The final podcast of the season is a packed three-parter. In Part One, we meet Rovers supporter Sam Grimley from Horizm, who explains how his private life & working life have crossed paths to the benefit of both parties. We learn all about how to optimise digital inventory…no really...
In Part Two, Bill Arthur narrates a chapter from Daniel Gray's "Extra Time" - the return of a former player - I bet I can guess who you are picturing when you listen to it.
Finally, in Part Three, & the panel of Hollie, Linz, Matt, Mike, Scott & Stuart dissect the season just ended including the new Rovers theme song...not to be missed.
By the way - anyone who is on an Apple device & has upgraded to 14.5.1 might find that their podcast feed isn't updating automatically. We think this is an Apple issue as earlier versions of iOS are updating. We recommend using the Overcast app as a temporary solution. Click this link on your iPhone or iPad :-
https://overcast.fm/+J_KUXHTN0
Stressed Out - Postmodern Jukebox Twenty One Pilots Cover ft. Puddles Pity Party (Sad Clown)
Download & Stream the song: https://smarturl.it/pmjsquad?IQid=yt
Experience PMJ Live: https://pmjlive.com?IQid=yt
Shop PMJ Music/Merch: https://smarturl.it/pmjshop?IQid=yt
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mw568037
A look back at the career of a true Rovers legend & an interview with his daughter, Natalie Parkes-Thompson about growing up in a footballing household.
We pay tribute to Tony Parkes, player, coach, caretaker manager and an all-round Rovers legend in the truest sense of the word. We recall the highs and some of the lows of Tony’s career & hear from Natalie Parkes-Thompson, Tony's daughter as to how they have each coped with lockdown.
Contributions from Bill Arthur, music from Josh Henry (Only One J Henry); interview conducted by Ian Herbert.
We meet Rovers fan & musician Josh Henry (Only One J Henry) to discuss football, music, Shawn Michaels & the re-working of an early 70's Rovers classic single.
In a packed episode we meet Elliott from @DasslersCraft to learn about trainers customisation, hear an extract from Daniel Gray's excellent book "Extra Time - 50 Further Delights of Modern Football"; narrated by our Canadian correspondent Bill Arthur; and our special guest interview in Part 3 is with former Lib Dem leader & keen Rovers fan Tim Farron.
Listen right to the end for a perspective of iFollow from Mr & Mrs Arthur (the Terry & June of the BRFCS podcast...), plus a special contribution from US wrestler Casanova Valentine courtesy of our friends @NYC Rovers.
Thanks to Matt Hall (@nerdphonic) for the professional voiceover inserts - he is available for hire - and to Hollie & Josh for the "enthusiastic amateur" ones 🙂
Louis & Michael (or is it TM?) provided the advert for our terrific sponsors @theterracelife and The Symmetry provided the music.
Hosting, editing & production courtesy @IanHerbert...I think that's it...Enjoy !
He wasn't at Ewood all that long but he made a very positive impression on Rovers supporters & his goals helped to keep Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League. Ian Herbert chats with Harrogate Town's Jon Stead about his career & life at Rovers. Includes *THAT* Souness & Yorke tackle, how Mark Hughes froze him out & playing for Roy Keane.
In Part 2 Rovers Analytics' Joe Harvey explains the Box Formation & how it might accommodate Bradley Dack and tells us about the Rovers Big Fat Quiz of the Year.
Born in Preston in 1951, he made 671 + 3 sub apps between 1969 & 1987 scoring 26 goals. One of the first seven players to be inducted into the club's Hall of Fame...it's the man universally known to all Rovers fans simply as "Faz"....Derek Fazackerley.
Ian Herbert interviews Blackburn Rovers legend, all-time record appearance holder Derek Fazackerley, who looks back on his amazing playing & coaching career.
3 parts to this latest episode - in Pt 1 we hear from BBC Radio Lancashire's Andy Bayes & Rovers legend Colin Hendry about the Len Johnrose Charity match in May 2021, Pt 2 has the Lancashire Telegraph reporter Rich Sharpe with the panel of Mike Delap, Louis Gee & Linz Lewis reviewing the window & in Pt 3 we hear from Joe Harvey from @AnalyticsRovers who highlights Rovers possession stats & their predictive powers.
Hope you enjoy...music as always is from The Symmetry & we thank them for their support.
The pod squad gazes into their crystal ball to predict what is in store for our favourite team in 2020/21...*WARNING* contains serious amounts of optimism !
We have two "Name That Rover" quizzes, an interview with Joe Harvey from Rovers Analytics and some more of the usual nonsense.
Thanks to Hollie Thurstan, Josh Boswell, Linz Lewis, Louis Gee, Michael Taylor (Marple Leaf blog), Scott Sumner (4000 Holes), & Tom Schofield (1875 Podcast) for their live panel contributions & to Bill Arthur, Lucy Dewhurst & Stuart Grimshaw for their pre-recorded segments.
Produced & hosted by Ian Herbert.
In this three-part episode, we look back at the careers of Tim Sherwood & Tugay through the lens of the lovely people at thesefootballtimes.co (thanks to TFT plus Jamie Bell & Matt Gault) & in part two, we meet our special guest Matt Hall & play "What's My Line".
Narration from Bill Arthur & Michael Taylor, interview conducted by Ian Herbert.
We review the season just (eventually) completed with the aid of real journalists in the form of the Lancashire Telegraph's Rich Sharpe & Lancashire Live's Jaquob Crooke aided & abetted by the BRFCS pod squad; Hollie Thurstan, Linz Lewis, Michael Taylor, Mike Delap & Stuart Grimshaw - questions posed by Ian Herbert as usual.
Warning - Parental Advisory - contains the words Shithouse & Shithousery...but all in context.?
BRFCS chats with a former referee, Rovers fan and contributor to the BRFCS forum, Tony Leake. Ian Herbert poses the questions.
Listen closely for the Souness, Allardyce, Mimms and Ronnie Moore stories. A real insight into the life of a man in black.
Michael Taylor catches up with David Dunn to find out how he is coping with lockdown & learns about a whole lot more including how Dunny was left hanging by Daniel Bedingfield and providing a captive audience for Jason Manford whilst on a plane. Thanks to @OBIProperty for allowing us to share, to Michael for conducting the interview & Dunny for the inside track.
Steven & Jay from NYC Rovers chat with Kevin Gallacher about his footballing heritage, moving to England, broken legs, title-winning, Brian Kidd, Sir Bobby Robson, Radio Lancs, Golden Retriever training and so much more...
Thanks to Steven & Jay once again for sharing their interview with us and of course to Gally for being interviewed.
In Part 1 the panel discusses the effect of lockdown from the fans' perspective - specifically Bill, Hollie, Kamy, Linz & Lucy.
In Part 2 Ian Herbert chats with Rovers' Premier League title-winner Mark Atkins.
Mark discusses his origins, getting out of the bath to sign for Allan Clarke, signing for Rovers, converting to midfield, coping with David Batty and playing for Graham Taylor and much, much more.
Andy Bayes from BBC Radio Lancashire drops by to talk lockdown sport, Rovers Hall of Fame dinner, Kenny Dalglish, Tony Parkes & Lenny Johnrose.
In Part 2, Steven & Jay from NYC Rovers chat with Rovers legend David Dunn about his career and THAT goal against Burnley & the disappointing way his career at Rovers ended.
In the absence of any actual football, BRFCS has shamelessly copied BBC Fighting Talk and produced a special Rovers version - hope you enjoy !
Many thanks to Josh Boswell, Stuart Grimshaw, Kamy, Michael Taylor and er...Colin Murray for inspiration and contribution.
Ian Herbert tries to hold it together and is responsible for the shoddy production values.
In a special episode, Tommy Spurr chats with Ian Herbert and discusses his career, managerial styles, injury, retirement and much, much more.
Learn about Gary Megson's unique motivational style, whether Jordan Rhodes is REALLY that nice and what went on during the 2013/14 season.
Thanks so much to Tommy for his time and honesty.
In this episode we chat with Lancashire Telegraph reporter Rich Sharpe about the January window, FFP and what the summer might hold for Rovers. We also have another reminiscence from our man in Canada Bill Arthur who recalls 1994/5, can't think why !
Produced & presented by Ian Herbert.
BRFCS catches up with Scott Sumner of 4000 Holes fame as he tells Ian Herbert all about the upcoming 100th issue of a much-loved fanzine.
We also welcome a new 1st time contributor in John Wareing who shares some of his earliest Rovers memories.
In this episode, Ian Herbert chats with John Murray from the Rovers Trust to learn more about the Trust's recent marketing prospectus and the memorandum of understanding with the club that is in the pipeline.
If you want to know what the Trust is up to now, how it's role has evolved & what's in the marketing prospectus - this is the podcast for you!
In a packed episode we hear from Bryan in Iraq, Bill in Canada plus Scott, new contributor Mark and the trusty Marple Leaf himself, Michael with a varied menu of items for your pleasure.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed large or small to the podcast in 2019, let's make 2020 bigger & better than ever.
HNY !
A special tribute to former Rovers manager Jim Smith who sadly passed away earlier this week. Written by Jim Wilkinson, narrated by Ian Herbert.
Special additional Tony Mowbray interview by Michael Taylor & Louis G.
Thanks again to The Symmetry Band for all the music used.
BRFCS catches up once more with F365 columnist, writer & author John Nicholson who has a new book out "Can We Have Our Football Back ?" which lays low the myths about football behind the paywalls and the corrosive effect of money on the game...but most importantly, what we the fans can do about it.
We also have a delightful sketch from Mr & Mrs Arthur all the way from Canada and the BRFCS Repertory Company appear once again with their bespoke advertisements.
Once more, Ian Herbert conducts the orchestra.
After several weeks of planning and preparation, BRFCS meets a Rovers legend in the form of the one & only Mr Matt Jansen together with the man who helped him to write his new book - journalist & writer, Jon Colman in a special podcast episode in which we also launch a new sponsorship deal.
Listen carefully for details of our exclusive discount deals for BRFCS podcast listeners at theterracestore.com but most of all listen to Matt's story; from the perspective of the writer & the man himself.
Interviews conducted by Ian Herbert.
Our special guest is stand up comedian, author, blogger, podcaster and now, hotelier, Ian Moore (yes, he's THAT bloke off Fighting Talk!) who tells us about his Blackburn childhood, moving south in increments, "that" accent, living in France, becoming a French citizen and what to do when an audience member pulls out a gun, plus so much more.
See also
https://ianmoore.info
https://www.lapausevaldeloire.com/chambresdhotesgitevotre-hotes
Contributions also from Bryan Light who discusses Venky's, FFP & the fans, from last month's "4000 Holes" all hosted as usual by Ian Herbert.
In this episode we meet John Leigh, a Rovers fan from Oswaldtwistle who now lives in Brisbane & we find out what it's like following Rovers Down Under. In Part 2 we hear from Linz Lewis who updates us on the amazing Rovers Ladies sponsorship initiative.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/roversladies
The pod squad reconvenes for a new season and predicts sackings, goalscorers, POTY & final finishing position. We hear from "Grumpy Riversider", "Alex - the social media influencer" plus "Tony Mowbray". Music from The Symmetry.
Panelists on the line are Jen Bellamy, Millie Costley, Mike Delap, Kamy, Scott Sumner, Michael Taylor; hosted by Ian Herbert.
Pre-records from Bill, Hollie, Josh, Linz, Louis, Stuart & Tom all add to the occasion.
In this three-parter - BRFCS catches up with Friend of the Pod Ryan Grant & finds out about his new EFL role; in part two, we hear all about Charlie Adam & the UV index at Barrow from Linz Lewis and in part three, Ian Herbert chats with author Rob Sawyer about Rob's latest book about the life & times of Rovers & Everton legend, Roy Vernon.
Many thanks to Fred Cumpstey for his valued assistance with the Roy Vernon piece - see below.
The Roy Vernon kickstarter can be found here:-
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/599106053/blue-dragon/posts
Fred Cumpstey's reflections on Roy Vernon are reproduced with his kind permission here :-
ROY OF THE ROVERS
In my opinion I believe that in Roy Vernon and Bryan Douglas, Blackburn Rovers spawned the two most naturally gifted and influential players in the Club's history. In any era of football their stock would be of the highest level.
It is remarkable that two home grown footballers should have made such an indelible impact on the game both locally and nationally and left a legacy at Ewood which I would hazard a guess will not be surpassed.
To put my admiration for Roy into context and perspective, he is, in my opinion, second only to Douglas as the greatest player I have seen in a blue and white shirt.
Both players ended their careers as inside forwards/ schemers/ playmakers having initially found success as right wingers; but perhaps that is where the comparison ends.
Roy had the slightest of frames (a passing breeze could have blown him over) and didn't resemble anyone's idea of a footballer, but with his slick black hair and his oiled thighs (he reckoned he did it to attract the girls) it helped to prove what a master craftsman he was.
I believe that Roy's latent talent owed much to two men, Eddie Quigley and the great Johnny Carey. From the former he developed the talent of being perhaps the cleanest striker of a football I've ever seen. Roy could spray passes, any distance, all over the pitch and as they say in Blackburn "land them on a tanner". Like Quigley he possessed a thunderbolt of a shot and was a prolific goalscorer.
To Johnny Carey must go the initial plaudits, for it was he who "found" Roy and nurtured him into the player he became. Early in his tenure at Ewood, Mr Carey prophesied that Roy would develop into a great footballer. Roy was an original "Carey Chick" who blossomed and developed in the Youth team and the prophesy was fulfilled when on 5 September 1955 in a home match against Liverpool, Roy Vernon made his Rovers debut in a 3 - 3 draw.
He was 18 years old. He made 12 appearances that season scoring just a single goal, in a 2 - 1 win at Leeds in March 1956. It was during that season that Mr Carey played his ace card by switching Bryan Douglas to the right wing and Roy was moved from the wing to inside left. The following season, 1956/57 Roy completed 31 games and scored 11 goals. Rovers finished 4th in Division 2 and everything was set up for a concerted promotion push the following season.
Promotion was duly achieved in 1957/58, with Roy playing in 37 games and netting 15 goals (Douglas did the same from 40). Roy's influence that season and his ability to completely change a game, was ably demonstrated in a nerve-wracking finale at The Valley (which both sides needed to win to be promoted). With half time approaching and Rovers leading 2 - 1, Vernon picked up a ball some 30 yards from goal, and with a minimum of backlift thundered a left foot screamer to extend a decisive lead. In the Cup that season Rovers advanced to the semi final.
In 1958/59 with Rovers back in the top flight, Roy played 36 times and hit 16 goals in the league. Little did we know that this was to be his last full season in a Rovers shirt, as in October 1958 the unthinkable happened when Mr Carey, Roy's mentor and, it would seem, confidante, moved to Everton.
The writing was on the wall and every Rovers supporter knew it. Carey's admiration for his fledgling genius intensified to such an extent that the following season, in February 1960, the genie was out of the bottle and Roy joined Everton for (a laughable) £27,000 plus Eddie Thomas who moved to Ewood in the deal.
I firmly believe that the sale of Roy Vernon was the precursor to Rovers becoming known as a selling Club - others would follow on a conveyor belt of talent lost to the Club. I was saddened beyond belief.
Two games possibly summed up Roy Vernon, both in the 3rd Round FA Cup ties against Sunderland. In the original game at Roker Park, a bad tempered affair where challenges were flying in; Roy had been the most creative man on the pitch displaying the full range of his subtle and precocious skills.
With Rovers a goal to the good and 15 minutes to play, and the red mist hovering menacingly over the Welshman, he was sent off after retaliating to a bad challenge from a Sunderland player and which ended up in a brawl. Needless to say, both players received their marching orders. It was all in stark contrast to Vernon's prompting and probing as time and again he engineered wave after wave of Rovers attacks. With his departure, they lost their lead, their poise and the initiative and were thankful for the replay.
In those days, having been sent off a player had to await his fate at an FA Hearing, the date having not yet been fixed, Vernon was given the all clear to play in the replay four days later.
It was an opportunity the Welshman did not miss to eclipse his display at Roker Park and through a display of cultured football he calmly saw Rovers through to the next Round. Vernon exhibited such quality and panache, the hallmarks of the class player he had now become. Not only did he provide an exhibition of football purity, but he scored two of the Rovers four goals on the night. Little did we know they were to be his last goals for Rovers.
No sooner had the dust settled on this match that it became known that Johnny Carey had desperately been trying to secure Vernon's services, all to no avail it would appear. The beginning of the end of Roy's Rovers' career was in plain sight and it was in a 1 - 0 home defeat to Wolves that he played his final League game for Rovers and his very last game a week later as Rovers drew with Blackpool in the FA Cup 4th Round, also at Ewood.
Carey's desire and persistence in pursuing his protege had finally paid off, the roller coaster ride of emotions were spent, it was the end of a very special era.
Roy Vernon was one of a rare breed of footballer, who flirted with triumph and potential disaster. He was a special player - his craftsman like skills were rare and almost without comparison (excepting only Bryan Douglas). He possessed that great quality of the exceptional player, he had an acute football brain, he could see a pass an opportunity maybe two or three moves before it opened up.
Despite his frame he was strong both physically and mentally. He had supreme confidence in his own ability but perhaps was frustrated by those around him who didn't possess one ounce of his ability. His passing short or long was often subtle but always sublime. He was a goalscorer, a maker of goals and his work rate both on and off the ball was outstanding.
Set against all of that he has been described as mercurial, a storm petrel, temperamentaland petulant. Yes, perhaps he was all of those things but possibly, that was what shaped him to the player he became. This is why Roy trusted Johnny Carey; he believed that above all others Carey truly understood him, warts and all and was able to put that an empathetic and reassuring arm around him.
When he left Rovers he was barely 23. He had, along with Douglas, Dobing et al, transcended the old guard of the likes of Quigley, Briggs and Langton and been a pivotal member of a new and exciting team and era. He provides a lasting legacy and I'm glad I was lucky enough to see it.
Our friend Tom Schofield from the 1875 podcast and occasional guest on the BRFCS podcast, has written a dissertation as part of his university course and in three chapters it covers the 1987 FMC final, the 1995 PL win & the impact of Venky's purchasing the club.
He introduces it & narrates it quite beautifully and it makes for a lovely holiday listen, by the pool with a beer...or in the back garden, or anywhere really.
Reminisce with us now...
The original text to accompany the podcast is here...
