BRFC - The Nostalgia Thread

[simongarnerisgod]

10 hours ago, Gav said:

Not much footage of the game, Charlton away, Rovers won promotion 1958.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JpEre63cNvo

Rovers ran football special trains to this one, the gate was over 56,000.

impressive that east terrace at the valley,must have held 30000 easily

[Gav]

6 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

impressive that east terrace at the valley,must have held 30000 easily

I think it was the biggest terrace in Britain at one time, very impressive. 

[bazza]

2 hours ago, Gav said:

I think it was the biggest terrace in Britain at one time, very impressive. 

The Valley's maximum capacity was 75,000

[den]

10 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Rovers v Everton 1962-63 season - Great games of the 1960’s.

47er mentioned the above game in the Luton thread but he had it a season or two later on. I went along to this as 13 year old kid on the old Ribble bus from Rochdale. It was played on Saturday Nov 17th 1962, a damp and cold afternoon. The pitch was a bit muddy but well rolled, at the beginning of the game anyway. Ex Rover Roy Vernon was captaining Everton and I remember watching him warm up and being impressed with the power of his shooting at goal.

The first half was end to end but without a goal. Plenty of action around the goals but nothing on the score sheet. I’d been standing behind the goals at the Darwen End where Rovers were attacking  but at half time I moved on to the half way line near the front of the Riverside. That was as far as I felt like going as there was a big crowd on with loads from Everton. ( 30,243 according to Mike Jackman ).

The second half kicked off and after about 15 minutes Fergie got away down the right wing and crossed over a peach of a cross ball for Ian Lawther to head home. Lawther had the happy knack of being able to hang in the air and he easily out jumped Brian Labone, the Everton centre half.

We’d only been in front for a few minutes when Everton got a corner. It was only half cleared and an Everton player fired the loose ball home through a crowded goal mouth. Fred Else in the Rovers goal totally unsighted.

Rovers were shaken by that goal and within 5 minutes they had conceded another carbon copy of that type of goal.  The ball fired through a crowded goalmouth with Else again having  no chance. 2-1 down after being on top.

Rovers were spurred into action by this and started to dominate the game again with Duggie pulling the strings in midfield. With about 10 minute to go Fred Pickering who was playing a similar role to what BBD plays for the current Rovers team got away up the left hand side and cut in down the goal line. With everybody, including Gordon West in the Everton goal,  expecting  a cross he fired the ball home from an acute angle. 2-2 and Rovers well on top.

With only a minute or two to go Big Fred got away again in a similar position down the goal line. Before he could shoot again Everton’s Jimmy Gabriel brought him down - PENALTY.

By this time the sleet from earlier on had turned to snow and it was really coming down. I could just about make out the goals at the Blackburn End. Dougie was the calmest man on the pitch as he placed the ball on the spot. He turned and walked back a few yards,turned, addressed the ball, and then sauntered up to shoot. The ball went in one bottom corner as Gordon West dived into the other corner.  3-2 to the Rovers and we’d won a classic.

As things were at the time I’d turned up in a suit, collar and tie. Nobody had cagoules, anoraks or parkas then. No real outdoor gear. You turned up in your street clothes. Even as a 13 year old kid I was always dapper.

In spite of this I didn’t feel the cold for a minute as jogged back to the Boulevard in the snow. Picked up the Last Sports and read it from cover to cover on the bus on the way home. Happy days indeed.

Rovers team that day

Else

Bray, Newton

Clayton, Woods, McGrath

Ferguson, Lawther, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison.

Everton ( from memory ).

West

Parker, Meagan

Gabriel, Labone, Harris

Bingham, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Veall

I’ve written this from memory but somewhere in the house I still have the after match cutting from the Last Sports. I also thought we were 2-0 down until I re-read the cutting several years ago.

This was just one of several really great games I remember from the first half of the 1960’s.

Rovers v Burnley 1962, Man Utd v Rovers 1962, Rovers v Arsenal ( 5-5) 1962, Rovers v West Brom ( the Douglas wonder goal ) 1963, Rovers v Spurs ( the 3-0 and the 7-2 )  both in 1963 but different seasons, Rovers v Arsenal 1963. That’s just a few but by then I’d started playing youth football myself and I couldn’t attend games as often as I would have like to. I loved watching but it’s not nearly as good as playing yourself.

