COLIN ALLAN RECALLS WHEN THE SEASIDERS SHONE ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE...

Crav-ing success: Overjoyed Blackpool skipper John Craven holds the Anglo-Italian Cup aloft after their extra-time win against Bologna

YOU could forgive the small band of Blackpool supporters for questioning reality.Their recently-relegated team were about to contest the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup in front of a bumper crowd at Bologna’s Stadio Renato Dall’ Ara in June 1971.
The Anglo-Italian Cup was a close season competition which took place annually between 1970 and 1973. It did, however, re-emerg...