rog of the rovers

A weekend bump to this thread with a couple of YouTube clips.

Alas not, though he’s probably a distant relation. Whiteside a very popular last name on the Fylde coast. A relation of mine, way back, moved from Poulton to teach at Osbaldeston school, my side has been in Blackburn ever since. I do often think “if he hadn’t moved to take that job….would I be a Rovers fan? Probably not.” A nice personal family tale from my family was that my great grandfather Walter, his father (my great great grandad) and his brother all tried to get tickets for the 1928 FA Cup final. Only the sons got them. Ever the dutiful son Walter gave up his ticket so his dad could go in his place.

No wanting to sway any votes obviously, but another brilliant read from our archives. This time from everyones favourite Buffalonian, Rick Lewis. https://www.brfcs.com/articles/a-deserved-legend:-albert-clarke

Changed, thanks for pointing this out! You can really see the patterns of names in the lists so far Part One was Jack and Jimmy Part Two was full of Walter and Arthur Part Three is full of Bill, Billy and Jack Part Four (spoiler alert) is full of Mike and Mick Part Five is the era of Tony!

Yes Jack's time will come when we get to the 90s. I'm confident he'll make the list 🤣. Great to see Lawrence Cotton get some recognition also, he was the Jack Walker of his day with his money and influence improving the squad, ground and bringing silverware to Ewood Park.

When I was growing up my maternal grandad (who had absolutely no interest in football whatsoever) always talked longingly about Bob Pryde. I assume this must have been because it was a name he had heard from his friends and colleagues growing up. From further reading it appears he had his own 'Sammie Szmodics style' season as his performances in 1946/47 were a key feature in Rovers avoiding relegation. Also went on to manage Wigan Athletic and stayed in the area. Dying in Blackpool aged 85 in 1998. If my grandad knew who he was, he must have been a popular figure!

The Confirmed BRFCS List (so far) 1. John Lewis (Founder) 2. Arthur Constantine (Founder) 3. Fergus Suter 4. Jimmy Forrest 5. Jack Southworth 6. Herbie Arthur 7. Walter Duckworth (Secretary) 8. Thomas Greenwood 9. Joe Lofthouse 10. Billy Townley 11. Lawrence Cotton (Chairman) 12. Fred Blackburn 13. Eddie Latheron 14. Bob Crompton 15. Billy Bradshaw 16. Albert Walmsley 17. Danny Shea 18. Jock Simpson 19. Robert Middleton (Secretary) 20. Aussie Campbell

Last chance to vote on Part Two as the poll closes at midnight. Part Three with some more big names is ready to go tomorrow. Also I think Part Three will be the last list out that is outside of living memory. Looking forward to more ‘first hand’ knowledge in the coming weeks. Thanks to all who’ve voted and all the support so far.

Harry Healless left in 1933, so he also will be in Part 3. Part Three will be listed next Wednesday

Things get so existential when Rovers are on a bad run, particularly under the current regime. This song has been in my head all week, its hauntingly nostalgic tone and Ol Blue Eyes singing his heart out. Has struck a cord, particularly the lines "Cos the old team just isn't playing...and the new team hardly tries. And the sky has got so cloudy, when it used to be so clear." The 150th Anniversary is almost making it all worse!! This time will pass.......he says in hope!

For anyone wondering Jack Roscamp (who got a club cap - presented to his grandsons on Tuesday) will feature in Part 3 as he left in 1932. The name from this section that I've become most enamored with is Edwin Gladstone Latheron. https://www.brfcs.com/articles/eddie-latheron---forever-young A wonderful piece on him by the incomparable @Fred Cumpstey He lived in Witton on Selous Road, married Bertha Livesey at St Mark's Church on Buncer Lane, had a son called Walter (like me) and died a war hero in Belgium. Fellow Rovers player Alex McGhie served in the same battalion and sent information back in a letter in which he wrote. " 'It seems that a shell dropped close by our dugout and the splinters passed through the opening, killing both Eddie and another gunner. I have lost my best friend. He was a happy, strong, and tremendous worker and a very fine soldier. If anybody has done his bit in this war it has been Eddie. He was extremely popular in the battalion, and everybody is sincerely sorry.' "

