The last meaningful match between West Ham and Blackpool came in an FA Cup third-round game 39 years ago.
On a frozen pitch at Blackpool's old Bloomfield Ground, the Tangerines thumped the Hammers 4-0.
The defeat became even more infamous for West Ham because an irate fan phoned a newspaper on the following Monday, informing reporters that he had seen four players out socialising on the eve of the game: Bobby Moore, the World Cup hero; accompanied by the legendary Jimmy Greaves and two lesser-known players, a young Clyde Best (the first black player to make a real impression in English football) and Brian Dear.
It caused a massive furore at the time and, in many ways, marked the gradual decline of England's World Cup-winning captain Moore and proved the final straw for Greaves.
It also serves to emphasise that the tales of debauched footballers making headlines in tabloid newspapers is not the preserve of the current crop of multi-millionaire players.
Then, as now, West Ham are struggling to retain their top-flight status, and if the Hammers do not beat Blackpool at Upton Park then the portents for the rest of the season will start to look ominous.
"If we don't get three points against Blackpool then I realise people will think we are doomed," Kieron Dyer, the West Ham midfielder, said yesterday.
The players, at least, seem to have grasped that the club is in trouble. Club management have been reluctant to come to the same conclusion.
Before last week's match at Birmingham, David Sullivan, West Ham's co-owner, suggested the team needed to gain at least seven points from their next four games. Draws against Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion mean the Hammers must beat Blackpool and then go to an improving Liverpool side and win if they are to exceed that target.
Avram Grant, the club's manager, appears unconcerned by the fact that his side have mustered just one victory this season and are rooted to the bottom of the league table.
His lack of urgency and inspiration is an escalating concern for Sullivan, who said that if the team did not get seven points from a potential 12 then he would need to "shuffle the pack".
It will, however, not be easy to reshape the squad in January, particularly with limited resources, so Sullivan could have been referring to his coaching team.
To add to Grant's woes, the Hammers will today face a Blackpool side fired by the criticism that their manager, Ian Holloway, received for fielding a so-called weakened side in their 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Holloway has threatened to resign if he is charged by the Premier League.
That row has papered over the fact that after their fine away start to the season - they won at Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United - Blackpool have gained only three points from the last 15 and are four points off the bottom three.
West Ham may be four points adrift from the safety zone, but they will take some crumb of comfort from history. In 1971, both clubs were also battling it out at the foot of the table yet West Ham survived and Blackpool did not.
That was the last time Blackpool dined at the top table of English football. They are unlikely to go back down quietly this season.
sports@thenational.ae
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
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Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
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Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