I could write a bit about all of those games if anyone is interested ?

I’d gone back to the Fishwicks bus when we were 2-1 down. Coming off early was something I’ve never done - apart for some reason on that day. When the rest of the coach came back I thought they were joking when they said rovers had won. I didn’t believe them. Gutted having missed two goals.
I certainly remember the snow. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

55 minutes ago, den said:

I’d gone back to the Fishwicks bus when we were 2-1 down. Coming off early was something I’ve never done - apart for some reason on that day. When the rest of the coach came back I thought they were joking when they said rovers had won. I didn’t believe them. Gutted having missed two goals.
I certainly remember the snow. 

You missed a treat. We really went for it at 2-1 down. Bit different to todays lot.

I remember getting in to Old Trafford about 5 minutes late and it was  already 1-1. We were losing 2-1 with about 5 minutes to go and not looking like scoring so me and my pal decided to leave the game to find the coach. That game ended 2-2 !

[Upside Down]

Never left early apart from one game that I can't remember but we were a total disgrace and had gotten bummed completely. 

It always made me laugh seeing them streaming out of the Riverside with ten minutes to go. I always used to wonder what was the point in even going if you aren't going to watch the whole match. 

[Songman]

12 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Rovers v Everton 1962-63 season - Great games of the 1960’s.

47er mentioned the above game in the Luton thread but he had it a season or two later on. I went along to this as 13 year old kid on the old Ribble bus from Rochdale. It was played on Saturday Nov 17th 1962, a damp and cold afternoon. The pitch was a bit muddy but well rolled, at the beginning of the game anyway. Ex Rover Roy Vernon was captaining Everton and I remember watching him warm up and being impressed with the power of his shooting at goal.

The first half was end to end but without a goal. Plenty of action around the goals but nothing on the score sheet. I’d been standing behind the goals at the Darwen End where Rovers were attacking  but at half time I moved on to the half way line near the front of the Riverside. That was as far as I felt like going as there was a big crowd on with loads from Everton. ( 30,243 according to Mike Jackman ).

The second half kicked off and after about 15 minutes Fergie got away down the right wing and crossed over a peach of a cross ball for Ian Lawther to head home. Lawther had the happy knack of being able to hang in the air and he easily out jumped Brian Labone, the Everton centre half.

We’d only been in front for a few minutes when Everton got a corner. It was only half cleared and an Everton player fired the loose ball home through a crowded goal mouth. Fred Else in the Rovers goal totally unsighted.

Rovers were shaken by that goal and within 5 minutes they had conceded another carbon copy of that type of goal.  The ball fired through a crowded goalmouth with Else again having  no chance. 2-1 down after being on top.

Rovers were spurred into action by this and started to dominate the game again with Duggie pulling the strings in midfield. With about 10 minute to go Fred Pickering who was playing a similar role to what BBD plays for the current Rovers team got away up the left hand side and cut in down the goal line. With everybody, including Gordon West in the Everton goal,  expecting  a cross he fired the ball home from an acute angle. 2-2 and Rovers well on top.

With only a minute or two to go Big Fred got away again in a similar position down the goal line. Before he could shoot again Everton’s Jimmy Gabriel brought him down - PENALTY.

By this time the sleet from earlier on had turned to snow and it was really coming down. I could just about make out the goals at the Blackburn End. Dougie was the calmest man on the pitch as he placed the ball on the spot. He turned and walked back a few yards,turned, addressed the ball, and then sauntered up to shoot. The ball went in one bottom corner as Gordon West dived into the other corner.  3-2 to the Rovers and we’d won a classic.

As things were at the time I’d turned up in a suit, collar and tie. Nobody had cagoules, anoraks or parkas then. No real outdoor gear. You turned up in your street clothes. Even as a 13 year old kid I was always dapper.

In spite of this I didn’t feel the cold for a minute as jogged back to the Boulevard in the snow. Picked up the Last Sports and read it from cover to cover on the bus on the way home. Happy days indeed.

Rovers team that day

Else

Bray, Newton

Clayton, Woods, McGrath

Ferguson, Lawther, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison.

Everton ( from memory ).

