POLL: The Ultimate 150 Rovers List - Part 4/9: Part Four: The Boomer Generation - 1950 - 1970

[rog of the rovers]

The Ultimate 150 Rovers List

 

Part Four: The Boomer Generation 1950-1970

Poll runs from - 5th to 12th November 2025

 

Some additional notes - Though we are (finally) very much into living memory territory.

Dates determined by when the player or manager left the club.

 

Eddie Quigley - Served Rovers as a player, manager and scout over 30 years. 

Reg Elvy - Signed from Bolton, Elvy would become a key fixture between the sticks in the early 1950s making over 100 consecutive League appearances after joining Rovers.

Bobby Langton - Division 2 Champion 1939 - 7 England Caps - Electric forward with a ferocious shot.

Jackie Campbell - Popular Liverpudlian defender. 'Nudge' (as he was affectionately known) made the wing half position his own for more than a decade at Ewood.

Eddie Crossan -  3 Northern Ireland Caps - Magical inside forward, the scorer of great goals despite a modest record of goals in total.

Tommy Briggs - Fearsome marksman, scorer of 7 goals in a game vs Bristol Rovers at Ewood.

Roy Vernon - 9 Wales Caps - An icon of the late 1950s at Rovers, combination of play maker and predator. Left to join a magnificent Everton side in 1960.

Bill Eckersley - 17 England Caps - Arguably Rovers' finest left back, one club man. His ashes were spread over the pitch at Ewood following his untimely death aged 57 in 1982.

Peter Dobing - Left Rovers aged 22 with over 200 appearances and 100 goals under his belt. Went on to enjoy League Cup success with Stoke City in the 70s.

Derek Dougan - A contender for most disliked Rovers player of all time. Didn't take to the town, famously criticising its "dourness" and handed in a transfer request on the eve of the 1960 FA Cup Final. Dougan played in the final despite carrying an injury. Withdrew his request the following year, but left for Villa at the end of the 1960/61 season. A clear non favourite, but can you "tell the Rovers story" without him?

Harry Leyland - Goalkeeper in the 1960 FA Cup Final. An ever present during his five years at the club, the Scouse stopper was Man of the Match as Rovers beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 in the Semi Final to book a trip to Wembley.

Ally MacLeod - Signed by Carey in 1956, the Glaswegian winger helped Rovers to Division 2 promotion in 57/58 as runners up and would enjoy five fine seasons at Ewood. MacLeod was a cup hero as his goals in the quarter finals in 1958 and 1960 against Liverpool and Burnley respectively sent Rovers through to the next round. A runners up medal in 1960 also a cup memory.

Matt Woods - Ever present as Rovers were promoted back to Division 1 in 1957/58. Model professional and excellent at Centre half.

Mike England - 20 Wales Caps - One of the finest defenders of his era, would win major honours after leaving Ewood and joining Bill Nicholson's famous Tottenham team of the 1960s.

Mick McGrath - 18 Republic of Ireland Caps - Had the misfortune of scoring an own goal in the 1960 Cup final, but a part of the legendary back line that enjoyed success in that era. Lived in the town in after his retirement where he remained a popular figure. 

Fred Else - Barrovian stopper represented Rovers and North End with distinction before becoming a Geography teacher in his home town.

Andy McEvoy - 17 Rep of Ireland Caps - One half of a dynamic duo with Fred Pickering, the inside forward scored 32 goals in 63/64, though equally as clinical with John Byrom in 64/65. (Pickering and Byrom are included in Week 5).

Mike Harrison - Swift winger and expert penalty taker, Harrison was a fixture of the 1st Division Rovers team of the early 1960s. A member of one of the clubs best forward lines. 

Mike Ferguson - The outside right enjoyed a six year spell as crowd pleaser and mercurial talent.

Ronnie Clayton - 35 England Caps - Rovers and England captain, Blackburn Rovers to his very bones, oozed class and integrity on and off the field. Hall of Fame inductee. Icon. The Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End bears his name.

Bryan Douglas - 36 England Caps - Like Clayton another who bled Blue 'n' White. One of the best in the world in his era. Hall of Fame inductee. Icon. The Bryan Douglas Darwen End bears his name.

Keith Newton - 19 England Caps - Versatile defender who would shine at Ewood before becoming another ex Rover to enjoy success down the road at Everton. Later career spent at Burnley, respected by both fans.

John Connelly - Another with Rovers/Burnley links, signed from Manchester United the winger (part of the 66 World Cup squad) enthralled the fans in the late 1960s with his skill on both flanks.

Other names - These include Ronnie Suart, Eric Bell, Willie Kelly, John Bray, Jack Marshall (manager), Barrie Hole, Ken Taylor and no doubt many more.
 

Edited Thursday at 15:09 by rog of the rovers

[Bronzed A Donis]

Fred Pickering- Never seen him but heard he was Shearer-esque

[rog of the rovers]

 

19 minutes ago, Bronzed A Donis said:

Fred Pickering- Never seen him but heard he was Shearer-esque

Absolutely, Pickering makes his appearance next week as he left (his second spell) in the 70s.

He’s one of the real quirks of the dates along with teammate John Byrom who also had two spells and is in next weeks 70s list.

Edited 3 hours ago by rog of the rovers

[rog of the rovers]

Into the living memory and it all gets exciting from here on in.

Looking forward to hearing the opinions of those who remember this period with fondness like @bazza @Fred Cumpstey @jim mk2 @47er @Tyrone Shoelaces @GHD and no doubt countless others.

As a nearly 40 year old Rovers fan myself I remember stories from my grandfather and also my dad (who would have started going in this period) some HUGE Rovers names.

Clayton, Douglas, England, Newton, Ferguson, Harrison, Eckersley, Briggs, McGrath.... going to be an interesting list!