Tyrone Shoelaces

Yeah he could spank it all right ! And that was with the old cannonball.

Hunter was top drawer, he'd replace either of Rodwell or Lenihan. Wilson was better than Williams and Bell rolled into one. Rogers had a bit more class than Travis has at the moment. Metcalfe on one leg was better than Conway on two. Don Martin would be handy to bring on for Danny Graham. Keith Newton was just the best full back we've had in my time watching the club. What he was still doing at Rovers is a tribute to his loyalty.

Worth one of of Bradley Dack's legs then.

We could enter the Rugby League - 13 a side is good for them.

Slightly less ineffectual than that Baggio guy.

I won't be bent out of shape if we miss out on Gallagher. He's not the answer to the Graham MK 2 issue.

You're a bit harsh there JIm, Alan Hunter went on to great things at Ipswich and some of others would be shoe in for the current team. Billy Wilson instead of Williams or Bell anybody ?

Thanks for that Ian. That's the kit I was referring to but the photo I saw was an action photo of a game in progress. I'd love one of those shirts now. There's some terrific players on that photo. Hunter, Martin, Newton, Rogers, Wilson, Knighton, Metcalfe would all get in our current team and Dick Mulvaney wouldn't be far off either.

I've seen photos on the internet of us wearing the round neck shirt with short sleeves around 1968. Keith Newton is one of the players in the photo. It must be either early or late in the season. I've got 3 of the replica 1960 Cup Final shirts. One I've got framed, I wear one over here and the other is out in Spain. The current kit is an absolute travesty and I wouldn't wear it to creosote my fence ! I'm embarrassed by it to be honest and I never thought I'd say that about a Rovers shirt.

We'll have to agree to disagree then.

One of his first appearances was against Leicester at Ewood. He did the Leicester right back inside our half out on the left wing right in front of the Riverside. He flew down the wing with a couple of Leicester players in his wake. When he got about 10 yards from the bye line and running flat out he hammered a terrific cross over. It went like bullet straight onto the head of Fred Pickering. He just gave it the lightest of glances and it flew past Gordon Banks into the far corner. I thought " Bloody Hell, we've got a good 'un here ". Crossing a good ball whilst running flat out is a dying art. Before Damien Duff came along he was the best left winger that I ever saw in the Blue and White. Ally MacCleod was just before my time.

He's not a flier but he's got a great change of pace. He can go from walking with the ball to a sprint really quickly. Bryan Douglas had that asset also.

You can only see what the camera lets you see. What players are doing off the ball and out of the camera's eye is very important. You should only scout players in the flesh and more than once. A pal of mine was a scout for 'City, he used to scout only forwards and he always watched them away from home.

His previous conduct at Sunderland would suggest not. I was in the sign him camp and I'm pleased he's started to look a good signing. I don't think he'll leave any time soon because most clubs will be wary of his past history and will want to see more of him. However if another club came in offering big bucks I don't doubt for one minute he'd be off.

Yeah I remember being at the first game they wore it- Everton at home in November 1962. Do you remember a later round neck shirt with short sleeves Jim ? The vee neck was the first Rovers shirt I ever had. Not the best style of shirt to be worn in Lancashire in mid winter. The guys wearing the round neck shirts are probably the first 11 with MIck as the sub. Fred had gone by then I suppose. I came across a photo on the internet of Mike and Dougie stood by the corner flag debating what sort of corner they were going to take. You got a good impression of Mike's physique and powerful build.

That's a great kit they are all wearing.

He was an insurance policy that we never needed to claim on.

Flying goalie.

I must admit I'm a bit concerned at what appears to be at times as a scatter gun approach to recruitment.

Another memory I have of him is one game against the Dingles at Ewood. He'd been giving their right back John Angus a chasing. Rovers were attacking and Mike crossed the ball in after a tussle with Angus. Both players fell over the goal line at the Blackburn End near the main stand corner flag. I was stood down there by the wall. Burnley's goalie had the ball and kicked it down field. Everybody else was following the ball but the two players were right in front of me so I saw what happened next. Mike got up first and was beginning to walk away, Angus was laid on his side. All of a sudden he swivelled around and kicked both of Mike's legs right from under him ! Pre Tv camera era, he got completely away with it. That's what wingers had to put up with in those days.

Yeah Jack Straw was as good as useless in that respect.

I saw him playing against Ajax in the European Cup. He ran them ragged down the right hand side. When Winston Bogarde was the first choice Dutch left back Donis destroyed him. What went wrong at Rovers I don't know, personality clash ?

If we're going to have a wide right player why don't we sign a player who already plays there ? Too easy ?

I don't see Gallagher as a " Target man ".

I hope you're giving him plenty of grief this season !