West

Parker, Meagan

Gabriel, Labone, Harris

Bingham, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Veall

I’ve written this from memory but somewhere in the house I still have the after match cutting from the Last Sports. I also thought we were 2-0 down until I re-read the cutting several years ago.

This was just one of several really great games I remember from the first half of the 1960’s.

Rovers v Burnley 1962, Man Utd v Rovers 1962, Rovers v Arsenal ( 5-5) 1962, Rovers v West Brom ( the Douglas wonder goal ) 1963, Rovers v Spurs ( the 3-0 and the 7-2 )  both in 1963 but different seasons, Rovers v Arsenal 1963. That’s just a few but by then I’d started playing youth football myself and I couldn’t attend games as often as I would have like to. I loved watching but it’s not nearly as good as playing yourself.

I could write a bit about all of those games if anyone is interested ?

Got to be one of the best posters on this forum Tyrone, makes me feel as though I was there although some 20 years before I was born.

[AllRoverAsia]

15 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

This, and the Rugby League forums, are the only social media I use plus an engineering site for business. 

On Facebook the Talbot Archives and most of the sites about 'old' Blackburn are good.

It was on the Talbot site I found a lot of photos of the 1963 game v Spurs and elsewhere old photos of Hope Street and Kirby Rd where I stayed when visiting relatives to get to the football.

[Mattyblue]

Going early is just a habit now for some folk, as traffic is nowhere near as bad as it once was… for obvious reasons! Indeed I’m sure some that do it walk home anyway!

It’s the same everywhere. Clock hits 87, right time to go. The cinema thing is apt, imagine leaving before the big twist ending, battle, death etc. So why miss that last gasp winner, one of the absolute joys of being a fan and they’ve missed them all.

Edited September 20, 2022 by Mattyblue

[oldjamfan1]

23 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Rovers v Everton 1962-63 season - Great games of the 1960’s.

47er mentioned the above game in the Luton thread but he had it a season or two later on. I went along to this as 13 year old kid on the old Ribble bus from Rochdale. It was played on Saturday Nov 17th 1962, a damp and cold afternoon. The pitch was a bit muddy but well rolled, at the beginning of the game anyway. Ex Rover Roy Vernon was captaining Everton and I remember watching him warm up and being impressed with the power of his shooting at goal.

The first half was end to end but without a goal. Plenty of action around the goals but nothing on the score sheet. I’d been standing behind the goals at the Darwen End where Rovers were attacking  but at half time I moved on to the half way line near the front of the Riverside. That was as far as I felt like going as there was a big crowd on with loads from Everton. ( 30,243 according to Mike Jackman ).

The second half kicked off and after about 15 minutes Fergie got away down the right wing and crossed over a peach of a cross ball for Ian Lawther to head home. Lawther had the happy knack of being able to hang in the air and he easily out jumped Brian Labone, the Everton centre half.

We’d only been in front for a few minutes when Everton got a corner. It was only half cleared and an Everton player fired the loose ball home through a crowded goal mouth. Fred Else in the Rovers goal totally unsighted.

Rovers were shaken by that goal and within 5 minutes they had conceded another carbon copy of that type of goal.  The ball fired through a crowded goalmouth with Else again having  no chance. 2-1 down after being on top.

Rovers were spurred into action by this and started to dominate the game again with Duggie pulling the strings in midfield. With about 10 minute to go Fred Pickering who was playing a similar role to what BBD plays for the current Rovers team got away up the left hand side and cut in down the goal line. With everybody, including Gordon West in the Everton goal,  expecting  a cross he fired the ball home from an acute angle. 2-2 and Rovers well on top.

With only a minute or two to go Big Fred got away again in a similar position down the goal line. Before he could shoot again Everton’s Jimmy Gabriel brought him down - PENALTY.

By this time the sleet from earlier on had turned to snow and it was really coming down. I could just about make out the goals at the Blackburn End. Dougie was the calmest man on the pitch as he placed the ball on the spot. He turned and walked back a few yards,turned, addressed the ball, and then sauntered up to shoot. The ball went in one bottom corner as Gordon West dived into the other corner.  3-2 to the Rovers and we’d won a classic.

As things were at the time I’d turned up in a suit, collar and tie. Nobody had cagoules, anoraks or parkas then. No real outdoor gear. You turned up in your street clothes. Even as a 13 year old kid I was always dapper.

