[Archived] Goodbye Rovers

[Gav]

Well I think you’ve more than earned your stripes PB, so who am I to criticize your decision. The only thing I would point out is, its been worse than this, you may not feel it right now, but its been much worse than this IMO.

I can recall going to a league cup 1st leg game away at Wimbledon early 80’s, got hammered 5-0 if memory serves me correctly, I thought it couldn’t get any worse than that and I’m not sure it has to be honest, I rolled up for the 2nd leg, think we won 2-0? Nobody there, terrible feeling, will the club still be going in 2 seasons time? We didn’t think so, how could it?

Back in those days if you’d written a letter to the club you’d not have gotten a reply, they couldn’t afford the stamp. Gates around the 5000 mark, biggest game of the season was Leeds at home, Brum or Newcastle, they’d turn up on mass and take over the town, and have as many in the ground as we had, thats demoralising, or was for me.

So if you’re telling me things are worse now, sorry PB I’m not buying it, but I respect your decision. I almost packed it in under Allardyce for a variety of reasons really. If you said players not caring, over paid, fans being ripped off etc etc I’d be on the same page for sure. But blaming the current owners??? Not for me, they’re clueless no doubt about that, but what they’ve done wouldn’t stop me going because its been worse, much worse than this.

[Bluefudge]

When I hear Dave Clark five - glad all over, I'm right back at selhurst park.

I haven't got the feeling I had that day yet, but I'm well on the way there.

I hate you George Courtney!!

[1864roverite]

I am one of the 40 plus club and I know Preston Blue (Capt Mike to his friends) and his passion for Rovers. Along with him and others I travelled through Europe with him and who could forget the epic 2000 mile drive to Salzburg ?

Mike, its pretty sad that the goings on have made you return your tickets. You are not alone. I have boycotted the Newcastle cup game and I will not spend any more money on away games and that would probably include an away game at the dingledome because I could never stomach watching us getting beaten by the claret scum. Its come to the time, for me, that I have no real interest in going to Ewood Park, especially while this idiot is in charge.

I got the same responses from Mr Hunt, they are condescending to say the least and show a real lack of respect for the genuine supporter.

I can see what the Venky's lot are trying do, some of it is good, some of it is pure crap and the decision making process seriously has to be questionned. I want to know what or who is running the club behind the scenes.

Tomorrow will no doubt see the inevitable defeat, it will be hostile and the crowds anger will focus on one person alone. Kean must have the thickest skin around or indeed he is just plain ignorant. The Rovers crowd will not lose this battle. History shows us that ultimately Kean will leave, the thing is when and how bad will the situation have become ?

For me, listening to his pre match interview made me sick. ITS TIME TO START PUTTING POINTS ON THE BOARD ???? You muppet, that time started when we lost at home to a very mediocre Wolves team. If he had a shred of decency, he would resign but the idiot has not.

Ralfinho's poster should hit home tomorrow and I pray that no steward intervenes because that will cause mayhem.

Keans record is poor. It has now become the sole reason that is tearing our club apart. Its fans are leaving in droves because of Kean and his repugnant excuses spouted in the media. His lack of football nouse is evident for all to see.

Mike, stay in touch and keep safe.

KEAN OUT

[Claytons Left Boot]

Taking up GAV's point, yes it has been worse than it is now.

The wheels started turning slower in 1966 and started to well and truly come off a few years later, resulting in a fall to the bottom of the 3rd Division and almost in to the 4th.

From the early 70s to the late 80s we were always on a shoestring and the finances were in a sorry state. We had a few good years, a few bad years and just lurched on from season to season with what appeared to be no planning or proper organisation, Having said that, Fox, Bancroft and others did a sterling job just keeping us afloat.

However, it appears to be worse now because everyone can see the foundations crumbling from what was a period of relative dominance only a few years ago. All the years of good work from Uncle Jack and KD to Harford, Souness to Hughes and from Williams to Finn (and others) has been undone in an instant by the buffoons from India. It really does now feel like we'll do a Leeds or a Portsmouth (or worse)and more than likely never return to the top table.

