Painful Acceptance

[Paul Mani]

I fell in love with Rovers in 1990, aged 9. Coming off the back of that World Cup, with the likes of Roger Miler and Toto Squillaci, I was ready…

Born in Bolton, my Dad a Srilankan immigrant was already converted into a Wanderer and took me to games semi regularly. Then around this time he started a new job and had to work weekends leaving me at a loose end and desperate to watch a game. I played for a local team managed by ‘Mr Seed’ who was a Rovers fan and if you got MOM he would take you to the game as a reward. God knows I must have had a purple patch, but either way, I got hooked really quick. I fell in love with Blackburn Rovers and the rest as they say is history. Since this time, I would say I’ve held a season ticket for roughly 30 of the 35yrs. I’ve watched some of the most wonderful players grace Ewood Park but I’m pretty much done, too. For all the reasons stated on this thread and too many more to articulate.

The truth is that it’s hope which drives our beautiful game. The hope of every football fan that it could be their year. The working man or woman’s escape from reality. That hope, that connection is almost gone now. It’s a flicker and I can’t bear to go anymore. I still love the club I remember, the club I was proud of but feel nothing for the one before me. Something akin to a victim of domestic violence, where I imagine you become numb to the pain.

As painful as it sounds, I don’t want my children to experience this. My 9yr old daughter is just falling in love with football, and my boy is 4. I could take them to watch any team in the land and that’s where my head is at. I don’t want them to feel like this, so I’ve stopped going. I won’t be renewing and I just pray for the day Venkys leave.

Such a shame.

[Blow-in]

On 12/01/2026 at 12:57, ElTwis said:

This thread is so sad! I wish the Rao family understood the human impact of their inaction. 

Unfortunately I think they do, I fear that is the very point of holding on to the club.

I believe they hate us.

[RevidgeBlue]

8 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

The truth is that it’s hope which drives our beautiful game. The hope of every football fan that it could be their year. The working man or woman’s escape from reality.

You've summed it up perfectly there in three and a bit lines.

For me there's simply no point in wasting time and money actively following a Club whose only goal is to be "sustainable" (Pasha) or which says in February/ March when you're in the play off positions that the goal for the season was never actually making them but planning for the following season. (Gestede)

All allowed by owners with no interest who couldnt care less.

Edited yesterday at 14:12 by RevidgeBlue

[Devon Rover]

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with this post. I really didn't intend to bring people down, so I'm sorry if that's the case for anybody. But, not for the first time, I've been reminded of how many passionate and dedicated supporters of this club are here on this site. I've appreciated reading each of your posts on this thread and I hope for you all (as well as, selfishly, for myself!) there appears some light on the horizon through a change in Blackburn Rovers' ownership. Because, for many of us, the club is clearly entwined with so many different aspects of our purpose, families, lives, and history.

Edited yesterday at 15:37 by Devon Rover
spelling

[RevidgeBlue]

2 minutes ago, Devon Rover said:

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with this post. I really didn't intend to bring people down, so I'm sorry if that's the case for anybody. But, not for the first time, I've been reminded of how many passionate and dedicated supporters of this club are here on this site. I've appreciated reading each of your posts on this thread and I hope for you all (as well as, selfishly, for myself!) there appears some light on the horizon through a change in Blackburn Rovers' ownership. Because, for many of us, the club is clearly entwined with so many different aspects of our purpose, families, lives, and history.

You didnt bring anyone down with your beautifully written post.

I suspect for many the thread has also provided a valuable outlet for a cathartic outpouring of grief.

[...]

17 minutes ago, Devon Rover said:

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with this post. I really didn't intend to bring people down, so I'm sorry if that's the case for anybody. But, not for the first time, I've been reminded of how many passionate and dedicated supporters of this club are here on this site. I've appreciated reading each of your posts on this thread and I hope for you all (as well as, selfishly, for myself!) there appears some light on the horizon through a change in Blackburn Rovers' ownership. Because, for many of us, the club is clearly entwined with so many different aspects of our purpose, families, lives, and history.

Best post on here for a long time.purely for the raw reactions, amd people have finally let their guard down on here. There's a person behind every user name.

We've all got lives outside of football.

Loved ones, jobs, friends, no spouse, no friends, no job, other hobbies, no hobbies.

We're all different but what unites us is that we've all walked a well trodden path by those who passed down their torch and in some instances, passed away leaving loving memories and a core of those memories is Blackburn Rovers, so it isn't just football, it's an intrinsic part of our daily living.

