Ex-Blackpool player of the year shares standout memory from Bloomfield Road stint

Blackpool Gazette

Liam Feeney reflects on his time with Blackpool.

Transcript

00:00So Liam, back at Bloomfield Road, how much did you enjoy that?

00:03I loved it, yeah, like all times, yeah, I've missed it.

00:06Good day out for a good cause, and yeah, good game, good run out.

00:10How much did you enjoy your time with the club?

00:11Of course, you've got name play of the year, one of the seasons you was here,

00:14so yeah, good memories?

00:15Yeah, yeah, really good memories.

00:17Obviously, I was here when the transition happened,

00:19and I remember that changeover and how the club sort of transformed in that moment,

00:23and, you know, got to see the best of the club, really.

00:27Yeah, glad to have left.

00:28But yeah, really enjoyed my time here, it was great, the fans were great,

00:32loved playing here, and yeah, thankful I got player of the year, one of the years.

00:36You mentioned seeing the best, but obviously before that you saw the dark days,

00:39so what was that kind of like, you know, playing in a stadium with the fans,

00:42you know, did it turn up, the fans boycotted?

00:45Yeah, it was strange, you know, because I'd played against Blackpool previously,

00:48like, you know, in a championship, and, like, the place was rocking,

00:51and then it got to a point, obviously then, as a club,

00:54went through sort of tough times that it was strange,

00:57it wasn't the club that I'd expected from playing against them, you know,

01:00and it was weird.

01:03But then, when the changeover happened, it was, like, straightaway, it was like,

01:06wow, yeah, this is what I remember, that day, Southend, was sort of, like, crazy day.

01:11How much of a connection could you get with the fans in your early days?

01:14Like, were there any, like, any social media comments, like,

01:16or speaking to fans around the stadium?

01:19Was there any interaction?

01:20Not much, to be honest, it was difficult.

01:24Obviously, the fans that were coming were obviously not happy with their current ownership,

01:29so it was a, yeah, it was a strange time,

01:31but, you know, the players, we just tried to do our best,

01:34and, you know, obviously, like I said, when the change happened,

01:37it just all come together, and we just felt like it was everyone,

01:39the club was pulling in the same direction.

01:40Yeah, I suppose, you know, being there that day, seeing everyone come back,

01:44it must have been, it made it even more special by the fact you'd seen the lowest points.

01:47Yeah, yeah, definitely, and then, you know, the club's only just kept on and on and on,

01:51and, frankly, we've got promotion, like, a year or two later,

01:55so, yeah, hopefully they can do it again this year,

01:57come back a bit stronger, and be in and around the mix for the championship next year.

02:01I suppose you're in the greatest position to say the difference fans make,

02:04especially the fans here at Bloomfield Road.

02:06Yeah, yeah, it is, people often say he's sort of that 12th man,

02:09but, you know, a place like this, when it's rocking on a Saturday,

02:12it's some place to go, and it's intimidating for opposition fans,

02:15you know, both ends, you feel like, as an away player,

02:18you feel like the ball's being sort of sucked in your neck

02:20when the fans are behind the goal, pulling it in, you know,

02:22so, yeah, that's what I would always say to the fans, like,

02:25trust me, it's noted and felt by the players, for a fact.

02:28Being able to get back often, or is this one of the rare visits?

02:31No, I'm here a lot, I'm here a lot, a couple of times a month.

02:35I come to a lot of home games, so, yeah, I do come and watch,

02:38and keep track, I've still got some friends that play for Blackpool as well,

02:40so, yeah, no, I'm here all the time.

02:42Is that as a fan, are you getting involved?

02:44No, I'm doing agency work now, so, yeah, so,

02:48it's obviously one of my old clubs, my old stomping ground,

02:50so, yeah, I'm always here, I've been here numerous times this season already,

02:54or the last season, so, yeah, more to come.

02:56And watch, do you enjoy the agency side of things?

02:57Yeah, it's going well, it's going well, it's a new industry,

03:00but in the same industry, so, yeah, it's a lot of learning,

03:03and, but, yeah, I'm just trying to pass on some knowledge

03:06and some experience and help the younger boys, so, yeah, it's going well,

03:08I'm enjoying it.

03:09Is it about taking your own experiences

03:10and what you would have wanted as a player from an agent

03:13and offering that to others?

03:14Yeah, for sure, I think that the, sort of, industry's changing a little bit

03:17and players need a little bit more support,

03:19and what better, I think, from someone that's, sort of, lived it and done it

03:22and, you know, can pass on that experience,

03:24so, that's what I'm trying to do.

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