Rovers. What's in a name?

[iamarover]

My work in India recently has prompted several locals to ask the reason for 'Rovers' as the club's moniker. Bristol's nickname 'Pirates' points to the city's seafaring tradition, cemented by their original name in 1883, 'the Black Arabs'. But what of the men of Ewood? No one I have asked has had a convincing answer - usually some vague reference to the club traveling round, as rivals Bolton 'Wander'. Even the impressive Wiki History on here is silent on the Christening ceremony. The only credible theory I can find is its derivative from King Cotton, for which Blackburn was known globally in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Here is a dictionary definition of the verb 'to rove'.

rove 2 (rv)

tr.v. roved, rov·ing, roves

1. To card (wool).

2. To put (fibers) through an eye or opening.

3. To stretch and twist (fibers) before spinning; ravel out.

n.

A slightly twisted and extended fiber or sliver.

and

rove

vb

(Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Textiles) (tr) to pull out and twist (fibres of wool, cotton, etc.) lightly, as before spinning or in carding

n

(Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Textiles) wool, cotton, etc., thus prepared

[of obscure origin]

So the 'Rovers' turn raw material into finery. Maybe I am trying too hard to link our town's glorious history with its present sporting icons, but I love the theory of it. Several other city clubs reference the local trade in their nicknames - the Hatters of Luton, the Silkmen of Macclesfield, the Blades of Sheffield. The Rovers of Blackburn sit well amongst those proud clubs.

I would welcome any contribution on this debate, or perhaps someone already has the definitive answer. If so please share.

[dave birch]

As far as I can remember, "Rovers" came from the fact that, in their initial season, Blackburn had no home ground and played all their games away.

So, they were named Blackburn Rovers.

[LeChuck]

How did "Rovers" end up being a common suffix to a club's name? Were we the first?

[iamarover]

How did "Rovers" end up being a common suffix to a club's name? Were we the first?

Am pretty sure we were the first 'Rovers'. Doncaster were 1879, Bristol a bit later. We were certainly the only one in the first League in 1888. No reason for its spread, other than the Bristol one I reference. 'Rover' is another word for 'pirate'. So any town or city with a port might adapt it.

[Mattyblue]

I always wonder why cities with more than one club often have one club called 'United'.

Manchester, Sheffield, Dundee etc obviously aren't 'United'.

[Stuart]

Phew, I saw the thread title and, for one cotton pickin' minute, thought Venkys had had another bright idea!

The second definition could well be the reason, I.e. the links to the cotton trade, and Blackburn being a thriving mill town. Rovers being, by that definition, people who spin yarn? It would make sense anyway.

Somebody will surely have the definitive answer on this MB.

[Hanks]

Am pretty sure we were the first 'Rovers'. Doncaster were 1879, Bristol a bit later. We were certainly the only one in the first League in 1888. No reason for its spread, other than the Bristol one I reference. 'Rover' is another word for 'pirate'. So any town or city with a port might adapt it.

Not quite the first, Clapham rovers were formed in 1869 and played in the first fa cup. They also won the cup in 1880.

[iamarover]

Not quite the first, Clapham rovers were formed in 1869 and played in the first fa cup. They also won the cup in 1880.

Nice one. I have played on the common with Rovers supporters club in London. Hallowed turf.

[supergrabbi01]

Interesting, maybe you've uncovered something there about the origins of the clubs name that's been forgotten over time... Some of my family were 'cotton card rovers' in blackburn in the late 19th century.

[wilyrover]

I'd love to know if any written records were kept from the founding meeting in 1875. Perhaps original material is in Rovers' museum at Ewood Park?

Football wasn't so big in those days, so it was probably on the scale of a pub football team being formed. But the lads who met at the St Leger in 1875 were Blackburn's wealthy establishment. So they might have insisted on recording proceedings for future reference.

[yoda's brother]

i thought i read somewhere that it was due to the fact that a lot of the players were not local and just looking for work in the area due to the cotton industry. hence the name rover.

or was to something to do with the canal, fuzzy memory due to age

[Sparky Marky]

I heard John Lewis had a dog called rover.