Rovers pose with the cup. Photo from c.1928

The Ultimate 150 Rovers List Part Three - Inter War Years and Post World War II (1930-1950) Poll runs from - 29th October to 5th November Some additional notes Ted Harper - Most league goals in a season for any Rovers player, 37 apps 43 goals. Jack Roscamp - FA Cup Winner 1928 - A brace in the Cup Final ensured his legacy in Rovers history. Syd Puddefoot - FA Cup Winner 1928 - 2 England Caps - Formidable strike partner of Ted Harper, a 1920s Chris Sutton if you will. Key member of the cup winning team scoring four times en route to the final. Great football brain and wonderful attributes made him a crowd favourite. John 'Jock' Crawford - FA Cup Winner 1928 - Made the starting goalkeeper by Bob Crompton. A member of Blackburn Amateur Dramatic and Music Society whilst playing for the club. Willie 'Bill' Rankin - FA Cup Winner 1928 - Towering centre half would lift the FA Cup in his first full season at the club. Harry Healless - FA Cup Winner 1928 - 2 England Caps - Blackburn born and bred, FA Cup winning captain. Rovers coach in the 1950s. Jock Hutton - FA Cup Winner 1928 - 3 Scotland Caps - Robust, hard tackling, stocky yet talented full back. Arthur Cunliffe - 2 England Caps - Blackrod born outside left had four fruitful years at Ewood earning England honours in the same team as the legendary Dixie Dean. Sold to Aston Villa in 1933. Herbert 'Taffy' Jones - FA Cup Winner 1928 - 6 England Caps - Quite the career before joining the Rovers including working as a plumber in his home town of Blackpool. Also took part in the second Christmas Truce of World War I in 1915. Jones played a game of football with some German soldiers in No Man’s Land. He later wrote, “It was really sad to play football with them, then a few hours later have to start shooting and killing them…Those Germans were actually fine fellows…” Bill Imrie - Combative, strong centre half/centre forward. Already a Scottish international when he joined the club. Tommy McLean - One of Bob Crompton's first signs as Rovers boss. McLean scored the second goal in the 1928 FA Cup Final victory as Rovers shocked Huddersfield Town. His goal was a right footed rocket into the top corner. Jesse Carver - Regular centre half who worked his way up the ranks at Ewood. Would go on to have a stellar coaching career on the continent, winning the Serie A title as manager of Juventus in 1949/50 before spells at Lazio, Torino, Roma and Inter Milan Ernie Thompson - Bustling, forceful centre forward a shining light in the early 1930s despite Rovers falling down the table. Left for Manchester United when Rovers were relegated in 1935/36. Cliff Binns - Goalkeeper of the inter war period. All 183 of his League appearances for Rovers came in the top flight. Jimmy Gorman - Long time full back a regular between the Wars. Never scored for the club, despite over 225 appearances. Jack Bruton - Evergreen winger in the 1930s, would go on to manage Rovers in the late 40s. Jack Weddle - Division 2 Champion 1939 - Fearless forward from Sunderland was every bit the former pit-lad. His tenacity allowed Butt, Clarke and himself to shine as Rovers won the title. He would later become Rovers' head trainer from 1949-1961. Albert Clarke - Fired Rovers to the Division 2 title in 1938/39 finishing as top goal scorer with 23 goals in total. Formidable duo with Len Butt. Sadly this would be his only season in Blackburn as he went to war, dying in Normandy in 1944 where he is buried at Ranville War Cemetery outside Caen. Len Butt - Prolific second tier striker. Career severely hindered by WWII. If only the Butt/Clarke partnership could have had more time together? Walter Crook - Division 2 Champion 1939 - Holds the record for most consecutive Football League appearances by a Rovers player (208 between 1934 and 1946) William 'Billy' Rogers - Division 2 Champion 1939 - Brought to the club by Bob Crompton (at the start of his second spell as manager) the winger scored 18 goals in Division 2 as Rovers clinched the title. Part of a formidable front line alongside Clarke, Butt and Weddle. Arnold Whiteside - Division 2 Champion 1939 - Skillful half back and partner of Bob Pryde. Career interrupted by WWII but one of the few to play over 400 times for the club. Robert 'Bob' Pryde - Division 2 Champion 1939 - A club stalwart through the wartime, 16 year stint at Ewood Park, featuring over 500 times for Rovers. Other names to consider - Clarrie Bourton, Dennis Westcott.

