Tyrone Shoelaces

We played Leicester off the park last week at their place. We should have been able to declare at half time. As I said early - who wants to be out there the most tonight will count for a lot. One team I played for played on a plateau. On days like this it was murder. If it was windy goal kicks barely got out of the penalty box. I can still hear the ref banging on the dressing room door - “ Come on lads, we kick off in 5 !”

I was right behind where he headed the ball to only higher up. Harder to miss than it was to hit the target.

If the Stoke people have done their job properly the game should be on. I see no reason why they shouldn’t. It’ll be a bit nippy by the full time whistle though if the forecast is anything to go by.

Bang on article.

He did, well away.

Man U have joined the list of Premier League clubs looking at Raya according to the papers. Mowbray hang your head in shame.

Young lads develop at different rates. Nothing new there. The dingles thought Robson was too small, WBA got him on steaks and Guinness. Maybe the Guinness wasn’t such a good idea.

Every club has made mistakes like that. Bolton gave Alan Ball away, the dingles gave Bryan Robson away, we gave Ron Davies away.

Rose Royce - Wishing On A Star

Albert Hammond - The Free Electric Band

I bought that when it came out. Little Beaver ( great name ) on guitar. The Jam - Mister Clean

You didn’t have 20 players in the penalty box then so the chances of getting a free header from a corner was greater.

Betty Everett - It’s In His Kiss

Like those “ Converse “ boots that all the “ Yoof “ are wearing now.

I always thought that Billy Rafferty was a better all round player than Mariner in those games but Mariner went on to play for England and Rafferty didn’t.

I’m not up to speed with Irish football these days, what’s his chances of playing ?

I just got down my copy of “ Blackburn Rovers A Complete History “ to check up on the Rovers v Plymouth game. The book fell open by chance on season 1954-55. Before my time. What caught my eye was we fielded 18 players that season. 42 game season. Reg Elvy played 41 league games Bill Eckersley “ “ 41 league games Ronnie Clayton “. “ 42 league games Billy Kelly “ “ 38 league games Eric Bell “. “ 42 league games Frank Mooney “ “ 42 league games Eddie Crossan ‘“ “ 40 league games Tommy Briggs “ “ 41 league games Eddie Quigley “ “ 40 league games Bobby Langton “ “ 42 league games Ron Stuart and Bill Smith shared the right back slot more or less equally. 5 fringe players shared 8 appearances. We must have had a good treatment team in those days. Bring back the dreaded magic sponge !

Yeah, I used to play in a pair of basketball boots, I found they were better. This is pre training shoes.

We haven’t won many there in my time so now is a good time to start putting things right. My first every game at Ewood was against these, we lost 2-1.

We’re all doing our best to forget that game. If it could go wrong it did.

McCauley ( Plymouth ) Delve ( Plymouth ) Beamish ( Rovers ) HT Martin ( Rovers ) Hickman ( Rovers ) Hickman ( Rovers ) Martin ( Rovers ) Team - Jones Heaton, Hawkins, Fazackerley, Burgin. Metcalfe, Oates, Parkes Beamish, Hickman, Martin. Att 17,818.

If you thought Boundary Park was cold you needed to go to Watersheddings, the old Rugby League ground in Oldham. It was cold there in Summer.

What about for the Final ?

I can’t remember any of that. I was more interested in what was going on out on the pitch. If they were at the Darwen End they’d have had a good view of most of our goals. I see Jim Furnell was in the Plymouth goals. He was a lucky keeper for Rovers. I remember him throwing one in when he played for Arsenal in a top of the table clash at Ewood. Fred Pickering had a shot at goal from about 15 yards out but he kicked the ground as well as the ball. It trundled straight to Furnell who knelt down to pick it and inexplicably let the ball got through his legs. It just had enough pace to roll about a foot over the line and then stop.

He doesn’t give much away does he ? Interesting to hear the some players viewed the trip to Leicester with the “ reserves “ as not being high on their list of enjoyable moments.