Chapter One
Pre Premier League
Before the glamour and glitz of modern day football, when the Premier League was just plain old Division One, Don Mackay led his Blackburn side out onto the Wembley pitch to square off against Charlton Athletic in the Full Members Cup Final, on March 29 1987
That was supposed to be as good as it got for the small Lancashire club, with afirst trip to Wembley since 1960. Mackay had been named manager of Blackburn in 1987 after being sacked by Coventry City. When Rovers approached the Scotsman, he was working as reserves team manager at Glasgow Rangers. Speaking of his time at the club, Mackay said: “There were plenty of good days, and some bad days if I’m honest with you.”
There was a great sense of pride when speaking of that 1987 final where Rovers ran out 1-0 winners. It was to be his crowning achievement as Rovers’ manager, an achievement that puts him amongst some of Blackburn’s most well regarded gaffers. Speaking of his Full Members Cup success, he continued: “The big one though was obviously going to Wembley and winning a trophy, the lads did really well that day.”
At that time Rovers averaged gates of around 7000, but on that day 30,000 Blackburn fans made the trip to watch their unfancied side pull off an upset.
One fan and BRFCS podcast host, Ian Herbert, had been a Rovers fan since the early 70’s. He was there to watch Rovers lift the trophy that day and he admitted that at first no one paid much attention to the Full Members Cup as a competition. The cup itself was a replacement for the lack of European football after the Heysel disaster, where 14 Liverpool fans were convicted of manslaughter, which lead to a five year European competition ban for English clubs.
Herbert explained: “It was a two bob competition, that was all about creating matches for lost TV income because of the European ban. It was basically the Checkatrade trophy for Division One and Two. Not everybody entered it, so the big clubs didn’t enter it, some First Division sides did though.”
Rovers would meet Chelsea in the quarter-final, beating them 3-0, before matching that score in the semi-final against Ipswich Town. He said: “We just hit a rich vein of form, and slowly people started to think, if we win the next one we are in the semi-final you know. We were so close to Wembley, and that was exciting.”
Of the fantastic support and the challenge that awaited them on the Wembley pitch, Mackay said: “We were amazed, people forget that Charlton were a reasonably good First Division side, and we were in the Second Division. There was most certainly 30,000 there (Rovers’ fans) on that day, it contributed to the win I think.”
The winning goal was scored by a relative newcomer to the club in Colin Hendry. The then 22 year old had only signed for the club a few weeks prior from Dundee, his first game being the semi-final clash against Ipswich Town.
Speaking of the lead up to the final, he said: “It was a bit of a whirlwind really, within a matter of weeks I signed and ended up at Wembley. The first game I played was against Ipswich in the semi-final that we won 2-0, I had only signed the day before that. Keeping a clean sheet in the semi-final as a centre half and then winning the final and scoring the winning goal...It’s just a fairy tale. It’s a kid’s dream really as a footballer, to score a winning goal in a cup final. It never happens for most footballers, but it did for me.”
The squad had travelled down to Wembley on the Friday, with the game scheduled to take place on the Sunday. Mackay had hoped that allowing the players to familiarise themselves with the Wembley pitch would be beneficial to the squad. Yet when looking back on his Rovers’ career, the Scotsman concedes that the main aim of promotion never quite came to fruition.
He explained: “The main objective was to gain promotion and it never happened, and that was a big disappointment.”
It wasn’t for a lack of trying either, Rovers had various close calls, often flirting with promotion to, the then, Division One. One issue that Mckay had however, that Kenny Dalglish did not have, and that was a lack of investment very early on.
Mackay said: “You go to a club and you know what you’re going into. We wanted to come in and try and develop younger players, Colin was bought, but he was a younger player. We did a great job at bringing young players through as well. The only time we actually made money was when we sold Colin Hendry to Manchester City, that was the first time we went in the black. Bill Fox, the chairman at the time, was so proud that we actually had money in the bank that we could hopefully spend on one or two players.”
Two players that did sign for Rovers, albeit on a short term basis, were Steve Archibald and Ossie Ardiles. Seen as a massive coup at the time, Archibald arrived at Rovers on loan from European giants Barcelona. Tottenham legendArdiles arrived on a free transfer from the North London club. On his two high-profile signings as Rovers manager, Mackay said: “The one that started it all off was Steve Archibald. I knew Steve from back in Scotland, I knew he wasn’t happy at Barcelona. The one thing I knew I could offer him at Blackburn was regular football and a chance to put himself in the shop window again. That’s what Steve wanted as well, he wanted first-team football and we could offer him that.”
It was an injury to left sided midfielder Scott Sellars that lead to the arrival of Ardiles but his Rovers career was cut short. Mackay continued: “Unfortunately he (Ardiles) got clattered in his first game for us against Plymouth and ended up being out for two or three games. We had wanted to build on him to help us get promotion, I mean we came so close again, and again.”
The closest Rovers would come was in 1989 against Crystal Palace, where theywould lose an aggregate lead to see their promotion hopes crushed. Similar to the play-off Semi-Finals now, the final was played over two legs. The first leg took place at Ewood Park, where Rovers ran out 3-1 winners and looked set to go to Palace and secure a return to the pinnacle of English football. It wasn’t to be though, a controversial penalty and a hostile Selhurst Park crowd meant that Rovers would miss out.
It would frustrate Mackay that his side fell at the final hurdle under such contentious circumstances. Mackay said: “We’d done well at Ewood and should have done even better, we could have scored a few more that day. The atmosphere was hostile in the return leg and we suffered because of that.”
Speaking of Palace’s penalty, he continued: “To this day the penalty that Ian Wright got off a foul from Colin Hendry wasn’t a penalty, it was a free-kick. I went to work for Arsenal for a little while, and I bumped into Ian (Wright) a few times. We joked about that, because he thought as well that it should have been a free-kick to Blackburn Rovers as well.”
The following season, Rovers once again failed in the play-offs losing 4-2 on aggregate to Swindon in the semi-final. The season after wasn’t so successful,Rovers finished 19th only avoiding relegation by four points. It was around that time that local benefactor, Jack Walker, began to have increasing influence at the club.
Mackay said: “Believe it or not, I tried to buy Gary Lineker from Tottenham, we also spoke to Teddy Sheringham and Jack gave us money to do that.”
With great honesty, Mackay conceded that Rovers’ issue when attempting to sign these players, was his own pedigree in management. He explained: “The problem was that the money was there but those players would have been more influenced by Kenny Dalglish than they would Don Mackay.”
It was clear for the fans as well that something was changing and that they would soon have to realign their expectations. Ian Herbert said: “There were rumours of Jack Walker being involved, then the Riverside was developed in 1988 and that was literally the Walkersteel stand. When Jack saw we were close to relegation in 1991, he went and offered his services and formally bought the club, at that point all bets were off. We automatically changed expectations, Kenny coming to us a Division Two club, would be like Pep Guardiola making the same move now.”
That further highlighted Blackburn’s issue under Mackay, they just couldn’t attract the players they needed to really take the club to another level. Mackay would be sacked early in the 1991-1992 season, knowing that the club would go onto big things.
He said: “The money was there, but the players I went to speak to at the time didn’t believe that Blackburn Rovers was the club that they actually were. I had a press conference actually the day I left, and I said then that one day you’ll speak of this club in the same way you do Liverpool and Manchester United. They didn’t believe me, they thought I was being stupid, three years later Blackburn won the league.”
Chapter Two
The Champions of England
In October 1991 a now Jack Walker owned Blackburn Rovers made a move to hire former Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish as the new manager of the club. His goal was simple. Ensure that Rovers would gain promotion from Division two, so that they would be part of the newly formed Premier League. Dalglish was successful in doing that. Despite a poor run of form Rovers recovered to finish just inside the play-offs, where they would first beat thirdplace Derby 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-final.
That set up an encounter against Leicester at Wembley, where a Mike Newell penalty was the difference, as Rovers ran out 1-0 winners to secure a place for the Premier League’s maiden season. Full Members’ Cup goal scoring hero, Colin Hendry, made his return to the club in November of 1991 as one of Kenny Dalglish’s first bits of business and he played a major part in the promotion winning side.
The former Scottish Captain said: “I’ve been there three times now, twice as a player and once as a coach, and I’ve never ever regretted it. It wasn’t a clear cut return though, I got a phone call the night before saying that they wanted me back and were in talks with Man City. For me as well to go back to the club, you could tell that things were happening. I was feeling a bit stale at city as well, I was out of the team and I was surplus really. Jack had a plan to get the club into Europe within six years, so to get promotion at Wembley in my first season back was great. I had come back a better defender than what I was when I first left.”
Hendry feels he improved even more at Rovers as well, largely in part to Dalglish’s assistant, Ray Harford. “I then improved even more back at Blackburn under Ray Harford, he was key to my development.”
Harford is often lauded by Rovers fans and players as a vital cog in the Rovers machine and though he didn’t replicate that success as a manager, is still well respected. Hendry continued: ”The combination between them (Dalglish and Harford) was perfect, Ray was probably as good a coach in the country as anyone. He did go on to be a number one, he was always a coach rather than a manager and that is no disrespect to him he was a great coach”.
Hendry isn’t alone on that as well, with Blackburn and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer echoing those sentiments. Shearer was Rovers marquee signing in the summer after promotion from Division Two, signing for a then record fee, £3.5 Million from Southampton. Manchester United were also interested in the Southampton prospect, but the pull of working with Dalglish and Harford proved to be too much for Shearer. The Premier League’s all-time top scorer said of his decision to join Rovers: “It was a lot of things, including Ray Harford. We had three very successful men [Dalglish, Harford, Walker] in their own right and a promising team trying to win. So add that to hard work then I knew we would have a great chance of achieving something.”
His first season playing in blue and white wasn’t plain sailing though, suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Leeds United. What was evident however, was Shearer’s prolific nature, as the striker would score 16 goals in the 21 games he was to feature in.
Shearer said: “I was devastated because it had been going so well. To be honest, any injury would have been hard to take but a serious knee injury was difficult. Knowing that I was going to be out for six or seven months was very hard to take.”
In that season Rovers would go on to finish in fourth place, which remains a record best for a newly promoted side in the Premier League. The following season Rovers would challenge United for the crown of Premier League champions, but fell short finishing in second place. They weren’t to be thwarted again.
Rovers broke the British transfer record again in 1994, signing Chris Sutton from Norwich for £5 million. Along with Shearer, he would go on to form one half of one of the Premier League’s most lethal duos, the SAS. Sutton wasn’t alone in creating lethal partnerships with the former England captain, Shearer also had a fruitful partnership with play-off final goal scorer, Mike Newell.
Of his strike partners at Rovers, Shearer said: “The best partnerships, I felt, were the ones I didn’t have to work hard at. With both Mike Newell and Chris Sutton that was the case. We just had a great understanding of each other’s game and we also played in a very attacking system that suited our games.”
Rovers played a very direct style of football, implementing a 4-4-2 system, that centred around feeding the front two. If Shearer didn’t score, then Sutton would, and vice versa. Key to that success was the quality of Rovers wingers Stuart Ripley and Jason Wilcox. Ripley had signed from Middlesbrough in 1992, while Wilcox was a product of Rovers academy.
As the end of the season approached Rovers’ form fell off. A win against Newcastle in the penultimate game of the season meant that Rovers fate remained in their own hands as they headed to Kenny Dalglish’s old stomping ground, Anfield. Manchester United had to travel to Upton Park knowing that if they were to better Rovers’ result, they would complete a hat-trick of Premier League titles. Shearer handed Rovers an early lead, but goals from John Barnes and a last minute freekick from Jamie Redknapp meant that Shearer’s side were relying on West Ham.
United had bombarded West Ham’s goal but an inspired goalkeeping performance from Luděk Mikloško meant that the title would be heading to Ewood Park. For Shearer though, the final day was the culmination of a seasons hard work and was thoroughly deserved. He said: “It was a crazy day that ended in victory, it was all very nerve racking. We won it over the season not just the last day, that being said I still love West Ham for helping us out.”
Hendry describes it in a similar light, knowing that whilst the title was in Rovers hands, they faced an incredibly tough test against a Liverpool side. He said: “I think prior to the games kicking off, United at West Ham and us Liverpool, you’d say the advantage was with United. For Liverpool they had a day where they couldn’t lose, Everybody in Anfield wanted Blackburn to win the league.”
