Blackpool Seagulls

Ice hockey team in Blackpool, England

Blackpool Seagulls

City| Blackpool, England
League| British Hockey League
Founded| 1951
Operated| 1951-1993, 2011-present
Home arena| Sub Zero Ice Rink, Cleveleys
Capacity: 400
Ice size: 36m x 22m
Colours|     Blue, orange and white
Head coach| Dave Anthony
Captain| Gary Shearman
Website| www.BlackpoolSeagulls.co.uk

Blackpool Seagulls are an English ice hockey team, founded in 1951, who played at the Pleasure Beach Ice Rink, Blackpool. They folded in 1993.

In 2011, the Seagulls were re-formed as a recreational ice hockey team, playing home games at the Sub Zero Ice Rink in Cleveleys.[1]

## History

[edit]

### Early years

[edit]

The Seagulls were formed in 1951 and played in the Midland Intermediate League from 1951 to 1955. In the 1955–56 season they lost just one match all year.[2] In the 1960s with no official leagues in the UK, "non-league" ice hockey continued with mini-tournaments competed for at the ice rinks of Blackpool, Brighton Tigers, Durham Wasps, Southampton Vikings and Whitley Warriors and also included some teams who did not have a "home ice" at the time such as Harringay Racers, Richmond Flyers and Streatham Redskins.[3]

### Southern League

[edit]

From 1970 to 1978 they played in the Southern League which was then the top-flight ice hockey league in England.[4] Forward Brian Singer was named in the Southern A League, Midland Section, All-Star Team in 1975–76, and goaltender Dave Cartmell won the same honour for two consecutive seasons in 1977–78 and 1978–79.[5]

### English League North

[edit]

When the top flight was split into two regional competitions in 1978 they joined the newly formed English League North. They were the English League North Champions two seasons running – 1980–81 and 1981–82.[4] That season they also played in the English National League which had been revived, though it lasted just the one season. It was also one of the more successful seasons in the club's history as they reached the end-of-season British Championships as winners of the English League North alongside English League South champions, Streatham Redskins as well as the top two Scottish sides – Dundee Rockets and Murrayfield Racers, with the Seagulls game being shown on ITV.[3]

In the 1981–82 four out of the six players in the English League North All-Star team were Blackpool Seagulls players – goal tender Andy Sharples, defenceman Steve Currie and forwards (and twin brothers), Canadians Brian and Bruce Simms.[5]

### British League

[edit]

In 1982 they joined the newly formed British Hockey League (BHL) which had replaced the three top flight regional leagues in the United Kingdom, to form one top-flight league. In 1982–83 they finished second in Section C behind Altrincham Aces.[6]

The Seagulls then joined the newly created second tier of the BHL, the British Hockey League Division One. In their first season in the First Division, 1983–84 they finished in sixth place out of eleven teams.[7] The following season was more successful as the Seagulls finished in third place behind champions Peterborough Pirates and runners-up Solihull Barons.[8]

The 1986–87 season saw the Seagulls finish in the lower half of the Division One table, in 11th out of sixteen teams.[9]

For the 1987–88 season, Division One was split into two regional leagues, each with eight teams. Blackpool were placed in Division One South. However, they had a poor season, ending up in 7th place with only Aviemore Blackhawks, who lost every match they played all season, finishing below them.[10]

### Final years

[edit]

In 1993, ice hockey came to an end in Blackpool after 42 years, because the rink at the Pleasure Beach was considered to be too small to host competitive ice hockey. For a short while the Seagulls name was retained as the club and some of its players moved to the Blackburn Arena. But within a couple of years the Seagulls name was dropped completely.[2]

### Return of the Seagulls

[edit]

In 2011 the Seagulls name was revived, with a recreational team that includes former Seagulls import Dave Anthony, who first played for them in 1984, and with a number of former players in the squad. The Seagulls first home game was played on 25 February, against the UK Firefighters team.[1]

## Honours

[edit]

