![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7CO25I4WGXTSFTU4NUMO5DOYGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=20c9d1b7261b772c4259fa2d1e1bab0fd8eec28536c2bd97d20a83df09459637&width=400&height=225)
AFC Fylde’s new 2,000 seater main stand. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5RUAQZXAAGK3S6GA6OC3TUAEKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=49807ca3ef013846c56f836eec0081d8e2cb6bdca5b53cae18a7c0c0d1b4fffd&width=400&height=225)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTSCDYZVUKAIIK4SPKP2JSYI2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=53cd6c82565c7b2f6076022d8883ac1b7040ec92b6034e3b9a826abccc2ae7f2&width=400&height=225)
Gary Taylor-Fletcher, then the Blackpool striker, reacts on the day of their relegation in 2011 after a loss to Manchester United.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3SDT4QOVQ4DAIR2BIT6R56XVJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=39c5dde7a50523cf26596881a08ebbcf6ee4882054ea4ff7918cdcafede8c5c8&width=400&height=225)
Fleetwood’s £4 million main stand rises about the nearby housing. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NULWLXWZNMBAGPCBZ26GI6QZMQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e84d281825fa7ef29bef02e243a5abfb7c629a32c1f4fc32fff727f0e6c9426&width=400&height=225)
Tenor Alfie Boe sings the English national anthem as the players and Fleetwood’s mascot Captain Cod look on. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KEUPRTBJTGCSGT2DOESHF5JOAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=adf963cc4c9a8d1b08d5312d7a16235a42c29cbd51bf45fb9c6ec98033e4a97c&width=400&height=225)
Andy Pilley, the 46-year-old businessman behind Fleetwood’s rise. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q4TJUGKILXR6AYWFNEOAER2KPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=258362127643a28fc372fb0cb3f3d7b636f785ec708c6855d24412119fe324b0&width=400&height=225)
Gretar Steinsson, the former Icelandic international and Premier League footballer who is now Fleetwood’s technical director. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CF5MB4YLO7ALC7M3AW2KOZ3AOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f492ae1ce4b8b75e4e365e4e89bdeab249c03efd21ef97264cf4d8e2acbeee8e&width=400&height=225)
AFC Fylde’s new 2,000 seater main stand. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7CO25I4WGXTSFTU4NUMO5DOYGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=20c9d1b7261b772c4259fa2d1e1bab0fd8eec28536c2bd97d20a83df09459637&width=400&height=225)
AFC Fylde’s new 2,000 seater main stand. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5RUAQZXAAGK3S6GA6OC3TUAEKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=49807ca3ef013846c56f836eec0081d8e2cb6bdca5b53cae18a7c0c0d1b4fffd&width=400&height=225)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTSCDYZVUKAIIK4SPKP2JSYI2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=53cd6c82565c7b2f6076022d8883ac1b7040ec92b6034e3b9a826abccc2ae7f2&width=400&height=225)
Gary Taylor-Fletcher, then the Blackpool striker, reacts on the day of their relegation in 2011 after a loss to Manchester United.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3SDT4QOVQ4DAIR2BIT6R56XVJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=39c5dde7a50523cf26596881a08ebbcf6ee4882054ea4ff7918cdcafede8c5c8&width=400&height=225)
Fleetwood’s £4 million main stand rises about the nearby housing. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NULWLXWZNMBAGPCBZ26GI6QZMQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e84d281825fa7ef29bef02e243a5abfb7c629a32c1f4fc32fff727f0e6c9426&width=400&height=225)
Tenor Alfie Boe sings the English national anthem as the players and Fleetwood’s mascot Captain Cod look on. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KEUPRTBJTGCSGT2DOESHF5JOAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=adf963cc4c9a8d1b08d5312d7a16235a42c29cbd51bf45fb9c6ec98033e4a97c&width=400&height=225)
Andy Pilley, the 46-year-old businessman behind Fleetwood’s rise. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q4TJUGKILXR6AYWFNEOAER2KPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=258362127643a28fc372fb0cb3f3d7b636f785ec708c6855d24412119fe324b0&width=400&height=225)
Gretar Steinsson, the former Icelandic international and Premier League footballer who is now Fleetwood’s technical director. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CF5MB4YLO7ALC7M3AW2KOZ3AOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f492ae1ce4b8b75e4e365e4e89bdeab249c03efd21ef97264cf4d8e2acbeee8e&width=400&height=225)
AFC Fylde’s new 2,000 seater main stand. Andy Mitten for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7CO25I4WGXTSFTU4NUMO5DOYGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=20c9d1b7261b772c4259fa2d1e1bab0fd8eec28536c2bd97d20a83df09459637&width=400&height=225)
AFC Fylde’s new 2,000 seater main stand. Andy Mitten for The National
Blackpool, the demise of a club and the rise of its replacements Fleetwood Town and AFC Fylde
![Andy Mitten](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fca636888-7403-4841-a383-5ce6cc29b5aa.png?smart=true&auth=ebd777e2b441f819401f9dee171fc4f3f13859817c837f95882998414722e0b9&width=70&height=70)
Andy Mitten
04 October, 2016
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic