At the termination of the 1990/91 season, Blackpool made the play-offs with a fifth-placed finish. After defeating Scunthorpe United in the two-legged semi-final, they met Torquay at Wembley, but their promotion dream was ended by a 5-4 shoot-out defeat. This upset came six months after Graham Carr was sacked as manager to be replaced by Billy Ayre.

A year later, Blackpool came back to Wembley for another playoff final match. This time they drew 1-1 with Scunthorpe, forcing another penalty shoot-out. And this time they got it right with a 4-3 win on penalties.

Blackpool were original members of the new Division Two in August 1992, following the creation of the FA Premier League. They narrowly avoided relegation over the next two seasons before chairman Owen Oyston decided it was time for a change and sacked Ayre. Ayre's replacement, in July 1994, was Sam Allardyce.

1994 - 1998

In Allardyce's second campaign in charge, 1995-96, he guided the team to a third-place finish in Division Two, but he was sacked after they lost to eventual playoff winners Bradford in the semi-finals.

Sam Allardyce's successor was Gary Megson, and it was during Megson's brief reign that Blackpool had a taste of the big time again when Premiership outfit Chelsea, then managed by the former Dutch star Ruud Gullit, came to Bloomfield Road for a League Cup second round, first leg match on September 18, 1996. Although the Seasiders took the lead through James Quinn's first-minute strike, the Blues won 4-1, with goals by Jody Morris, Dan Petrescu, Mark Hughes and John Spencer. Blackpool won the return leg at Stamford Bridge 3-1 (a double by Tony Ellis and one from Quinn), but Spencer's 63rd-minute goal edged the tie 5-4 on aggregate in Chelsea's favour.

Nigel Worthington was appointed manager for the 1997-98 season, replacing Stockport-bound Megson, but was relieved of his position two years later with Blackpool heading for relegation to Division Three.

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Full name Blackpool Football Club
Nickname(s) 'Pool, The Seasiders, The Tangerines
Founded 1877
Ground Bloomfield Road
Capacity 11,295
Chairman Karl Oyston
Manager Simon Grayson
League League One
2005-06 League One, 19th