[den]

Taking up GAV's point, yes it has been worse than it is now.

The wheels started turning slower in 1966 and started to well and truly come off a few years later, resulting in a fall to the bottom of the 3rd Division and almost in to the 4th.

From the early 70s to the late 80s we were always on a shoestring and the finances were in a sorry state. We had a few good years, a few bad years and just lurched on from season to season with what appeared to be no planning or proper organisation, Having said that, Fox, Bancroft and others did a sterling job just keeping us afloat.

However, it appears to be worse now because everyone can see the foundations crumbling from what was a period of relative dominance only a few years ago. All the years of good work from Uncle Jack and KD to Harford, Souness to Hughes and from Williams to Finn (and others) has been undone in an instant by the buffoons from India. It really does now feel like we'll do a Leeds or a Portsmouth (or worse)and more than likely never return to the top table.

Yes Clb, you're right.

The thing to me - and I've said it before - is that this is the first time the club has been in the hands of people who want to use the club for what it can bring to them and their business. All through the said bad times, it wasn't bad management that got us into that position, it was circumstances. All the people you mention were there to do their best for BRFC, they weren't there for what BRFC could do for them.

Circumstances all those years ago couldn't be avoided. These current circumstances are being inflicted on the club by incompetent owners. The owners really are, along with Kean, getting exactly the treatment from the fans, that they deserve.

The fox's and Bancrofts were left with nothing to work with after the abolition of the maximum wage. All our best or decent players left for bigger paypackets, the club structure was basically down to a few willing souls and rovers income in those days was near to zero.

The Raos have walked into Ewood and are currently on a route that could see us back to where we were all those years ago. There are plenty of clubs presently on just as much of a shoestring, as we were then. It needn't have been done.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Yeah I was at Halifax as well ( 2-2 draw as I remember). I'd been going for 10 years prior to that and in all that time I've never been as low. I've gotten now where I dread Saturdays coming because I know come 5.00 I'll be thoroughly miserable and in a bad mood all evening. I think the difference between then and now is that then we were all pulling in the same direction inspite of ( or maybe because of ) not having a pot to pee in. The fans opinions counted for something ( see the Jim Iley situation ) and Directors listened and cared.

There'll be no stick from me Preston Blue, you and I feel like this not because we don't care but because we care too much.

[BangkokRover]

Seems that many local Rovers fans have had enough and who can blame them. While I think Venkys will be around for a while after hearing what the Pune 9 have said. I don't think that Kean can last much longer at all. The fans are against Kean and it will be almost impossible to get hem back on side.

All I can say PB is I hope when Kean is replaced you are back cheering on Rovers. As once the change is made its going to take monster job by the new manager and the fans to get Rovers going up the league.

[Veevs]

Yeah for many of us these days are worse than those of old, we had very little to start with so there was no huge sense of loss.. mainly highlighted by the fact that we have done so well and the legacy of Jack, JW and co is being torn to shreds.

We have owners now who hardly ever come to the UK and admit having limited football knowledge yet seem intent on making sweeping changes and important decisions like removing Sam, Keeping Kean, apparently dabbling with transfers etc etc.. They are way more interested in messing around and investing heavily on a completely different continent.

The most important thing is we didn't need to spend a fortune and what little money that apparently has been invested has been invested incredibly poorly.

Put simply you don't miss something you have never had.. we have now had good times and we miss them due to the mistakes made by Venkys.

[winstonsmith]

It is so very sad to see a fan who has loved Rovers all his life feeling that there is no option but to jack it in. I've been a Rovers fan for nearly 50 years and I can honestly say I never felt as low about the club as I do now.

I've seen relegations and star players who we had built up to be heroes walk out of the gates with not so much as a backward glance, I've seen us have to play at some rum grounds such as Halifax and Oxford and, of course, I've witnessed some heartbreaking defeats (I'll never forget 'Glad all over' being played as we left Selhurst Park after losing the play-off final).

