Sport
On 18 August, Israeli international centre-back Dekel Keinan was finally able to complete a deal that was set up earlier in the close season, after receiving his work permit. He arrived on a free transfer, but he left the club for Cardiff City in the January transfer window.
Several players, including Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Jason Euell and Charlie Adam, kept the squad number assigned to them for the 2009–10 season despite their number not falling inside the traditional 1 to 11. Paul Rachubka retained the number 1 shirt despite being second choice to Matthew Gilks the previous campaign and the start of the new one.
On 1 September, the club submitted their squad (of 24, not the maximum 25) to the Premier League.
Pre-season In July, Blackpool partook in the pre-season South West Challenge Cup, in Devon, and won the competition.
Season proper
Following an opening-day 4–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on 14 August,"Wigan 0 – 4 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 14 August 2010 a result that briefly put them top of the entire English football pyramid for the first time since the opening day of the 1957–58 season, Blackpool earned the League Managers Association's "Performance of the Week Award".
Seven days later, they suffered their first defeat, 6–0 at Arsenal. Theo Walcott opened the scoring on twelve minutes. Just after the half-hour mark, Ian Evatt brought down Marouane Chamakh inches outside the penalty area, but the referee, Mike Jones, awarded a penalty and dismissed the Blackpool defender. Andrei Arshavin doubled the Gunners lead from the spot. Walcott netted his second of the half to make it 3–0 at the break. Abou Diaby made it 4–0 four minutes after the restart, and Walcott completed his hat-trick inside an hour. Chamakh completed the scoring with seven minutes remaining. The result saw Blackpool drop to tenth place in the table."Arsenal 6 – 0 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 21 August 2010
On 24 August, Blackpool were knocked out of the League Cup in the second round by MK Dons."MK Dons 4 – 3 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 24 August 2010
Three days later, Luke Varney joined Blackpool on a season-long loan from Derby County, with a view to a permanent deal. Varney scored on his debut in the following day's fixture: a 2–2 draw with Fulham at Bloomfield Road, in what was the first-ever Premier League game played at the ground.Blackpool 2 – Fulham – BBC Sport
As the first transfer window of the season came to a close, four players were added to the squad. On deadline day itself, Matt Phillips arrived from Wycombe Wanderers for a £325,000 fee. The same day, the club tied-up the deal that had been hinted at since the end of the previous campaign. DJ Campbell, whose hat-trick in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Nottingham Forest helped put Blackpool in the final, was signed on a permanent basis after his two loan spells during the 2009–10 campaign. On 1 September, the Seasiders also finalised deals with Australian midfielder David Carney and Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Kingson, giving Ian Holloway thirty available players to work with until January.
After a two-week international break, Blackpool returned to Premier League duty on 11 September with a visit to Newcastle United. A penalty from Charlie Adam just before half-time was the difference until DJ Campbell, with his first goal as a permanent Blackpool player, scored in injury time to seal the Tangerines second Premier League victory in four games. The result put them fourth in the table, behind Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United."Newcastle 0 – 2 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 11 September 2010
Eight days later, they made their second trip to the capital in a month, where they faced Chelsea. Salomon Kalou opened the scoring for the hosts inside two minutes, and ten minutes later Florent Malouda doubled the lead. Didier Drogba made it 3–0 on the half-hour, before Malouda netted his second four minutes before the break to complete the scoring."Chelsea 4–0 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 19 September 2010
On 25 September, Blackpool faced Blackburn Rovers at Bloomfield Road in only their second home Premier League game of the opening six. The fixture saw Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce's first return to the club since his sacking fourteen years earlier. Charlie Adam gave Rovers the lead with an own-goal after twenty minutes, and that is how the score remained until the 85th, when Matt Phillips equalised one minute after coming on as substitute for Neal Eardley. Brett Emerton scored the winner for Rovers three minutes into injury time."Blackpool 1–2 Blackburn" – BBC Sport, 25 September 2010
Eight days later, Blackpool faced Liverpool at Anfield for the first time in a league game since 9 January 1971. Charlie Adam put the visitors ahead with a 29th-minute penalty after Luke Varney was felled by Glen Johnson. It was Varney himself who doubled Blackpool's lead in first-half injury time. Sotirios Kyrgiakos gave the hosts hope with a header on 53 minutes, but the Seasiders held on for their third victory in seven Premier League outings."Liverpool 1–2 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 3 October 2010