In spite of this I didn’t feel the cold for a minute as jogged back to the Boulevard in the snow. Picked up the Last Sports and read it from cover to cover on the bus on the way home. Happy days indeed.

Rovers team that day

Else

Bray, Newton

Clayton, Woods, McGrath

Ferguson, Lawther, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison.

Everton ( from memory ).

West

Parker, Meagan

Gabriel, Labone, Harris

Bingham, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Veall

I’ve written this from memory but somewhere in the house I still have the after match cutting from the Last Sports. I also thought we were 2-0 down until I re-read the cutting several years ago.

This was just one of several really great games I remember from the first half of the 1960’s.

Rovers v Burnley 1962, Man Utd v Rovers 1962, Rovers v Arsenal ( 5-5) 1962, Rovers v West Brom ( the Douglas wonder goal ) 1963, Rovers v Spurs ( the 3-0 and the 7-2 )  both in 1963 but different seasons, Rovers v Arsenal 1963. That’s just a few but by then I’d started playing youth football myself and I couldn’t attend games as often as I would have like to. I loved watching but it’s not nearly as good as playing yourself.

I could write a bit about all of those games if anyone is interested ?

Keep 'em coming Tyrone, brilliant stuff and what a recall.

[AllRoverAsia]

On 19/09/2022 at 16:50, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Rovers v Everton 1962-63 season - Great games of the 1960’s.

47er mentioned the above game in the Luton thread but he had it a season or two later on. I went along to this as 13 year old kid on the old Ribble bus from Rochdale. It was played on Saturday Nov 17th 1962, a damp and cold afternoon. The pitch was a bit muddy but well rolled, at the beginning of the game anyway. Ex Rover Roy Vernon was captaining Everton and I remember watching him warm up and being impressed with the power of his shooting at goal.

The first half was end to end but without a goal. Plenty of action around the goals but nothing on the score sheet. I’d been standing behind the goals at the Darwen End where Rovers were attacking  but at half time I moved on to the half way line near the front of the Riverside. That was as far as I felt like going as there was a big crowd on with loads from Everton. ( 30,243 according to Mike Jackman ).

The second half kicked off and after about 15 minutes Fergie got away down the right wing and crossed over a peach of a cross ball for Ian Lawther to head home. Lawther had the happy knack of being able to hang in the air and he easily out jumped Brian Labone, the Everton centre half.

We’d only been in front for a few minutes when Everton got a corner. It was only half cleared and an Everton player fired the loose ball home through a crowded goal mouth. Fred Else in the Rovers goal totally unsighted.

Rovers were shaken by that goal and within 5 minutes they had conceded another carbon copy of that type of goal.  The ball fired through a crowded goalmouth with Else again having  no chance. 2-1 down after being on top.

Rovers were spurred into action by this and started to dominate the game again with Duggie pulling the strings in midfield. With about 10 minute to go Fred Pickering who was playing a similar role to what BBD plays for the current Rovers team got away up the left hand side and cut in down the goal line. With everybody, including Gordon West in the Everton goal,  expecting  a cross he fired the ball home from an acute angle. 2-2 and Rovers well on top.

With only a minute or two to go Big Fred got away again in a similar position down the goal line. Before he could shoot again Everton’s Jimmy Gabriel brought him down - PENALTY.

By this time the sleet from earlier on had turned to snow and it was really coming down. I could just about make out the goals at the Blackburn End. Dougie was the calmest man on the pitch as he placed the ball on the spot. He turned and walked back a few yards,turned, addressed the ball, and then sauntered up to shoot. The ball went in one bottom corner as Gordon West dived into the other corner.  3-2 to the Rovers and we’d won a classic.

As things were at the time I’d turned up in a suit, collar and tie. Nobody had cagoules, anoraks or parkas then. No real outdoor gear. You turned up in your street clothes. Even as a 13 year old kid I was always dapper.

In spite of this I didn’t feel the cold for a minute as jogged back to the Boulevard in the snow. Picked up the Last Sports and read it from cover to cover on the bus on the way home. Happy days indeed.

Rovers team that day

Else

Bray, Newton

Clayton, Woods, McGrath

Ferguson, Lawther, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison.

