20 Years Ago.

[Alan75]

Would you believe it. 20 years ago.

On Sunday 29th March 1987, the town emptied as over 28,000 supporters travelled to Wembley watch Rovers take on Charlton in the Full Members Cup, in their first final since 1960.

Not one of the most spectacular games, with Rovers on the back foot for most of the game, relying on Vince O’Keefe to keep then First Division Charlton at bay, with one of his best performances between the posts for Rovers.

With only 5 minutes remaining, a young striker who had recently been signed from Dundee, hit a blistering shot into the Charlton net, that proved to be the winner.

Whilst it may not have had the glamour of the FA Cup, for many a Rovers supporters the Full Members Cup Final win will go down as a turning point towards the rebirth of the club. A day when an unknown blonde, Colin Hendry, made his first step towards becoming Blackburn’s very own “Brave heart” and Rovers legend.

The Rovers team that day was…

Vince O’Keefe, Chris Price, Chris Sulley, Glenn Keeley, David Mail, Scott Sellars Simon Barker, Alan Ainscow, Ian Miller, Simon Garner and Colin Hendry. Mark Patterson came on as a substitute for Sellars and Jim Branagan was the unfortunate unused substitute.

The attendance 43,789, of which a good 75% were probably Rovers fans.

How Rovers got to Wembley.

R1 – Huddersfield Town 1 ROVERS 2 (aet)

R2 - ROVERS 1 Sheffield United 0

R3 - ROVERS 4 Oxford United 3

QF - ROVERS 3 Chelsea 0

SF - ROVERS 3 Ipswich Town 0

FINAL - ROVERS 1 Charlton Athletic 0 (at Wembley)