In those semi dark days of the early 1970s, when the Rovers quite unimaginably found themselves relegated for the first time in their history to the third tier of English football, it most certainly did not cross any Rovers supporters mind that the Club would conceivably sign a European Fairs Cup winning player – but that is exactly what did happen.

That player was craggy Scottish centre half, John McNamee who was lured to Ewood by then Manager, Ken Furphy, whose job was to restore and re build Rovers fortunes, and in an almost unprecedented splurge of signings, that process was underway.

The initial response on the pitch was non too productive or edifying and there were those amongst the Ewood faithful who were not convinced. That was until Big John McNamee arrived on the scene. A giant of a man with a heralded reputation as a fierce and ferocious competitor, McNamee became the inspirational glue which galvanized the Club, the players and of more importance, the supporters.

Having achieved iconic status at his former clubs, it would have been disappointing had he not acquired similar notoriety at the Rovers. We needn’t have feared or doubted him, as in a relatively small window of time, McNamee established himself as a force of nature, an adonis, a leader of men and as a no-nonsense defender. It would be unwise and foolish to label McNamee  simply as a ‘hard man’, that he was, but he could play and was the consummate defender. He could read the game and his positional play was an object lesson in concentration to any up and coming defender.

McNamee’s presence in the Rovers line up was enough to make the entire opposition nervous let alone their centre forward. 
Whether in the air or on the deck McNamee was a formidable adversary who didn’t take any prisoners. He played like a warrior and he expected much the same from his team mates. He respected the game which gave him his living and there was always a sense that whilst there were better technicians, few could match his hunger and combative spirit. He was a professional’s professional.

At a crucial time for the Club, Furphy had struck gold with the signing of McNamee and, as a consequence, fortunes improved.

John McNamee’s tenure was relatively short lived, just 56 league games, yet he scored 9 times.

Two goals in particular framed his impact, both in the 1971/72 season. The first on Boxing Day 1971 at a rain soaked afternoon in Halifax. The pitch was sodden, and like most pitches of the time was cutting up badly. Having endured an enforced break because of a floodlight failure, the game, dour up to that point, resumed and sprung into life. From a dead ball position, and with the Rovers defenders up in support, a flat cross found its way to around the six yard box. With impeccable timing, McNamee slid in from some 12 yards out, met the ball perfectly and with a combination of his momentum and a greasy surface, he powered himself, the ball and at least 2 or 3 defenders into the back of the net. It was the only goal of the game.

That incident alone gained traction over the years, whereby Rovers supporters, me included, could have sworn blind that Big John took with him, the ball, 5 or 6 defenders and the referee.

The second was at Ewood on 12th April 1972, when having advanced just over the halfway line into the opposition half, McNamee detonated a shot full on the volley directly from a Brighton goal kick. It was pure theatre. McNamee scored both Rovers goals that day in a 2–2 draw.

Then, in the blink of an eye, in just a season and a half, Big John McNamee left Ewood.

Given that short span of time it seems almost ludicrous that one player could have such a positive impact on a club. John McNamee did just that. His was an unqualified success. Whilst he was a purveyor of gloom and despondency for any opposition, by contrast, he was a beacon of light and deliverer of hope for a club down on its luck.

The best description I think I’ve read on John McNamee was that he tackled like “the crack of doom”. Those of us fortunate to have seen him in the blue and white halves would vouch for that.

John McNamee passed away in November 2024 at the age of 83 years.