| Whether you're the sporty type who loves
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| | Meanwhile, for a casual kick-about with a
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| to compete or are more of a spectator who
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| | few friends, Blackpool boasts more than
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| enjoys the vicarious thrill of watching
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| | 80 public parks that are perfect for just
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| competition, Blackpool has a lot to offer
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| | such an occasion.
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| you.
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| | One of the best parks is Stanley Park,
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| Blackpool has many sports centres that
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| | one of the most beautiful parks in
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| promote sports like football, darts,
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| | Blackpool which stretches to over 256
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| cricket or badminton as well as a few
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| | acres of scenic parkland. Not only does
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| football pitches, junior teams and a
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| | it have lots of space for football, it
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| Coca-Cola League Division side.
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| | also has its own cafe where players can
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| The Blackpool Sports Centre on West Drive
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| | grab a quick drink to freshen up.
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| is one of the town's most popular sports
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| | Anyone can see that the spirit of sport
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| venues. It provides facilities for
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| | is alive and well in Blackpool every time
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| football, volleyball, basketball,
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| | the city's professional football team,
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| badminton, indoor hockey, wall climbing,
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| | the Blackpool FC aka the Tangerines,
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| martial arts and netball.
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| | compete, with throngs of boisterous fans
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| Blackpool has two public swimming pools
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| | coming out to cheer them on.
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| for those who prefer to do their
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| | The Tangerines were formed in 1887 but
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| exercising in the water. These are the
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| | did not get to play in the football
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| Lido Pool on Lytham Road and the Moor
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| | league until 1903. They toiled in the
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| Park Swimming Pool on Bristol Avenue. On
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| | second division for many years, during
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| the other hand, if it's a weekend and you
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| | which time the club was often saddled by
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| have the kids in tow, perhaps the venue
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| | debts while only a few loyal supporters
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| of choice for water fun is the Sandcastle
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| | cheered them on.
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| Waterworld on the Promenade. It has a
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| | Blackpool FC finally got its big break in
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| number of popular water slides and a wave
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| | 1929-30 when it was promoted to Division
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| pool.
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| | One as champions. However, they would
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| With an eight-rink bowling stadium, the
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| | only stay there for three brief seasons
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| Blackpool Borough Indoor Bowls Centre on
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| | before falling back to the second
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| Larkhill Street is the ideal venue for
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| | division. Their next breakthrough would
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| crown green bowling, whether it's for
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| | come in 1936-37 when they would once
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| competitive team matches or laid-back
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| | again climb up to Division One. This
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| family fun.
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| | time, they would remain among the top
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| If golf is your game, Blackpool has a
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| | tier teams for the next 25 years.
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| number of top-flight golf clubs that are
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| | After World War II, Blackpool FC would
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| certain to capture your fancy. The two
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| | sign sensational striker Stanley
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| most popular ones are the North Shore
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| | Matthews, nicknamed The Wizard of the
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| Golf Club and the Fleetwood Golf Club,
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| | Dribble for his skill at soccer, and he
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| both 18-hole 71 par courses. Casual
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| | would lead them to great prosperity and
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| golfers will enjoy the 18-hole Stanley
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| | success. The number of Blackpool FC
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| Park Golf Course.
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| | supporters ballooned during this time.
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| Blackpool also has its own elite cricket
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| | Blackpool FC would reach the pinnacle of
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| team that competes in the Northern
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| | their success in 1953 when they won the
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| Premier League against the likes of
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| | FA Cup final at Wembley via a 4-3 victory
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| Fleetwood, Barrow and Lancaster. That's
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| | over Bolton Wanderers. What made the win
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| the Blackpool Cricket Club which is based
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| | even more thrilling is that the
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| at Stanley Park.
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| | Tangerines had to climb back from 0-2
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| Darts is also a major sport in Blackpool,
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| | down to win the cup. Since then, that
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| especially since the town hosts the
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| | game has been immortalized as the
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| prestigious Stan James World Matchplay
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| | "Matthews Final" in honor of Stanley
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| Darts Championship every year. Held
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| | Matthews' role in the match.
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| traditionally at the Empress Ballroom in
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| | With Matthews as the Tangerines' driving
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| the Winter Gardens, the competition
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| | force, Blackpool FC became of the most
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| brings together the 32 top professional
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| | popular teams in the league, both for
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| dart players in the world who vie for
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| | home and away games. In fact, for three
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| over £100,000 in prize money. The Stan
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| | seasons - 1950-51, 1954-55 and 1955-56 -
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| James World Matchplay Darts Championship
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| | the Tangerines were the most popular
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| draws in huge crowds to the Empress
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| | visiting team in the UK. About 40,000
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| Ballroom and is televised live to
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| | fans on average watched their games
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| countless people worldwide via satellite.
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| | during that time.
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| Of course, one of the most popular games
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| | Unfortunately, in 1966-67, Blackpool was
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| in town is football. The Blackpool Sports
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| | relegated back to Division Two and the
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| Centre is a favourite venue for friendly
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| | period that followed has been marked by
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| five-a-side games. The venue has a sports
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| | highs and lows. The team now plays in the
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| arena and an all-weather outdoor pitch.
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| | Coca Cola League Division One.
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