Radio Rovers - 1404 AM - A look back

[SuperBrfc]

No, it's not coming back, sadly. Just thought I'd create a nostalgic thread on Radio Rovers to find out what fellow posters thought about a piece of Rovers history.

For those who may not know, Radio Rovers was the UK's first Football Club Radio Station and was pioneered by Rovers in October 1993. Radio Rovers would broadcast commentary of every Rovers home game, locally, via radio on 1413/1404 AM and around the world, online, on the Rovers website.

"touchline@radiorovers.co.uk" and "call us on Blackburn 26 14 13" are etched into my mind. I heard those adverts that much! 😃.

The Station went on air in October 1993 and would last for 23 years before being closed down in August 2017. Another one of the good things of old dispensed with under this regime. Gerald Jackson was the host presenter of Radio Rovers for 20 years and did an excellent job, before he was replaced by a new host in August 2014. It was never the same after he left, to be honest.

A broadcast would start four hours prior to kick off and would end one hour after the game. A Saturday afternoon game broadcast would start at 11am (UK time) and end at 6pm. A midweek game broadcast would start at 4pm and end at 11pm.

I'll admit to being a right saddo, as I often listened to entire midweek game broadcasts from 4pm onwards during the Souness/Hughes days and I loved it (Was young, so had plenty of spare time and it was perfect for me in the winter months). I can't have been alone in doing that? Ha. If I was going to the game that evening, I'd make sure to catch the last 40 minutes or so of the post match reaction. Did anybody else do similar?

The first four hours of the broadcast would be filled with music, player interviews, analysis of previous games, quizzes and pre match buildup. The hour after the game was for post match reaction, with fans calling in and texting in their thoughts. I had a few texts read out by Gerald, which always made by day/evening as a teenager 😁.

Anyway, a few questions for you all. When did you first hear about Radio Rovers? How often would you tune into the Station? Were you avid listeners or was it a 'car thing' on the way to and from games? What did you like/dislike about it? Do you miss it at all? I know there were some regular contributors to the Station from overseas back then, are any regulars from those days here on the forum?

The first time I found the channel was in 1998 when, upon pestering my dad for match tickets, I was told we couldn't go for some reason but "it will be on the radio somewhere". Flicking through the radio channels, I was drawn to a commentator with a very monotone voice. You guys will know who I mean😁. Stuart Metcalfe was on Co commentary duty alongside him, I always enjoyed listening to Stuart.

It was a few years later, I think (maybe 03/04) that the commentary team changed to Neil Yardley and Wendy Howard. I did prefer that commentary team, personally.

Radio Rovers became a tough listen for me in the Kean days and by that time I had stopped listening to it as much as I did before. Mainly due to the state the club was in and the fact that Gerald and Neil tried to put a positive slant on things. I suppose they couldn't come out and say what a lot of the fans were saying at the time. As soon as Gerald left in 2014 that was me done with it really. The new guys tried their best but it wasn't what it once was and the club had become a shell of itself too.

I realise this post has gone on too long and could have been summed up in one line really.

Gerald, you are missed, both as our tannoy announcer and as a host on Radio Rovers. Those were the days indeed.

[Upside Down]

I certainly miss it now.

Would be great to have it to listen to midweek games whilst I'm at work. 

[Mattyblue]

We ‘thought big’ in many areas, a truly innovative club. Be it RR, RoverVision, the Blues Bar, club lounges, town centre shop and cafe and so on. We also had a network of supporters groups across the area. I could go on and on.

Now, unlike the likes of Darwen FC and Clitheroe, we don’t even have a match day programme, and seemingly can’t keep the estate free of weeds.

These owners don’t half throw in a lot of cash, and have such a ramshackle, small time operation to show for it.

 

[PeteJD13]

Not the same but if want a balanced take on all things rovers, good bad and the indifferent @Miller11 rovers radio is worth a listen. 

[SuperBrfc]

5 hours ago, Upside Down said:

I certainly miss it now.

Would be great to have it to listen to midweek games whilst I'm at work. 

I miss it too. It genuinely had me looking forward to games a lot more, particularly midweek games, as it was part of my match day experience, so to speak. I found it engaging and welcoming, plus the crew cared about the club like the rest of us did.

It would have been interesting to hear the thoughts of Gerald, Neil and Wendy on JDT, the new signings (that we hope arrive) and JDT's style of football over the coming season.

[SuperBrfc]

7 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

We ‘thought big’ in many areas, a truly innovative club. Be it RR, RoverVision, the Blues Bar, club lounges, town centre shop and cafe and so on. We also had a network of supporters groups across the area. I could go on and on.

Now, unlike the likes of Darwen FC and Clitheroe, we don’t even have a match day programme, and seemingly can’t keep the estate free of weeds.