The Rovers players were fully aware of what was going on at Upton Park, knowing a winning goal would secure the title. Hendry said: “Sutty (Chris Sutton) had a chance early in the second to make it two, then they equalised and we got caught with the freekick. As a player on that pitch you don’t have a clue what’s going on. We got messages from the dugout that it was 0-0 but that United were missing chance after chance.”
It was a matter of seconds after Rovers had gone behind that news began to filter through that it was full time at Upton Park. He continued: “So it got towards the end of the game, the game was still going on and it’s just after Liverpool scored. We look over though and Ray is just all over Kenny, Kenny is jumping up and down. We saw that and thought that’s it. We have either won the league, or West Ham have scored. Either way we have probably won the league. The game is still going on , but it’s just bypassing us, it really was flying past us. At that minute in time, it didn’t matter what the score was at Anfield, we have won it.”
One of the major criticisms of that Rovers side is the suggestion that Rovers bought the league. Interestingly enough, when the cost of Rovers starting 11 is compared to that of United’s, it cost under £5 million less. Similarly the likes of Leeds spent more money on Carlton Palmer than Rovers did across the entire midfield four.
On those accusations, Hendry said: “I will always have an argument over buying the league, Blackburn Rovers didn’t buy the league, we bought Shearer for £3.5 million and sold him for £15 Million. We bought Christ Sutton for £5 Million and sold him for £10 million. In real terms I cost the club £25,000, because they bought me back for what I was sold for, then I went for £3 million to Rangers. They made profit on everyone, you can’t say that’s the same as it is now.”
The following season wasn’t as successful for Rovers, who were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages, and struggled to sixth place.
The summer had initially shown much promise as well, Zidane was linked with a move to Ewood Park. Jack Walker was reported as saying: “Who needs Zidane when you’ve got Tim Sherwood.” Before the season would start however, Dalglish would take up a director of football role and Harford didn’t have the same impact he’d had as a coach.
On his teammate that never was, Hendry said: “Zidane was at the training ground, we’d seen him and we thought is this the next level? We had a lot of finance, the prize money was great, there was the Champions League as well. But then there was a falling out, a disagreement between Kenny and Ray and Kenny and Jack. Kenny moved upstairs, Ray took over and we just didn’t have the same impetus. People say well the team didn’t change, but there was a big change because Kenny moved upstairs, he selected the 11 and didn’t even tell Ray. Ray would find out when we did, they would discuss things, but to the best of my knowledge, the team selection was just Kenny.”
Rovers would fail to hit those dizzy heights again, and would be relegated just four years after winning the Premier League. For the fans and players though, they created memories that will last a lifetime. In Jack Walker they have an icon who has cemented his legacy as Blackburn’s number one supporter.
Chapter Three
The Era of The Venkys
In November 2010, Blackburn were purchased by Indian poultry company the V H group, better known as Venky’s, for £23 million. At that time, under the guidance of Sam Allardyce, Rovers were a comfortable mid-table Premier League club.
Within a month of purchasing the club from the Walker Trust, Venky’s had sacked Allardyce and replaced him with the relatively unknown Steve Kean. With that began a period of turmoil for the proud Lancashire club, as they were relegated from the Premier League in 2012
Five years later, after going through six managers in those five years, Rovers fell to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1980, this was despite a revival after hiring Tony Mowbray in February 2017.
So began a revival. A squad overhaul and a new found belief, as Rovers were promoted from League One at the first time of asking. Relegation is arguably one of the best things to happen to the club but how do fans view the Venky’s now? Do they forgive them for past failures? Can Rovers return to their former glory?
Alan Myers worked with the Venky’s as the Director of Communications, from2013 to 2016. He resigned from his position along with then Rovers’ manager, Paul Lambert at the end of the 2015-2016 season. On his time at the club, Myers said: “There were a number of issues that needed dealing with. A big one for me as Director of Communications was getting fans back to the club, not just on a matchday, but getting them back together with the club. What was prevalent to me was the split between fans, a split in the fan base is never good.”
A split in the fanbase had risen from the failures of the Venky’s and differing viewpoints on the best course of action. He continued: “They were the immediate tasks, my two and a half years was on the whole a great experience, people worked very hard and it really is a great club.”
Myers’ time at the club coincided with some success, as Rovers flirted with the Play-Offs. At that time, Rovers’ fans had become increasingly disillusioned with what was going on at the club. Myers tasked himself with building a bridge between the fans and the club. To do this, he introduced fan forums that continue to this day as well as meeting with different supporters groups. He continued: “The bottom line is that the problems were there, we couldn’t change the past. I think what had happened was that everyone developed a sense of not communicating, whether that’s fans, staff, or directors. People wanted to walk away from their responsibility and that was my biggest challenge when I went in. From the owners’ point of view it’s difficult for them to communicate being in India. People before me as well just didn’t communicate, the fanbase grew ever distant and hostile and felt that they couldn’t work with the club.”
Myers left the club in 2016, citing differing opinions on what he felt the direction of the club should be. Despite this, he harbours no ill feeling towards the poultry giant, recognising the positive relationship he had with them.
He said: “I had a great relationship with them and still do. Ultimately they are responsible, but what they are is humble people; they allowed me to get on with my job and didn’t interfere. The issue is that some of the people they left it to let them down massively. When I met them all they wanted was success. They desired success and let us do what we wanted to achieve that. I think that’s how the club got in trouble, they give money to the wrong people”.
On his decision to leave, he continued: “The club was going through a tough time, I didn’t feel like I could give everything I needed to give to help make the club successful. “I had a great conversation with the owners about it. I didn’t want to see what did happen, I didn’t want to be part of the relegation. It was sad and I do miss it, I miss the people and the club. I would love to work with Tony Mowbray, how the club is being run now is how I’d have liked it to have been run.”
With the appointment of Mowbray and a new Chief Executive in Steve Waggott, the club has undergone another period of rebuilding in recent years, one that some feel is going to set the club up to go onto succeed. Despite that, there are understandable apprehensions from fans who still have problems with the Venky’s. One such fan is Duncan Miller, who ran as an independent candidate for Blackburn in the 2017 general election.
At that time, the club was reeling after the relegation from the Championship and frustration with the ownership was at an all-time high. On his campaign, Miller said: “The protests died down when Kean left, but then picked up when we were hurtling towards League One. I was involved with meetings at Ewood Working Men’s Club, just discussing protest strategies. I threw one out saying wouldn’t it be good if we made a Venky’s Out Party. I was half joking really but it sort of spiralled from there. With minimum outlay, we could get quite a lot of coverage.”
