This day 15th November 1986 Boro 3 Blackpool 0

[erimus74]

In the FAC 1st round, the last time we played a 1st round FAC tie was 20 years previous, away to Chester City on the 26th November 1966, John O'Rourke scored a hat trick that day as Boro won 5-2

Boro won this game with a Bernie Slaven hat trick, his 1st for the Boro, our 1st after liquidation & our 1st FAC hat trick since David Mills bagged 3 at home to Arsenal on the 26th February 1977

It was the 85th HT at AP, with Bernie becoming the 44th different Boro player to score a treble, our 15th FAC hat trick & 118th overall

This win gained sweet revenege on Blackpool who, in October, became the 1st team to beat us in the league that season when beating us 3-1 at Ayresome Park.

Match attendance 11,205

Bruce's team

Stephen Pears
Brian Laws
Colin Cooper
Tony Mowbray
Gary Parkinson
Gary Pallister
Bernie Slaven
Archie Stephens
Alan Kernaghan
Gary Gill
Stuart Ripley

Great, great days indeed

In 2006 I attended the 20 year anniversary dinner.
Colin Cooper, along with Tony Mowbray, was one of the speakers & one comment he said which rang out so true, 'We didn't know what we had till it was gone'

It was such a special period for players & fans alike, whoever was part of that journey will never forget it, such a special period for players & fans alike

[Gboro64]

Probably my favourite ever season. From almost not having a club to winning promotion was unreal. I didn't miss a game home or away that season and remember some great away trips Newport, Rotherham, Brentford,Bury,Chester. I also remember some of the defeats away at Walsall, Chesterfield, York, Bournemouth.
The two Darlo games were great occasions with Archie winning it for us there and Alan Roberts scoring for tham at AP to earn them a point.

[John Trebor]

Good memories 👍
It was after that Blackpool game I really started to believe.

[Kippers]

I was in the Blackpool end for the league game that season.
 I had moved to Blackpool as a kid 7 year earlier and thought it would be a good day out with Blackpool pals.
  What a fucking nightmare.

[markmywords]

Was at both games. Blackpool were excellent and deservedly beat us in the first game. Really thought they would finish the season above us afterwards. How things can change in a few weeks though, totally outplayed them in the cup game and also went on to win the return league game 1-0. Archie Stevens scoring a header from a Parky free kick in front of a packed Boro end.