But I don't mind us losing or struggling in the league or having no money because it is that suffering which makes winning so very special for us. It is a feeling a glory hunting Man U fan could never experience.

What makes this situation so very much worse than any previous lows is that it is the very people that have been entrusted with safeguarding the club who are the ones who ,through a fatal combination of stupidity and overbearing arrogance, seem intent on destroying it. Venky's could take a giant step towards rescuing the club by simply replacing Kean, the great spouter of guff, with a proper manager but they refuse to do so. I think this is because they want everyone to know that its their club and that they won't be told what to do by mere fans.

Anyway PB, I would ask you to reconsider your decision, at least until a mass boycott is organised. I seem to recall some poster referring to you as a union man. Well if that is the case, then you will appreciate that unity is strength and collective action is more effective than what an individual can achieve on their own. If for no other reason than we need you in the JW stand letting Venkys and Kean know what you think of them!

[Sandiway Blue]

Even though things arnt good right now I cant for life of me understand why you choose to give up and not fight if your that against the owners? Are you french?

are you still here....

[rog of the rovers]

Everyone is free to make their own decision.

Preston Blue has made his, and I hope not going to Rovers games anymore can lift his spirits.

[Mercer]

The only reason I'm attending tomorrow is owing to commitments to two guests of my mine.

After tomorrow, I fully support PB, I will not attend Ewood again whilst Kean is in charge.

[47er]

Well I think you’ve more than earned your stripes PB, so who am I to criticize your decision. The only thing I would point out is, its been worse than this, you may not feel it right now, but its been much worse than this IMO.

I can recall going to a league cup 1st leg game away at Wimbledon early 80’s, got hammered 5-0 if memory serves me correctly, I thought it couldn’t get any worse than that and I’m not sure it has to be honest, I rolled up for the 2nd leg, think we won 2-0? Nobody there, terrible feeling, will the club still be going in 2 seasons time? We didn’t think so, how could it?

Back in those days if you’d written a letter to the club you’d not have gotten a reply, they couldn’t afford the stamp. Gates around the 5000 mark, biggest game of the season was Leeds at home, Brum or Newcastle, they’d turn up on mass and take over the town, and have as many in the ground as we had, thats demoralising, or was for me.

So if you’re telling me things are worse now, sorry PB I’m not buying it, but I respect your decision. I almost packed it in under Allardyce for a variety of reasons really. If you said players not caring, over paid, fans being ripped off etc etc I’d be on the same page for sure. But blaming the current owners??? Not for me, they’re clueless no doubt about that, but what they’ve done wouldn’t stop me going because its been worse, much worse than this.

"almost packed it in under Allardyce" but still going under Kean! Nowt so queer as folk!

At least you always walked away from Ewood with a win to cheer you up.

[Fife Rover]

I have read PB's post and whilst I do understand exactly how he feels, and I do not in any way criticise or condemn him or any others that feel the same way, I will not be taking any similar action.

I have been giving it serious consideration over the last few weeks, and have not been down to any match since the Everton game because I (like so many of you) was so heartily sick of the whole scenario that I was indeed considering my position. But then I thought of how long I have been a Rovers fan (65th anniversary of my first match at Ewood on 30th November) and how many countless ups and downs I have lived through and still supported them since that day back in 1946 that I first stood on the old open Blackburn End as a wide eyed 10 year old and fell in love with the place and the club. And since that first season of league football after the war (1946-47) there has never been a season when I was not present for at least one or two games given that I was away in the Navy for years and after that my civil service job also took me all over the world for very long periods. But there were also many more years when I lived in Blackburn and Darwen and held a season ticket then, and also since I moved to Scotland ditto, so all in all I have had a good innings as a Rovers fan.

So the conclusion I have come to after much soul searching is that I have seen the bad times through the past 65 years and have always stayed loyal so there is no way i will I give up on the club I love now. As far as I am concerned the present nightmare is just that, and will eventually pass and wherever it leaves my beloved club I will still be there rooting for them . Yes even if it means seeing them drop right down and even out of the League.