These owners don’t half throw in a lot of cash, and have such a ramshackle, small time operation to show for it.

 

Whatever the opposite of "think big" is, we've had a bucketful of it since this lot rocked up, and we continue to be served up with it. To spend the amount they have and end up with the club looking like this sums them up.

There isn't a better example of the small time mentality in action than swag, in my view. Anything he can get away with downsizing and reducing, he will do.

Like you said, we used to be a proactive club, innovative, looking at ways to grow the club, trying to keep the support base happy, talking the club up and showing some ambition. There were many things to be proud of, which have been run down or lost entirely since 2010. 

It's not likely to change until new owners come in and people like swag are replaced. I don't care what bullshit Barry might say or swag might say to people who go and see him. They talk shit just to keep the fans off their backs.

[chaddyrovers]

Radio Rovers was great to listening to it in the 90's and 00's

 

Edited July 3, 2022 by chaddyrovers

[arbitro]

They used to have a slot called Rhythm of the Blues where a player would have some of his favourite songs played whilst doing a bit of an introduction to each one. The excellent Wendy did the interviewing. I always think of Martin Taylor when I hear Just Looking by the Stereophonics 😃😃

[Mattyblue]

Desert Island Discs eat your heart out!

[bazza]

The year was around 2000. I had the portable stereo radio/CD player/audio tape player/recorder set up. Radio Rovers was on 1404 and playing. I set off to Ewood with instructions to my better half to start recording the radio at 2:30.  Tapes could only record for a limited time. I still have the recording and listen to it often with great delight.

The match was against Huddersfield Town who had Scott Sellars playing for them. Tony Parkes was manager. It was the first league match since winning at Anfield in the cup.

Gerald Jackson had a scotsman called John as co-commentator who had a bad cold and seemed to be in his own little world. Children were taking penalties pre-match. Music played included Protect Your Mind (for the love of a Princess) and We Will Rock You by Queen.

Gerald Jackson has what I call a "radio" voice. Not many presenters have this. John Dunn was another. 

 

[Mattyblue]

I used to have a pint with Gerald fairly regularly in the Royal Oak at Pleckgate (how about that for a humble brag 💁‍♂️), it was like being on his show, certainly didn’t put the voice on for effect, like some DeeeeJayys.

[SuperBrfc]

3 hours ago, bazza said:

The year was around 2000. I had the portable stereo radio/CD player/audio tape player/recorder set up. Radio Rovers was on 1404 and playing. I set off to Ewood with instructions to my better half to start recording the radio at 2:30.  Tapes could only record for a limited time. I still have the recording and listen to it often with great delight.

The match was against Huddersfield Town who had Scott Sellars playing for them. Tony Parkes was manager. It was the first league match since winning at Anfield in the cup.

Gerald Jackson had a scotsman called John as co-commentator who had a bad cold and seemed to be in his own little world. Children were taking penalties pre-match. Music played included Protect Your Mind (for the love of a Princess) and We Will Rock You by Queen.

Gerald Jackson has what I call a "radio" voice. Not many presenters have this. John Dunn was another. 

 

It was good fun and the hours would fly by. Gerald was the ideal host and I agree, he had the voice for it.

I'm sure old recordings of Radio Rovers were available for a time on Gerald's website, 'gjmedia.co.uk'. I remember listening to an old broadcast, or part of it, on there around 9/10 years ago.

I don't know if that is still possible though, as for the past few years there has been a 'this site may harm your computer' message appear in regards to that website. I don't think it has been active since Gerald left RR.

Still, good times. Oh and yes, Arbitro, that does bring back memories. On Wendy, I remember Morten and Benni were always good for an interview with her. They'd often have a laugh, were interesting to listen to and were quality players at the end of the day (certainly, when compared with what we have seen since).

Where did it all go wrong? (As if that needs answering)

[USABlue]

I loved Radio Rovers.  3 hours pre game and an hour after match was simply great.  All for the huge cost of....well for nothing.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Wendy did an interview with Jack Walker,it was a great listen.Came across as a very professional production.

'93 eh...happy days,memories of better times for our Rovers,people on all levels at the Club who really did give a damn.

You don't know what you got till it's gone.

Edited July 3, 2022 by SIMON GARNERS 194

[BRFCS.com]

Couple of excellent videos uploaded by Gerald here:

[Displaced Rover]

I used to love listening to Radio Rovers on the way to games as a kid, the signal got stronger as you travelled over the hills from Rossendale - you knew you were on your way!

Couldn't stand Wendy though, far too shrill for my liking.

Those videos are so sad. Through the 90s and 00s there was a constant sense of optimism and excitement around the club, even when we were back in Division 1. Now it's just constant cut backs and lowering of standards. It makes no logical sense given how much is being pumped in each year to keep us going.