One of the initial problems Miller first faced was any potential backlash from fans. Miller continued: “It was difficult to gauge the reaction to it all really.I was pleasantly surprised though at the support, I thought I would get a lot more abuse from fans than I did at the time. With us it seems to be one extreme or the other, at that time though I just think everyone had, had enough.”
As Rovers’ fortunes have changed however, so have fan opinions. Whilst Rovers are on the upward trajectory, supporters are more accepting of Venky’s. In a survey carried out with 585 Rovers supporters, 63% of stated they were indifferent to the Venky’s, whilst 9% claimed they liked them. The remaining 28% disliked them. Interestingly, despite 28% voicing their dislike for the Indian poultry giants, 93% of the 585 were happy with the way the club is being run.
Miller offered an explanation to the survey’s findings, saying: “I certainly won’t ever forgive them for the state they put us in. Speaking generally, people are happier that we actually have a functioning football club, because that hasn’t always been the case. I don’t think that is because of Venky’s though, it’s because of their inaction rather than their action.”
One of Rovers hardest tasks at the moment, is encouraging fans to get back into the habit of watching Rovers every home game. Prior to Venky’s arrival, Rovers averaged crowds of around 25,000 in the Premier League.
In the League One promotion winning season, Rovers’ attendances averaged out to just over 12,000. That has increased this season to 14,500 but it is a far cry from the attendances of not even a decade ago.
Alan Myers recognises the importance of the fan base, and acknowledges that for a smaller club like Rovers, it is important they don’t alienate those that do attend matches week in and week out. He said: “Blackburn is a very specific fan base, it is a town club, it’s not a city where there are two big teams.
“It is a fan base with a real core; it had fans that went no matter what. These people really care, I’m asked sometimes that in my line of work, how do you deal with all the moaning? My answer is always the same, I don’t see it as moaning, it is passion, they’re passionate.”
In terms of on the field, Rovers finished the season in 15th place in the Championship and have left themselves with a good platform, as they look to make a return to the Premier League next season. The fans expect them to be battling for that as well - 72% of them to be precise. The players also hold that expectation of themselves, none more so than David Raya.
Born in Barcelona, Spain, the 23 year old arrived in Blackburn when he was just 16 years old. He established himself as the main shot stopper during Rovers’ season in League One and continued that upon the return to the Championship. Raya said: “I think the club is in a better position than it was two or three years ago, coming back from relegation and establishing ourselves in the Championship again. I think he’s (Mowbray) been the key to the team and club progressing. He almost kept us up when we were relegated, yet in a weird way I think that was the best thing that could happen to us.”
On the importance of the fans, he continued: “The fans were brilliant last year, I think it was important for us and the fans to be together. It’s important to us that we get fans through the door home and away. A big crowd at home really helps, it gives us an extra drive that can help us pick up the points.”
What is important to Mowbray however, is recruitment and making sure that the team consistently improves. The Rovers manager said: “Since I have come we have generally signed younger players. We have relied on senior player that have perhaps gone through a relegation that I felt could compete. The recruitment has to impact the team now though, we can’t concede 69 goals like this season, you don’t go up with those numbers.”
One thing Mowbray urges however is that fans stick with the club, acknowledging that as a team they can build expectations but that everyone must pull in the same direction. He continued: “We built an expectation and then fell off so they can be disappointed. I would say that this season, most of the players played in League One with us last season. So to compete with the likes of Aston Villa it will take a little bit longer and that’s what I would say to fans. We keep going, that’s the only way to do it really to stick together as one club.”
The pod squad of Linz Lewis, Michael Taylor & Stuart Grimshaw reviews the season both on & off the field and awards the Mike Delap Trophy for the most accurate pre-season predictions.
Thanks also to Bill Arthur, Louis Gee, Tom Schofield, Scott Sumner & Hollie Thurstan for their soundbites.
Thanks to everyone who has helped us throughout the season - whether behind the scenes, as a panelist, helping us to book guests or being a guest !
You are all wonderful & without you, we are naught but a whimsical notion...
Former General Election candidate Duncan Miller, late of the "Venky's Out" party, attended last week's Fan Consultation Evening at Ewood and was won over by Steve Waggott & Tony Mowbray.
In conversation with Ian Herbert, Duncan shares what was discussed, how it has impacted his thought process, his rationale & provides optimism for next season.
Essential listening for those who still find the whole Venky's reign difficult to reconcile.
In this episode, writer John Duerden shares details of his latest project, a book about the 1995 title-winning team & asks podcast host Ian Herbert about his recollections of that momentous time in the club's history.
The book will be out later this year and we will follow up with John nearer the time to share publication details.
In a packed pod hosted by Linz Lewis, Jane Purdon CEO of Women In Football discusses the challenges faced by women working in the game and an insight into the #WhatIf campaign recently nominated for a BT Sport Diversity and Inclusion Award.
Part 2 features the #GirlSquad of Jen, Millie, Hollie and Lucy talking all things Rovers. What went wrong in Feb? How do you solve a problem like Breo?...and which former Rovers player would you like to see back at the club? The girls also share with you their female supporting heroes.
In Part 3, a light is shone on our incredibly successful Rovers ladies. We chat to manager Gemma Donnelly, who tells us just how good her team really is and gives us an insight into what promotion could mean for the ladies. The Venkys even get a mention!
In our final part the panel discuss their experiences as female football fans and discuss the current furore around female commentators and analysts.
Thanks to all those who contributed to a pod made with love, mischief and a whole heap of girl power. Happy International Women’s Day !
This special edition has an exclusive interview with former Rovers manager Don Mackay, who chats with Ian Herbert about the Full Members' Cup final, Steve Archibald, Colin Hendry, play off heartbreak, beating Burnley and much, much more. Our thanks to Don for so graciously giving of his time.
A packed episode squeezes in two interviews; Ian Herbert catches up with Radio Lancashire's Andy Bayes, Michael Taylor checks in with FourFourTwo magazine's Conor Pope & sandwiched in between of all this footballing nutrition is another quality reminiscence from Canada's very own Bill Arthur. Many thanks of course to our excellent guests for giving up their time.
