This was Blackpool's first appearance in the English Football League play-offs and their first appearance at the national stadium since the 1953 FA Cup Final where they defeated Bolton Wanderers. Stan Mortensen, who had scored a hat-trick for Blackpool in that final, had died the previous week. The club had played in the Fourth Division for a single season having been relegated in the 1989–90 season. Billy Ayre had taken over as manager of Blackpool in December 1990 with the team sixth from bottom but led them into the play-offs with a club-record winning streak of 13 games at home. Torquay were making their second appearance in the play-offs having lost in the semi-finals in 1988. They had played in the Fourth Division after being relegated in the 1971–72 season. Their manager Dave Smith had been replaced by John Impey in April 1991 after the side had slipped from top to mid-table. This was Torquay's second visit to Wembley Stadium, their previous appearance being in the 1988–89 Associate Members' Cup which they lost 4–1 against Bolton Wanderers. In the matches between the clubs during the regular season, each side won their home game: Torquay secured a 2–1 victory in October 1990 while Blackpool won 1–0 the following March.