[gumboots]

I have read PB's post and whilst I do understand exactly how he feels, and I do not in any way criticise or condemn him or any others that feel the same way, I will not be taking any similar action.

I have been giving it serious consideration over the last few weeks, and have not been down to any match since the Everton game because I (like so many of you) was so heartily sick of the whole scenario that I was indeed considering my position. But then I thought of how long I have been a Rovers fan (65th anniversary of my first match at Ewood on 30th November) and how many countless ups and downs I have lived through and still supported them since that day back in 1946 that I first stood on the old open Blackburn End as a wide eyed 10 year old and fell in love with the place and the club. And since that first season of league football after the war (1946-47) there has never been a season when I was not present for at least one or two games given that I was away in the Navy for years and after that my civil service job also took me all over the world for very long periods. But there were also many more years when I lived in Blackburn and Darwen and held a season ticket then, and also since I moved to Scotland ditto, so all in all I have had a good innings as a Rovers fan.

So the conclusion I have come to after much soul searching is that I have seen the bad times through the past 65 years and have always stayed loyal so there is no way i will I give up on the club I love now. As far as I am concerned the present nightmare is just that, and will eventually pass and wherever it leaves my beloved club I will still be there rooting for them . Yes even if it means seeing them drop right down and even out of the League.

Good to hear from you, Fife! I've been wondering whre you were.

[ABBEY]

Gav it was a good booze up the Wimbledon away one ha.i remember the game at ewood too. But it was expected then we wernt an established 1st division club tho. Now we are and everything is wrong now right thru thd club from top to bottom! Back then we wernt a joke of a club like we are now. On Friday I was working with some lads from Lancaster who I haven't seen for 2-3 years and after all the venky and kean jokes stopped they couldn't believe what's happened so far!

[SAS]

I wont be in attendance today, and don't know when I'll feel the need to go again.

[Gav]

"almost packed it in under Allardyce" but still going under Kean! Nowt so queer as folk!

At least you always walked away from Ewood with a win to cheer you up.

Sometimes its best just to say nothing, have a little respect for how people are feeling about supporting the club/have felt over the years, just a bit of advice 47er

[47er]

Sometimes its best just to say nothing, have a little respect for how people are feeling about supporting the club/have felt over the years, just a bit of advice 47er

Sometimes Gav it seems you have to say something whether its anything to do with what I wrote or not. Point me to any disrespect in my post aimed at how people feel.

I'm simply pointing out that you felt like packing Rovers in when we were doing well but are sticking with them now we are bloody awful!

Your irrational dislike of Allardyce knew no bounds and that's the truth of it. You're in no position to offer advice to anybody.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Your irrational dislike of Allardyce

Irrational dislike, irrational adoration. Some people try to be halfway between, some people become turncoats.

[47er]

Irrational dislike, irrational adoration. Some people try to be halfway between, some people become turncoats.

And some people never post anything useful at all.

[Uddersfelt Blue]

As long as their is a team and manager trying to win football matches I won't be packing in supporting the Club I love.

There may be a degree of incompetence and naivety around at the moment but as many have said, we've been in much more precarious circumstances in the past and we're still here.

Hopefully Venkys have realised and accepted their mistakes and will look to rectify them soon!

RTID

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Get rid of kean and we get rid of 90% of our current problems. The fans will unite under a competent manager and the club can start to move forward.

It seems such a simple decision on paper.

Yet venkys seemto be ignoring it. If we lose and he is still here monday then every other protest should be focused on venkys.

[Uddersfelt Blue]

Get rid of kean and we get rid of 90% of our current problems. The fans will unite under a competent manager and the club can start to move forward.

It seems such a simple decision on paper.

Yet venkys seemto be ignoring it. If we lose and he is still here monday then every other protest should be focused on venkys.

Simple yet so difficult when it involves saving face.

Rumour of a potential new manager at the game today.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

And some people never post anything useful at all.

Dont be so tough on yourself. You posted some decent stuff before Saint Sam was martyred.