After another international break, Blackpool played only their third home Premier League match of the season, against Manchester City. Carlos Tevez put the visitors ahead after 67 minutes. Marlon Harewood, on as substitute for Elliot Grandin, restored parity with his first goal at Bloomfield Road as a Blackpool player. Tevez put City ahead again after 79 minutes, before David Silva extended the lead in the final minute. Gary Taylor-Fletcher pulled one back three minutes into injury time, but Roberto Mancini's side held on for the three points."Blackpool 2–3 Man City" – BBC Sport, 17 October 2010
On 23 October, Blackpool faced Birmingham City at St Andrew's. Liam Ridgewell put the Blues ahead after 34 minutes. A Charlie Adam error inside the visitors' six-yard box allowed Nikola Žigić to double their lead just before the hour mark, and that is how the score remained. It was Blackpool's fourth defeat in five Premier League games."Birmingham 2–0 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 23 October 2010
Blackpool obtained their fourth Premier League victory on 1 November with a 2–1 result against West Bromwich Albion at Bloomfield Road. It was their first home win of the campaign. The visitors were reduced to nine men inside half an hour. Charlie Adam, with his third league goal of the season, put Blackpool ahead from the penalty spot on twelve minutes. Luke Varney doubled the lead just after the hour mark, also his third of the campaign, before the Baggies scored what proved to be a consolation goal six minutes from time. The result moved Blackpool up to ninth in the table."Blackpool 2–1 West Brom" – BBC Sport, 1 November 2010
Everton were the visitors to Bloomfield Road on 6 November. Neal Eardley gave the Tangerines the lead with a free-kick on ten minutes. It was his first goal for the Seasiders since his move from Oldham Athletic at the start of the previous season. David Moyes' men hit back three minutes later with a header from Tim Cahill. Blackpool re-took the lead three minutes into the second half via David Vaughan, with his first goal of the season. The lead, once again, lasted only a few minutes. Séamus Coleman, making his first appearance against Blackpool since he helped the club to promotion during his loan spell the previous season, stroked the ball under the body of Matthew Gilks. It was his first League goal for the Toffees. With a point, Blackpool dropped two places to eleventh."Blackpool 2–2 Everton" – BBC Sport, 6 November 2010
Four days later, Blackpool travelled to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa. Ian Holloway made ten changes to the team that faced Everton, with only Keith Southern retaining his place. Richard Kingson was given a debut in goal, and there was a rare start for club captain Jason Euell. Villa opened the scoring just before the half-hour through Stewart Downing. Marlon Harewood put Blackpool level in first-half injury time, his fourth of the Premier League campaign. Nathan Delfouneso restored Villa's lead on the hour mark, but three minutes from time, substitute DJ Campbell found the net for the first time in two months to level the score again. Two minutes later, however, James Collins scored what proved to be the winner. The defeat, their third in five games, saw Blackpool slip two places to fourteenth."Aston Villa 3–2 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 10 November 2010
West Ham United were the opposition on 13 November. In front of a crowd of 31,000 at Upton Park, the two teams held out for a goalless draw, a result that dropped Blackpool a place in the table to fifteenth. Blackpool goalkeeper Matthew Gilks injured his patella during the match, and was replaced by Richard Kingson. Gilks subsequently missed much of the remainder of the season. After stirring-up controversy with his team selection in the previous match, Ian Holloway made eleven changes to the team that started against Aston Villa."West Ham 0–0 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 13 November 2010
Seven days later, Wolverhampton Wanderers visited the seaside. In front of the watching Prince William, Luke Varney put the Tangerines ahead with a "spectacular""Blackpool 2–1 Wolves" – BBC Sport, 20 November 2010 long-range volley. Marlon Harewood doubled their lead just before half-time. It was Harewood's fifth league goal of the season, and made him the club's top scorer. Kevin Doyle pulled one back for Wolves in the final minutes, but Blackpool held on for the victory. The three points moved the Seasiders up four places to eleventh.
November was closed out with a short trip to the Reebok Stadium to face Bolton Wanderers. Ian Evatt opened his account for the season with a header from Elliot Grandin's 28th-minute corner. Luke Varney doubled the visitors' lead twelve minutes into the second half with his fifth League goal of the season, which made him the club's joint-top scorer with Marlon Harewood. Martin Petrov volleyed home a reply for Bolton on 76 minutes. With one minute to go, Mark Davies completed the hosts' comeback. The match finished 2–2, a result that lifted Blackpool two places to tenth."Bolton 2–2 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 27 November 2010
After a two-week break due to their scheduled home fixture against Manchester United being postponed due to a frozen Bloomfield Road pitch, Blackpool travelled to Stoke City on 11 December. DJ Campbell's third goal of the season on 48 minutes proved to be the winner. The result moved the visitors up to ninth in the table, but they dropped one place by the end of the day."Stoke City 0–1 Blackpool" – BBC Sport, 11 December 2010