The Ultimate 150 Rovers List Part Two Turn of the 20th Century and Post World War I 1900-1930 Poll runs from - 22nd October to 29th October. Some additional notes Lawrence Cotton - Wealthy local businessman would bankroll the Rovers to become a major force in domestic football. Invested not just in the team but also the stadium and infrastructure Fred Blackburn - Fred and his brother Arthur both played for Rovers at the turn of the 20th Century, Fred had the more successful career making 206 appearances, mostly from the left wing. Billy Davies - Division 1 Champion 1912 - A title was a fitting end to a fine Rovers career. Davies was a regular goal-scorer in the 19 noughties. He retired in 1913 to go into business in Motor engineering with team-mate Bob Crompton. Walter Anthony - Division 1 Champion 1912 - Tricky left winger with a powerful shot. Eddie Latheron - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 2 England Caps - Killed at The Battle of Passchendaele in World War I. Wattie Aikenhead - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Scotland Cap - Top scorer in the 1911/12 season. George Chapman - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Versatile defender/forward a key piece in both title winning seasons. Bob Crompton - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 41 England Caps - Inaugural member of the Blackburn Rovers Hall of Fame. Billy Bradshaw - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 4 England Caps - Legendary full back. Arthur Cowell - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 1 England Cap - Lower Darwen born left back struck up an excellent partnership with Bob Crompton Albert Walmsley - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Blackburn born wing half played 37 of 38 matches in each of the title campaigns. Percy Smith - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Double Division 1 champion, would later have success as a manager at Tottenham Hostpur Danny Shea - Division 1 Champion 1914 - 2 England Caps - British record transfer of £2,000 in 1913. Career halted by World War I Jock Simpson - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 8 England Caps - Born in Pendleton to Scottish parents who moved the family to Falkirk soon after (hence Jock) the Outside right won Robert Middleton - Manager who was bankrolled by Cotton, Middleton would win back to back Division 1 titles as Rovers boss. Longest serving manager, a record that will never be broken at 605 matches Joe Hodkinson - Division 1 Champion 1914 - 3 England Caps - Talented winger from Lancaster, one of four Rovers players in his England debut vs. Wales in 1913 (Crompton, Bradshaw, Latheron) career stymied by World War I Alfred Robinson - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Manchester born keeper picked up two league winners medals before joining the war effort in World War I Percy Dawson - Division 1 Champion 1914 - Signed from Heart of Midlothian and helped Rovers over the line in their title charge. Crucial winners at Ewood against Bolton (3-2) and Oldham Athletic (2-1) in the run in gave Rovers the title. Top scorer the following season as Rovers finished 3rd. Scored four against Burnley on 28th November 1914 in a 6-0 home win. Aussie Campbell - FA Cup Winner 1928 - Half back of the Cup winning team Arthur Rigby - FA Cup Winner 1928 - 5 England Caps - Hard working winger who could supply fine crosses from the left side. Scored for England against Belgium and France. Others who are up for consideration, but are beyond the maximum voting options allowed. Please add your opinions if you think these should be included: Sam McClure, Kelly Houlker, Arnold Whittaker, Jock McKay, Tom Wylie, Ronnie Sewell, David Rollo and John McIntyre.

Chat GPT in 2 seconds My 'effort'