Anyone still think Douglas is an upgrade on Bell?

I always felt George Sharples was a reliable centre back who played most of his games partnering Dick Mulvaney. It was during the time we had been relegated and we always seemed to be a few players short of putting together a promotion push. In my mind a similar sort of player to Zurab. RIP George. Another player from the 1960’s that has passed away recently.

Before his 2 knee injuries, Shearer had blistering pace - just watch the 7-1 thrashing of Norwich. He did lose that bit of pace when he returned but he was such a top class player that he was able to adapt his game and play more with his back to goal, bringing others into play, bullying defenders, whilst still having the ability to score every type of goal. Still think there are people outside of Lancashire and Newcastle who do not realise what a world class player he was.

I must say I am becoming more and more concerned about Dack for a couple of reasons. Firstly, he has been out for over 12 months now, which seems to be a long long time. Was this such a bad injury or has his rehab not gone as well as expected? He seems to have had a couple of setbacks along the way and my worry is that if he returns and has lost some of his spark or half a yard of pace, then we may not have the player back who we are banking on. Sincerely hope that is not the case because we have missed all his attributes greatly. Secondly, and just as, if not more worrying is the curse of the last 20 years - Celebrity status. Just hope his recently found fame on trash tv doesn’t make him lose focus and affect his ability on the pitch.

Went to this game at Bath City's ground which I'm sure had the dimensions of a Primary School pitch - it was tiny. Horrible journey down and back up the M5. Also went to Port Vale and Barnsley away around that time and lost both those. We were in freefall but Kenny managed to turn things round. Still can't believe we lost these 3 away games with the quality of players we had.

Still not convinced Douglas is much of an upgrade on Bell

Buckley - false 9?

Brereton is totally knackered.

Played in the usual QEGS Under 12's - 15's and 2nd Eleven in the late 60's early 70's at Lammack on the soggy waterlogged, sandy pitches. Always thought I was a slow coach until I realised it was like running in treacle on those pitches ?. Got myself pretty fit in my late 20's early 30's and played in the Blackpool & Fylde Premier League for the Royal Hotel, which became the Boston Hotel with a few ex-pros, 2 of whom stick out. Kevin Moore who started off at Blackpool but made his name at Newport County, playing in the European Cup Winners Cup with John Aldridge, who of course went on to star for Liverpool. Kevin had a trick that was a cross between a Mike Newell shimmie and a Cruyff turn. No one could suss out which way he was going to turn. Also Neil Davids, who started at Leeds but played the majority of his career at Wigan Athletic. I once asked him who was his toughest opponent and he said, Mick Harford. He said that after playing against him he was battered, nutted, elbowed and black and blue and realised he wasnt going to progress any further than the lower Divisions. Interestingly, Mick Harford has been in the news this week about his concerns over dementia with the amount of heading he did. Sadly, Neil passed away about 10 years ago. 3 things that stick out in my mind after playing with ex-pros. 1. They hardly ever go to ground, they stay on their feet. 2. It's hard work trying to get the ball off them and they rarely give it away. 3. They think at least a second or more before any of us mere mortals do and appear to be strolling through games. Well, we can only dream I suppose. ?

Thanks Herbie for your uploads - always look forward to watching these. Do we play with the same energy and intensity today as this team did? I know that those players were better quality overall but we seem to have players today coasting. Yesterday only the keeper, Rothwell, Brereton 2nd half and a couple of others seemed to be really up for it. 6 or 7 appear to be just going through the motions.

Doesn’t appear to be an intensive warm up. No doubt saving ourselves for 3pm. ?

Osaye-Samuel is a doubt for tomorrow so let’s hope he doesn’t make it

Over the last 3 years with TM we have had periods where we have gone on good runs for about 6 matches and then games without a win for 6 matches. At this time, I just can't see us putting together a good run that takes us nearer to the top 6. I would love to see Roy Keane watch and analyse half a dozen of our games and give us his opinion on the manager, the tactics and the players. Rovers 1 Boro 3

5 hour trip down the motorway to South Wales. Good job he isnt the manager at Carlisle - 702 mile round trip to Exeter yesterday. His constant excuses and negative behaviour is having a detrimental effect on the club, the players and it's fanbase.

This poor run we are on does not help youngsters like Dolan, Elliott and JRC. As each game passes you can see their confidence slowly ebbing away.

Just over 4000 gate. ? Hard times in 1983

Used to be so excited to nip down to Rawtenstall town centre with my Dad to pick up the Last Sports with late scores and scorers printed in a side column.

Ayew is a cert to score with the gapping holes in our defence. Always looks a cut above championship when I’ve seen him.

Brilliant footage. Thanks Herbie. I think Gally needs to watch and learn from Talbot at about 40 secs in how to control a football.

Same here

Around this time every programme included an insert magazine called Football League Review. The one inside this prograame featured a centre fold of Plymouth Argyle. Connections to the Rovers are Bobby Saxton, ex-manager and Frank Lord, who was a journeyman centre-forward we signed who proved to be a flopp, overweight and immobile. However he went on to become a coach in South Africa. Also Billy Bingham was probably the most successful manager of Northern Ireland and took them to 2 World Cups in 1982 and 1986.

I was at that game with my Dad. It was in October 1968, I was 13 years old. We used to go to all the Blackpool away games which always seemed to be night matches and had our tea at my two Aunties who lived on Westmorland Ave, near to Bloomfield Road. There was trouble during the game and after. Several people were taken to hospital after the Ammonia incident. I think we may have won 1-0, Malcolm Darling scoring. We were just a player or two short of getting back to Division One. Dick Mulvaney as an emergency centre-forward :) They had a decent team, Jimmy Armfield, Alan Suddick, Tommy Hutchinson and Tony Green (a tremendous player who I played against in 5 a side when he had retired with knee injuries; I couldn't get anywhere near him)

And don’t forget Jim Branagan

Hope I’m well off the mark but as JRC went over to the bench he was holding his hamstring ?

Brereton has no idea how to close a player down. Gives Bell no help at all