[Amo]

I see there's some ambiguity surrounding the name 'Blackburn' itself?

[koi]

I see there's some ambiguity surrounding the name 'Blackburn' itself?

I've always thought it's literal meaning was black burn as in black stream (burn being a stream or small river). A person I used to work with said it originally the original name came from the colour of the streams in the area due to bleaching processes. As for Rovers, I presumed it was a nickname from the days we didn't have a ground.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

As far as I can remember, "Rovers" came from the fact that, in their initial season, Blackburn had no home ground and played all their games away.

So, they were named Blackburn Rovers.

I think that's the real answer Dave.

[Stuart]

I've always thought it's literal meaning was black burn as in black stream (burn being a stream or small river). A person I used to work with said it originally the original name came from the colour of the streams in the area due to bleaching processes. As for Rovers, I presumed it was a nickname from the days we didn't have a ground.

Blackburn was built with the River Blakewater running through it. Blake became Black, presumably through dialect, and Burn means river as you say.

[McClarky]

My work in India recently has prompted several locals to ask the reason for 'Rovers' as the club's moniker. Bristol's nickname 'Pirates' points to the city's seafaring tradition, cemented by their original name in 1883, 'the Black Arabs'. But what of the men of Ewood? No one I have asked has had a convincing answer - usually some vague reference to the club traveling round, as rivals Bolton 'Wander'. Even the impressive Wiki History on here is silent on the Christening ceremony. The only credible theory I can find is its derivative from King Cotton, for which Blackburn was known globally in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Here is a dictionary definition of the verb 'to rove'.

rove 2 (rv)

tr.v. roved, rov·ing, roves

1. To card (wool).

2. To put (fibers) through an eye or opening.

3. To stretch and twist (fibers) before spinning; ravel out.

n.

A slightly twisted and extended fiber or sliver.

and

rove

vb

(Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Textiles) (tr) to pull out and twist (fibres of wool, cotton, etc.) lightly, as before spinning or in carding

n

(Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Textiles) wool, cotton, etc., thus prepared

[of obscure origin]

So the 'Rovers' turn raw material into finery. Maybe I am trying too hard to link our town's glorious history with its present sporting icons, but I love the theory of it. Several other city clubs reference the local trade in their nicknames - the Hatters of Luton, the Silkmen of Macclesfield, the Blades of Sheffield. The Rovers of Blackburn sit well amongst those proud clubs.

I would welcome any contribution on this debate, or perhaps someone already has the definitive answer. If so please share.

I think you"ve got too much time on your hands mate. Is there no porn on TV in Indian hotels or something?

[Amo]

I love how porn & TV are the only two options!

Ahhh who am I kidding?

[iamarover]

I think you"ve got too much time on your hands mate. Is there no porn on TV in Indian hotels or something?

Clarky you cheeky Langho Banjo. History is all we have these days.

[Brfcrule1]

I might have guessed Topman would show his face when porn is mentioned given how his avatars follow a running theme Topman I wonder is there a secret you would like to share with us all?

[purplegrover]

I love how porn & TV are the only two options!

Ahhh who am I kidding?

I don't understand. You mean...there are other options ?

This could open up a whole new world of possibilities. I'm free I tells Ya.... Free !

[m1st]

Blackburn was built with the River Blakewater running through it. Blake became Black, presumably through dialect, and Burn means river as you say.

I know I'm getting an owd beggar; but I'm sure I remember hearing something on Radio Blackburn [as it used to be] 30-something years ago about the mighty River Blakewater having something to do with blanch-ing [= whitening] the cotton.

So that our home town was really Blanch[=White]-burn.

[yoda]

I know I'm getting an owd beggar; but I'm sure I remember hearing something on Radio Blackburn [as it used to be] 30-something years ago about the mighty River Blakewater having something to do with blanch-ing [= whitening] the cotton.

So that our home town was really Blanch[=White]-burn.

That process gives the waste water a black tint

[MullenVoid]

A 'burn' is where a stream or river has been taken underground, or built over