BRFCS Podcast host Ian Herbert chats with Lancashire Telegraph Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe about Rovers season so far, morale in the camp, the transfer window and the perils of dictaphones.
With added personalised greetings for Bradley Dack from two-time Baseball World Series winner Jose Canseco c/o our good friends at NYC Rovers.
In this two-parter, BRFCS Canada correspondent Bill Arthur catches up with former Burnley & Wigan defender Steven Caldwell, who is now a pundit on the TSN network in Canada. Steven's links with Blackburn Rovers are many & various; including Rovers legends such as Dalglish, Shearer, Gallagher, Given, Nelsen & of course...er...I have been stopped from posting this by moderators. Coyle. Have a listen to get the inside track on his career and those links in detail with Rovers.
In this two-parter, BRFCS Canada correspondent Bill Arthur catches up with former Burnley & Wigan defender Steven Caldwell, who is now a pundit on the TSN network in Canada. Steven's links with Blackburn Rovers are many & various; including Rovers legends such as Dalglish, Shearer, Gallagher, Given, Nelsen & of course...er...I have been stopped from posting this by moderators. Coyle. Have a listen to get the inside track on his career and those links in detail with Rovers.
The BRFCS pod squad meets up & records in person for the first time ever. A rendezvous in Sheffield ahead of the game against the Blades (perhaps just as well as events unfolded) providing an opportunity to review 2018's highs & lows, "Defend the Indefensible" and play "Name That Rover".
Many thanks to Mike Delap, Jen Bellamy, Linz Lewis, Scott Sumner, Michael Taylor, Matt Grimshaw (young apprentice podcaster), Stuart Grimshaw & Louis G for their contributions. Blame Ian Herbert for the editing.
Also available on YouTube if you want to see the "red button" highlights !
The podcast panel of Bill Arthur, Jen Bellamy, Mike Delap, Ian Futter, Linz Lewis, Tom Schofield, Scott Sumner, Michael Taylor corralled by host Ian Herbert, answers some festive questions coming up with suggestions for Festive run-out music, Rovers Secret Santa and Boxing Day treats...we would sincerely like to apologise for the singing...
Merry Christmas, from all at BRFCS.
A special edition podcast in which Ian Herbert chats with Football365 columnist & novelist John Nicholson about football writing, the anger in crowds, Tony Mowbray and Steely Dan
The pod squad convenes to review November, reflect on Sir Kenny Dalglish, Bill remembers Brockhall and much, much more. Join us & see if you can Guess The Rover before the panel & one of the panel swears...twice...no, not that one...I know.
Thanks to Bill Arthur, Jen Bellamy, Tom Schofield, Michael Taylor & host Ian Herbert.
In this special episode, regular podcast panellist Michael Taylor ( @marpleleaf ) reassesses the impact and the powers of Graeme Souness. Promotion, cup win but THAT tackle on Yorke and those transfers...
After the behind the scenes at Brockhall episode, the pod reverts to er "normal service" with a review of on-field October, discussions of tactics, formations, attendances, handling disappointment and play off memories from the 80's.
Panelists Jen Bellamy, Linz Lewis, Mike Delap, Michael Taylor are joined by new "boy" Ian Futter, which means for once host Ian Herbert isn't the oldest contributor.
Special mention to Bill Arthur for another of his wonderful narrations from Canada; this time covering off play off misfortune in the 1980's and final redemption in 1992.
In this historic 100th episode, BRFCS is invited through the hallowed portals of the Rovers Senior training Centre at Brockhall. We share what we can in this landmark podcast. Big thanks to Ryan Grant & all at BRFC of course for offering us this amazing opportunity.
I'm not sure how we improve on this so if it's the last ever episode, it's been great....*
*only joking, 101 is already scheduled...
We hope you enjoy this window into our favourite club.
Just to keep you on your toes our September review is coming out before the end of September due to longstanding diary clashes next week...fear not, there's still much to consider and in this episode a few interesting tales emerge from our panelists Jen Bellamy, Kamy & Michael Taylor.
Host Ian Herbert shares possibly the single most underwhelming anecdote about Tim Sherwood in history...not even a gilet in sight although there's quite a revelation about a former Man Utd chairman which came out of left field.
In a packed episode hosted by Ian Herbert, the panel of Jen Bellamy, Linz Lewis & Michael Taylor, reviews August, both on & off the field including the transfer windows, speculates wildly about the value of Bradley Dack & we have three (count 'em) guests -
Bill Arthur - takes us back to the 50's & 60's & his boyhood memories of supporting Rovers
Ian Futter - shares his Essex heritage & shares what it's like supporting Rovers from North Wales
Bruce Wilkinson - a regular contributor to When Saturday Comes magazine shares his love of Rovers
Ideal listening for the journey down to Bristol...please tell all your Rovers-supporting pals and spread the word !
If anyone would like to contribute a piece to a future episode along the lines of those from Bill & Ian, please let us know on this thread, via PM or on the @brfcsdotcom Twitter feed.
Thanks again to all the contributors for giving up their time...hope you enjoy !
A new season, a new series of podcasts, new theme music, a new panelist...you can't say we're not trying ?
A cast of thousands on this episode all wanting to have their say & predict the Rovers likely finishing position upon our return to the Championship. Listen right to the end as the last 2 guests have their own section.
Your host Ian Herbert tries to keep order as Josh Boswell, Kamy, Mike Delap, Michael Taylor (the Marple Leaf), Linz Lewis, Jen Bellamy (new signing) & guests Scott Sumner & Tom Schofield are fuelled with pre-season bonhomie.
Massive thanks to Joe Bamford (Biz) & his band "The Symmetry" for providing us with our own theme music for this season. We'll hopefully hear more from Joe & the band as the season progresses...
Listen out for some acronym related high jinks as one panelist mixes up the EDS at Man City with the EDL...both have some right-wingers...but...well you know...
Hope you enjoy & if anyone fancies contributing a first or favourite Rovers memory, or a Revisionist Rovers item for a future episode, that would be great.
As part of a new podcast series - "Revisionist Rovers" - we look at different characters, eras and events from Blackburn Rovers history and bring fresh perspective.
In this, the first episode, we take a look back at the impact and legacy of Ken Furphy upon Blackburn Rovers, through the pen of Jim Wilkinson.
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