* English League North champions: 1980–81, 1981–82

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Ice Hockey: Blackpool Seagulls To Soar Once More". best kept secrets. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
2. ^ a b "The Seagull has landed". Blackpool Gazette. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
3. ^ a b Wade, Gordon; Roberts, Stewart. "Ice Hockey History". Ice Hockey Journalists UK. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
4. ^ a b "A-Z Encyclopaedia of Ice Hockey". azhockey.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
5. ^ a b "British All-Star Teams". azhockey.com. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
6. ^ "1982–83 British Hockey League [BHL]". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved 1 November 2008. [dead link]
7. ^ "1983–84 British Hockey League [BHL]". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved 1 November 2008. [dead link]
8. ^ "1984–85 British Hockey League [BHL]". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved 1 November 2008. [dead link]
9. ^ "1986–87 British Hockey League [BHL]". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved 1 November 2008. [dead link]
10. ^ "1987–88 British Hockey League [BHL]". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved 1 November 2008. [dead link]

## Further reading

[edit]

* Harris, Martin C. (1 October 2005). Homes of British Ice Hockey. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0-7524-2581-8.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Blackpool Seagulls at eurohockey.net

* v
* t
* e

Ice hockey in the United Kingdom

Governing bodies|

* English Ice Hockey Association
* Ice Hockey UK
* Northern Ireland Ice Hockey Association
* Scottish Ice Hockey

Elite League|

* Belfast Giants
* Cardiff Devils
* Coventry Blaze
* Dundee Stars
* Fife Flyers
* Glasgow Clan
* Guildford Flames
* Manchester Storm
* Nottingham Panthers
* Sheffield Steelers

National Ice Hockey League|

| National League|

* Basingstoke Bison
* Bees IHC
* Bristol Pitbulls
* Hull Seahawks
* Leeds Knights
* Milton Keynes Lightning
* Peterborough Phantoms
* Raiders
* Sheffield Steeldogs
* Solway Sharks
* Swindon Wildcats
* Telford Tigers

|

North Division 1|

* Billingham Stars
* Blackburn Hawks
* Deeside Dragons
* Nottingham Lions
* Sheffield Scimitars
* Solihull Barons
* Widnes Wild

South Division 1|

* Cardiff Fire
* Chelmsford Chieftains
* Invicta Dynamos
* Milton Keynes Thunder
* Oxford City Stars
* Raiders 2
* Slough Jets
* Solent Devils
* Streatham IHC

North Division 2|

* Altrincham Aces
* Blackburn Hawks 2
* Bradford Bulldogs
* Coventry Blaze NIHL
* Hull Jets
* Nottingham Lions 2
* Sheffield Titans
* Sutton Sting
* Telford Tigers 2

South Division 2|

* Basingstoke Buffalo
* Guildford Phoenix
* Haringey Huskies
* Invicta Mustangs
* Lee Valley Lions
* Peterborough Phantoms 2
* Solent Devils 2
* Streatham Hawks
* Swindon Wildcats 2

Scottish National League|

* Aberdeen Lynx
* Dundee Rockets
* Edinburgh Capitals
* Kilmarnock Storm
* Kirkcaldy Kestrels
* North Ayrshire Wild
* Paisley Pirates
* Solway Sharks (SNL)
* Whitley Warriors

Women's National Ice Hockey League|

| WNIHL Elite|

* Bracknell Queen Bees
* Kingston Diamonds
* Nottingham Vipers
* Solihull Vixens
* Streatham Storm

|

WNIHL Premier|

* Bracknell Firebees
* Cardiff Comets
* Chelmsford Cobras
* Kingston Diamonds B
* Milton Keynes Falcons
* Sheffield Shadows
* Swindon TopCats
* Whitley Squaws

Division 1 North|

* Grimsby Wolves
* Nottingham Vipers B
* Sheffield Shadows B
* Solway Sharks Ladies
* Telford Wrekin Raiders
* Widnes Wild Women

Division 1 South|

* Coventry Phoenix
* Oxford Midnight Stars
* Peterborough Penguins
* Slough Sirens
* Solent Amazons
* Streatham Storm B
* Swindon TopCats B

British University Teams|

* Birmingham Lions
* Bradford Sabres
* Bristol Lions
* Caledonia Steel Queens
* Cambridge University Blues
* Cardiff Redhawks
* Coventry and Warwick Panthers
* Edinburgh Eagles
* Huddersfield Ice Hawks
* Hull Ice Hogs
* Imperial Devils
* Kent Knights
* Leeds Gryphons
* London Dragons
* Manchester Metros
* Newcastle Wildcats
* Northumbria Kings
* Nottingham Mavericks
* Oxford University Ice Hockey Club
* Sheffield Bears
* Southampton Spitfires
* St Andrews Typhoons
* UCL Yetis
* UEA Avalanche

