Bill Bancroft RIP

[arbitro]

Sadly Bill Bancroft has passed away. He was he Rovers Chairman during some really difficult times and like many from the era sacrificed a lot for the good of the club and in many ways kept the club going helping to give us what we have today.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/april/11/former-chairman-sadly-passes-away/

[rigger]

I remember him coming onto the Blackburn end in the early 70's, to judge the feeling of the fans. He earnt a lot of respect that day.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

R.I.P.

Somehow managed to keep the Club's head above water when matters on and off the field of play were at their nadir.A Rovers man through and through.

Edited April 12, 2023 by SIMON GARNERS 194

[Penwortham Blue]

30 minutes ago, SIMON GARNERS 194 said:

R.I.P.

A Rovers man through and through.

Rovers through and through, just like the often maligned, Bill Fox

[Tugayisgod]

RIP Bill.

Responsible for appointing the likes of Ken Furphy, Gordon Lee and Jim Smith., 3 terrific managers who were allowed to just get on with their job with no interference.

I loved watching Rovers in that period.Furphy brought Tony Field to the club (then took him to Sheffield United!). Jim smiths time at the club was one of my favourite periods of watching the team with the likes of Kevin Hird, John Bailey, Waggy, Noel Brotherston etc al. Great times.

 

Edited April 11, 2023 by Tugayisgod

[Tom]

Rest in Peace, a good man.

My grandad was his hairdresser and good friends with him, as he was with many connected to Rovers including the great Jack Walker.

I remember through his connections with the club (he was still president) he got me the yellow and black away kit before it was released.

Sounds like he’s had a life well lived and left a great legacy 

[JohnD]

Sad news indeed, rip

[philipl]

William Bancroft was a football chairman of a by gone era and that is not to belittle but to laud his achievements. The time when local people without deep pockets gave their all for their local league football club and had a realistic opportunity of promotion  to the highest level.

Our Chairman at a time when the club's very existence was precarious and suffering some of its lowest moments in history, he skillfully steered the club to safety and appointed a string of exceptional managers. 

Got to remember he too suffered the chants of sack the board and worse.

rip a fine man

[oldjamfan1]

I'll be honest, I hadn't realised he was actually still with us!

Bill brought some good managers to the club and, for balance, a shit vice-president as well 🙂

RIP Bill

[Sweaty Gussets]

3 hours ago, oldjamfan1 said:

I'll be honest, I hadn't realised he was actually still with us!

Bill brought some good managers to the club and, for balance, a shit vice-president as well 🙂

RIP Bill

The milk snatcher?

[oldjamfan1]

19 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

The milk snatcher?

Yip, the very one.

[lraC]

He was the chairman when I first started watching Rovers. I didn't have a clue at that tender age, what went on in a boardroom, or even what a chairman was. I simply recall reading the programmes from back to front and seeing his name. 

Chairman WH Bancroft was etched in my mind from back then, in the early seventies.

RIP Mr Bancroft.

[JohnD]

 I'm surprised there's so few comments, not many old gits left? 🤔🤣

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

A fantastic documentary on Rovers,the memories tremendous.

In memory of Bill Bancroft from 7:05

 

[Mattyblue]

Owners, board members, managers, players, fans all come and go… apart from Rob Coar 😁

[sympatheticclaret]

In my previous life, I worked for one of the " Big 4 " Banks and in the late 90's one of my customers was a Coach firm in Greater Manchester. The owner told me that at one stage he had the Rovers contract, as none of the local firms would take Rovers, due to a combination of damage from opposing fans and late payment. He told me that at one stage, Mr Fox was paying him out of his own pocket ..

He was with Bill Fox at Boundary Park the day Burnley beat Orient to stay in the League, a result he said that caused Bill to use some industrial language, " But Bill, they're your historical rivals, did you really want them out of the League ? " ..... " Yes, I bloody well did, to shut t'buggers up for ever ! "  ( that was the gist of it .. )

All of you can be reassured that at least at that time, you had " one of your own " at the helm at Ewood !! 😉

Edited April 15, 2023 by sympatheticclaret

[broadsword]

Furphy, Lee, Smith

Holy crap, brilliant appointments. Certainly poses all over berg,bowyer, Appleton