Thanks for that Nick! I’m surprised we never went to any games together in the mid to late 60s. Not sure if you remember Alan Bates and his family. Mad keen Rovers fans, Alan worked with my dad before he moved to the Leeds area through work. My dad was never keen on football and it was Alan who took me to my first away match, a win at Bury in 1967. I also got taken to Everton for the 3rd round FA Cup tie when we lost 2-0, in 1972. That was with Bill Cocker (RIP) and his two lads, Simon and Tim? Like you say, Nick, they can’t take away our memories. Mostly painful during the first 26-27 years I followed the lads but every now and again you had a great day out, usually away in the cup!

I went to the Derby cup tie as well, think we lost 3-1 and they had won the league the previous year if I remember correctly. There were 40 Rovers coaches on our coach park near the ground and I was told there were another 40 somewhere else. We took a huge following and were given the whole of the side under that concrete stand (where the Derby singers usually stood). It seemed pitch black under there and the roof was so low you could almost touch the steelwork above. I don’t remember Keith Newton as being part of that circle of friends, Nick. Only Ronnie but memories fade over time! I do remember going camping, en masse, in the Lake District, would have been 1966. We all climbed Red Pike, near Kirkstone Pass and, unsurprisingly, Ronnie was first to the top.

You’re right Herbie, someone has replied saying it’s Palace and that’s the Arthur Wait Stand just starting to be built in the background, November 1968. If anyone is on Facebook, the Football Stadia and Grounds site is superb. Brings back loads of great memories.

I’m not convinced it’s Selhurst Park. I’ve asked the question on the Facebook site, Football Stadia and Grounds and will let everyone know in due course.

I’ve seen this photo before and for some reason Watford rings a bell. Edit - first played them in Sept 69 so could be wrong

The Clayton brothers, Ken and Ronnie at Ewood. Found this photo on a Blackburn Facebook site. The photo has been restored and, whilst there is no floodlight in evidence over Ken’s right shoulder, it was in the original photo. This dates it to around 1959 or 1960.

Atmosphere wise, best Rovers game ever. We got on just before they locked the gates to the away section at 2pm. It was rammed in there. As you say there were two or three thousand Rovers fans on the Beehole End, maybe more. We scored early and Rovers fans queuing to get on the Beehole End thought Burnley had scored, the roar was so loud. Fights were breaking out all over the shop and hundreds of Rovers fans were led out around the perimeter of the pitch and somehow shoehorned into the Longside. I remember EiT commenting about this game in the past, a guy near him crapped into a pint pot and lobbed it over into the six fingered lot. There were Rovers fans in the Cricket Field Stand as well. We absolutely murdered them and missed a pen to make it 4-0 just before half time. They somehow scored twice to make the score look respectable and with the ref playing seven minutes injury time, I was biting my fingernails at the end to say the least. The atmosphere on the Longside with the fans side by side was generally superb and probably the best in the entire league but, with this game being an East Lancs Derby, it was white hot. Never to be repeated, unfortunately.

Yes, that’s him. I remember him as a great player for both Coventry and Villa. Captained Villa when they won the European Cup. I don’t think he won an England cap.

I went down for the replay Gav. We took thousands and absolutely packed the end behind the nets. Packed in like sardines. Good game as well.

Imagine you’d said similar to Craig Bellamy Tony 😆

Great photo this. Must have been the FA Cup game v Villa with the crowd at a touch under 30k. McKenzie looking on.

I’d pay very good money for a tape/dvd of the Boxing Day 1977 game. Just had a look on YouTube and, as expected there’s nothing. I suppose with the game being at their place, the result and Rovers fans taking over, there would have been very little demand for a tape of the game (if indeed it was taped) from our six fingered ‘friends.’

Just beat me to it John. I would have probably said Don Martin as well. Not knocking him because, overall, he was quite good for us but just not prolific enough. Can’t remember too much about Adam Blacklaw to be honest but in August 1969 he was only 31 years old and should have been only just past his peak. Perhaps with the culture at that time, booze, smoking and no proper understanding of nutrition etc., they peaked a few years earlier than they do now, hence Burnley releasing him when they did. But, yes, replace those three or four with quality and we would have probably gone back up.

But we had one for Steve Kindon, John.....’Kindon’s wife is on the game again!’ Think there was another about him but can’t remember it. 😆

Similar theme Nick and, I think a 70s thing but we used to sing, ‘We are the Rovers, we are the champions (repeat) for as long as could be managed. After a while it would change to, ‘ We are the Rovers ooohh, We are the Rovers ooohh,’ then back to the original but even louder. 😆 Great days.

Remember that one Andy. I once (only once) went in the Foundary, further down Wood Street and on the corner of Hacking Street. Closed in 1991. I was with my father-in-law (RIP) who used to drink mild, as did I for a while.

Haha, made me laugh that!

Had my first ever beer in there, aged 13. Reminds me of a tale my mate told me. At a similar age, he was lingering around the bar of a pub over ‘Arrod way, trying to pluck up courage to order his first ever pint. The barman called out last orders, shouting anyone for any more ale. He sort of put his hand up and said, yeah I’ll have a pint of ale. He didn’t realise there were different beers/lagers/stouts etc, so when the guy asked him what exactly he wanted, all he could say was ale. 😆

Met my wife to be there, 1st December 1974 🥰

I kid you not (your honour), my wife has just come in from the kitchen and said she’s made a lemon drizzle cake. I think that unequivocally qualifies me to take over the running of first team duties until the end of the season. Strap yourselves in for the ride and, Mercer, get some of that expensive wine on order and lots of it.

That’s a very good point Bazza. The hill behind the river didn’t look just right for that leading up to the Manxman but I put that down to the fact that it’s now covered in trees. You may well be right as I always remember the river down at Pleasington being wider and carrying a bit more water.

Exactly 62 years ago all Ally retrieves the ball from the River Darwen. Look how swollen it was then. Can’t remember the river ever being that high. Looks like the lads had just been training on the Ewood pitch as well.

Great photo that Gav. A mate of mine went to Millwall (not sure if it was that game) and they found a boozer near the ground. The bravest one of the four said he’d go in and order a half and, if it looked a rough hole, he’d down the half in one and be back out before they knew it. A few minutes later and no sign of him, they were just walking in through the front door when he was just about to come out the same way, so they had to go in. Anyway, they lived to tell the tale. One of the few grounds I never went to.

Too right Nick, Brownhill Arms is in Darwen North and, as you say, off piste. I used to pass it every day though when I worked in Clitheroe. 😀