Competitions|

* League Championship
* British Championship
* Challenge Cup
* Ken Taggart Memorial Trophy and Memorial Bowl
* Knockout Cup
* Varsity Match

Player awards|

* Alan Weeks Trophy
* Best British Forward
* British Netminder of the Year
* Coach of the Year Trophy
* Ice Hockey Annual Trophy
* Player of the Year Trophy
* Vic Batchelder Memorial Award

Defunct leagues
and competitions|

* British Ice Hockey Association
* Ahearne Cup
* Autumn Cup
* British Hockey League
* British National League (1954–60)
* British National League (1996–2005)
* English League
* English League North
* English National League
* English National League (1981–82)
* English Premier League
* Ice Hockey Superleague
* Inter-City League
* Northern League
* Northern League
* Scottish National League
* Scottish Premier Hockey League
* Southern League

Defunct teams|

* Aldershot Bullets
* Ayr Bruins
* Ayr Scottish Eagles
* Blackburn Eagles
* Blackpool Seagulls
* Brighton Tigers
* Cardiff Rage
* Castlereagh Knights
* Dumfries Vikings
* Dunfermline Vikings
* Dundee Comets
* Dundee Tigers
* Durham City Wasps
* Durham Wasps
* Earls Court Rangers
* Edinburgh Capitals (SNL)
* Flintshire Freeze
* Fylde Flyers
* Harringay Greyhounds
* Harringay Racers
* Hull Pirates
* Hull Stingrays
* Hull Thunder
* Humberside Seahawks
* Isle of Wight Wildcats
* Kilmarnock Storm
* Lancashire Raptors
* Liverpool Leopards
* London Canadians
* London Lions
* London Knights
* London Racers
* Manchester Minotaurs
* Manchester Phoenix
* Manchester Storm (1995–2002)
* Medway Bears
* Milton Keynes Kings
* Moray Tornadoes
* Murrayfield Racers
* Murrayfield Racers (2018–2022)
* Newcastle Jesters
* Newcastle Vipers
* Niagara Ice Hockey Club
* Oxford Blades
* Peterborough Pirates
* Princes Ice Hockey Club
* Richmond Flyers
* Sheffield Lancers
* Sheffield Scimitars
* Sheffield Spartans
* Slough Jets ENL
* Southampton Vikings
* Stevenage Oilers
* Stevenage Sharks
* Stevenage Strikers
* Sunderland Chiefs
* Swindon TopCats B
* TDC Northern Stars
* Telford Tigers ENL
* Telford Titans
* Wembley Lions
* Wembley Monarchs
* Wightlink Buccaneers
* Wightlink Raiders
* Wightlink Tigers

Miscellaneous|

* Great Britain men's national ice hockey team
* Great Britain women's national ice hockey team
* British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame
* Ice Hockey Journalists UK

Related
IIHF
IIHF Continental Cup
IIHF European Champions Cup

* v
* t
* e

Culture and infrastructure of Blackpool

Health|

* Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
* Miners' Convalescent Home
* Trinity Hospice
* Victoria Hospital

History|

* Shipwrecks
* Abana
* HMS Foudroyant
* Riverdance
* Sirene
* Blackpool Heritage Trams

Media|

* Blackpool Gazette
* Radio Wave 96.5
* Greatest Hits Radio Lancashire

Politics|

* Council
* Council elections
* 2000
* 03
* 07
* 11
* 15

* Constituencies: Blackpool North
* By-election: 1962
* Blackpool North and Cleveleys
* Blackpool North and Fleetwood
* Blackpool South
* North Lancashire
* By-elections: 1874
* 78
* 85

Sport|

* A.F.C. Blackpool
* Blackpool Borough
* Blackpool Cricket Club
* Blackpool F.C.
* Blackpool Panthers
* Blackpool Sea Eagles
* Blackpool Seagulls
* Blackpool Wren Rovers F.C.
* Northern Rail Nines
* Squires Gate F.C.
* 2015 World Seniors Championship

Transport|

* Blackpool Airport
* Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad
* Blackpool branch lines
* Blackpool Electric Tramway Company
* Blackpool Tramway
* Blackpool Transport
* British NorthWest Airlines
* English Electric Balloon
* Flexity 2
* Flykeen Airways
* List of tram stops
* Preston and Wyre Joint Railway

Railway stations|

* Blackpool North
* Blackpool Pleasure Beach
* Blackpool South
* Layton

Disused stations|

* Blackpool Central
* South Shore

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template