The 2020–21 Blackpool F.C. season was the club's 112th season in the English Football League, and their fourth-consecutive season in League One, the third tier of the Football League. The season covers the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.
Along with competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup. They were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the first round and the EFL Trophy in the second round. In the third round of the FA Cup, Blackpool defeated Premier League side West Bromwich Albion on penalties, giving the Seasiders a first FA Cup win over top-flight opposition since they beat Burnley 45 years prior. They were knocked out by Brighton in the following round.
The club finished third in League One and won promotion to the EFL Championship via the play-offs after a six-year absence.
It was head coach Neil Critchley's first full season in charge.
Pre-season
On 12 June, the club announced their retained list. Eight players were released: goalkeeping trio Myles Boney, Mark Howard and Christoffer Mafoumbi, defender Sean Graham, midfielders Yusifu Ceesay and Sean Scannell, and forwards Armand Gnanduillet and Owen Watkinson. Club captain Jay Spearing turned down a new contract and also departed.
Goalkeeper Chris Maxwell signed a new two-year contract on 16 June.
On 17 June, head coach Neil Critchley brought in Mike Garrity to be his assistant. Garrity left Liverpool, whose Academy he had been working in since 2007.
Keshi Anderson, a forward, became the first arrival at the club on 29 June.
18-year-old Cameron Antwi signed his first professional contract on 3 July – a one-year deal, with the club having the option to extend for a second year. He had been in the club's academy.
24-year-old centre-back Marvin Ekpiteta joined on a free transfer on 8 July, having let his contract with Leyton Orient run out. He signed a two-year contract, with the club having an option to extend for a further year.
The following day, Montenegrin midfielder Oliver Sarkic signed on a free transfer.
Forward Jerry Yates joined from Rotherham United for an undisclosed fee on 21 July. He was joined the next day by Mansfield Town winger CJ Hamilton, who signed a three-year contract. The club's fifth signing of the close season, the fee was undisclosed.
Forward Ryan Hardie returned to Plymouth Argyle on loan, this time for the season, having had a successful spell there last season. He made the move permanent on 29 January.
Another forward, 16-year-old Tony Weston, joined Rangers on 31 July.
Centre-back Ryan Edwards joined Dundee United on 3 August.
On 6 August, midfielder Ethan Robson signed. He was a free agent, having left Sunderland after sixteen years. Forward Nathan Delfouneso joined Bolton Wanderers, managed by his former Seasiders teammate Ian Evatt, the same day.
Left-back Calum Macdonald joined Tranmere Rovers on a season-long loan on 19 August. He made the move permanent on 1 February.
Another midfielder, Jordan Williams, signed on a free transfer on 24 August. He left to join Ian Evatt's Bolton Wanderers on transfer-deadline day.
On 25 August, former Manchester United Academy goalkeeper Alex Fojtíček joined. He had played a few pre-season friendlies on trial for Blackpool.
On 28 August, forward Adi Yussuf joined Wrexham on a season-long loan. His loan was cut short, with his returning to Bloomfield Road on 1 February, but he went back out on loan the following day, to Chesterfield.
Results
On 8 August, Blackpool made the short trip down the coast to play Southport to kick-off their pre-season campaign — their first fixture in 151 days. Grant Ward opened the scoring in the first half, before further second-half strikes from Sullay Kaikai and debutant pair Keshi Anderson and Jerry Yates sealed a 4–0 victory for Neil Critchley's side.
Seven days later, Blackpool travelled to Vale Park to take on Port Vale. A Sullay Kaikai goal two minutes before half-time was cancelled out early in the second half by Scott Burgess. Keshi Anderson, like Kaikai, scored his second goal of pre-season to restore the visitors' lead.
Barrow visited Bloomfield Road on 18 August. Jordan Thorniley put the hosts ahead on 38 minutes. Dior Angus levelled for David Dunn's men with 20 minutes left, before Matty Virtue restored Blackpool's lead after 81 minutes.