Everton ( from memory ).

West

Parker, Meagan

Gabriel, Labone, Harris

Bingham, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Veall

I’ve written this from memory but somewhere in the house I still have the after match cutting from the Last Sports. I also thought we were 2-0 down until I re-read the cutting several years ago.

This was just one of several really great games I remember from the first half of the 1960’s.

Rovers v Burnley 1962, Man Utd v Rovers 1962, Rovers v Arsenal ( 5-5) 1962, Rovers v West Brom ( the Douglas wonder goal ) 1963, Rovers v Spurs ( the 3-0 and the 7-2 )  both in 1963 but different seasons, Rovers v Arsenal 1963. That’s just a few but by then I’d started playing youth football myself and I couldn’t attend games as often as I would have like to. I loved watching but it’s not nearly as good as playing yourself.

I could write a bit about all of those games if anyone is interested ?

Great read 

Can you do a description of all our 7 goals in the 7-2 win v Spurs?

My memory is not what it was but I think there was a least one long distance screamer.

[broadsword]

We once played in stripes, who knew? 

 

[Upside Down]

It's also bizarre that Bolton aren't in their colours as well. 

[speeeeeeedie]

I could put this is in numerous threads but I'll stick it here as it has a bit of nostalgia to it. 

Phil Jones gets a mention every transfer window. This article should explain why he'd be a bad signing; far too many injuries. A real shame as he was superb for his brief stint in Rovers first team before his big money move away. 

ESPNFC - Phil Jones ups and downs

 

[Gav]

Great bit of footage here from FA Cup semi final 1952 replay at Elland Rd.

 

 

[frosty]

That's great footage. Wouldn't have fancied being in that crush mind!

Was Milburn's pass at 00:25 really a 'lovely pass'? He carried it well, but the pass itself.....

 

Edited September 22, 2022 by frosty

[simongarnerisgod]

don`t think they were counting at the turnstiles judging by the crowd and did`nt everyone look the same in the 50`s!!

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

14 hours ago, simongarnerisgod said:

don`t think they were counting at the turnstiles judging by the crowd and did`nt everyone look the same in the 50`s!!

Yep, everybody looked about 20 years older than they really were.

[Armchair supporter supremo]

20 hours ago, Gav said:

Great bit of footage here from FA Cup semi final 1952 replay at Elland Rd.

 

 

Jeez the state of those footballs though! Really was hit and hope, no acuracy with them at all. Would be fascinating to  see how the players of times gone by would have got on with a modern football 

[Gav]

Jackie Milburn was a Newcastle legend, be interesting if any of our older fans can recall just how good he was? He certainly looked a player on those brief highlights, fast, close control and could score a goal two.

@renrag maybe?

[Nuttall is lost]

When was the last time you could see a game from the hill/park behind the Riverside stand? Its like a jungle up there now with zero view of the stadium.

[simongarnerisgod]

22 minutes ago, Nuttall is lost said:

When was the last time you could see a game from the hill/park behind the Riverside stand? Its like a jungle up there now with zero view of the stadium.

the play off game against chelsea in 1988,the old riverside has benn demolished and the new one had`nt been started,there were loads on the hill,the morning of the game hundreds of chelsea fans were drinking outside the  moorings and jumping in the canal(it was a hot day)even so jumping into that stretch of waterway is`nt and was`nt the best advice😷

[Nuttall is lost]

21 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

the play off game against chelsea in 1988,the old riverside has benn demolished and the new one had`nt been started,there were loads on the hill,the morning of the game hundreds of chelsea fans were drinking outside the  moorings and jumping in the canal(it was a hot day)even so jumping into that stretch of waterway is`nt and was`nt the best advice😷

too early for me.  My earliest memory was v Aston Villa in April 1993 where we killed their tile hopes winning 3-0.  I remember a fair few on the hill that day.  No trees on the hill back then.  Now its like the amazon

[simongarnerisgod]

you mean this one!!!!!!!!happy days indeed

[Oldgregg86]

11 minutes ago, Nuttall is lost said:

too early for me.  My earliest memory was v Aston Villa in April 1993 where we killed their tile hopes winning 3-0.  I remember a fair few on the hill that day.  No trees on the hill back then.  Now its like the amazon