I was at Bloomfield Road when Blackpool played Preston­ and both Finney and Matthews were playing. There was no­ over the top rubbish about 'sworn enemies' in­ those days. I would have known. Both teams were at the­ very top of English football then. It was competitive­ but just another game of football. Both teams were in­ the top half of Division One. Not bad Eh? Blackpool­ were slightly higher, not much in it. I was at the­ corresponding Deepdale match too. Fred Else etc. I­ don't think I really knew what the World Cup was in­ the 50's. Then Alan Ball came along!

Let's get this match out of the way first, Marco,­ it may not need to come to that by then. Your guess is­ as good as mine?

The donkey lashers can expect a similar egyptian style­ welcome if they venture to Deepdale later in the­ season.

Apologies if I seemed dismissive, below, about the­ genuine threat to Hameur and his Algerian team-mates.­ No offence intended, it's great that he is back and­ not injured by those animalistic Egyptian supporters.­ Hopefully, they will receive appropriate punishment and­ not be anywhere near the World Cup next year.
I wrote­ those comments, below, because my priority, as selfish­ as it might seem, is 'progress' by Blackpool.­ It has hit me since sitting in the South Stand at­ Reading last week, how fragile our campaign to reach­ the play offs could become. Hopefully, Hameur will­ strengthen our squad once more and Blackpool will keep­ in touch.
By the way, I am friendly with an Egyptian­ family here in London and I know that they would abhor­ the goings on before the Cairo match.

With respect, Blackpool fans are more interested in the­ antiquities of Ancient Egypt than the behaviour of­ modern day tomb robber yobos. If Hameur does play on­ Monday night will he please make sure that someone­ behind him isn't exposed and all over the place­ with balls coming through Blackpool's defence,­ possibly with a Preston player on the end of it, if you­ know what I mean!