It isn't something you can just forget about til next weekend. It's Football, our National Sport to which the world is now flooded with its gigantic presence. Its everywhere on the planet now.

Who was at the forefront? Us. 

Blackburn Rovers amongst a few other old boys.

We've been lucky to be able to see us standing at 150 years old. We are so lucky and that's because of the fans. Our families, our friends. It's their history too

[M_B]

24 minutes ago, aletheia said:

You have a direct line to the Raos to know that as fact?

No, but it's obvious. 

[...]

Wrong thread.

Again. 

Debates in the other one about who said what and ner ner ner ner ner.

😊👍🏻

[Andy]

I'm jumping onto this thread late, but some incredible (and heartbreaking) stories and experiences.

For me personally, it's the apathy that concerns me the most.

I grew up a couple of lengthy stone throws from the stadium, in the Dalglish era - I could see the floodlights and hear the crowds from my bedroom window long before I even went to my first match and fell in love with football.

I remember being a football-obsessed teenager whereby my entire mood was dictated by how Rovers did.
England losing to Germany on penalties in the semi final of Euro '96 and Rovers being relegated under Kidd absolutely devastated me.

Now, we lose most games at home and, whilst I watch every game on telly out of sheer habit / a false sense of loyalty, a conceded goal barely registers any emotion.
What once was a punch to the gut is now...pretty much nothing.

Just apathy.

[47er]

3 hours ago, M_B said:

They'll go when they're ready and not before,I think you're kidding yourself if you think otherwise . 

We're helpless and we shouldn't try to do anything.

Is that a fair summary of your view?

[DE.]

Would people rather this thread was kept to the personal posts rather than debate over action & boycotting? I'm happy to move posts over to one of the other threads if general consensus is that this thread should primarily be for posts like Devon Rover's original thoughts rather than another thread talking about boycotts/action/inaction (as we basically have two threads for that already). 

[RevidgeBlue]

Just now, DE. said:

Would people rather this thread was kept to the personal posts rather than debate over action & boycotting? I'm happy to move posts over to one of the other threads if general consensus is that this thread should primarily be for posts like Devon Rover's original thoughts rather than another thread talking about boycotts/action/inaction (as we basically have two threads for that already). 

Yeah move posts over Id say.

Any talk about boycotts detracts from some really powerful personal stories.

[Upside Down]

4 hours ago, Devon Rover said:

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with this post. I really didn't intend to bring people down, so I'm sorry if that's the case for anybody. But, not for the first time, I've been reminded of how many passionate and dedicated supporters of this club are here on this site. I've appreciated reading each of your posts on this thread and I hope for you all (as well as, selfishly, for myself!) there appears some light on the horizon through a change in Blackburn Rovers' ownership. Because, for many of us, the club is clearly entwined with so many different aspects of our purpose, families, lives, and history.

Hey mate thanks so much for posting. We're all in the same position just you managed to put it forward so eloquently and convey the way we all feel. 

I've found that BRFCS is a great relief from all of this as you can openly express how you feel about the situation and people understand what you're going through. It's also the one place where one can get a sense of what supporting Rovers used to be.

Yes, I am fully aware that I have made BRFCS sound like a drug addiction supprt group.

[Upside Down]

21 minutes ago, DE. said:

Would people rather this thread was kept to the personal posts rather than debate over action & boycotting? I'm happy to move posts over to one of the other threads if general consensus is that this thread should primarily be for posts like Devon Rover's original thoughts rather than another thread talking about boycotts/action/inaction (as we basically have two threads for that already). 

Aye.

[...]

2 hours ago, ... said:

Wrong thread.

Again. 

Debates in the other one about who said what and ner ner ner ner ner.

😊👍🏻

Sorry guys, all for debate etc all the threads look the same lately

[Crimpshrine]

Most of the posts on this thread fill me with sorrow. So much enthusiasm, fun, hope, camaraderie, spirit, excitement and pride has been eroded away over these last 15 years.  

But please don't give up, get angry instead.

Take action. One day we will get our club back

[LWX]

This should be turned into a published book, I'm sure there are thousands more that could share their stories of the raw pain that has been caused by the owners and those around them. A book could potentially gain some traction and attention and get our feelings/experiences out into the wider world. I'd happily get the ball rolling by collecting and archiving the raw materials (the stories).

Edited 19 hours ago by LWX

[Lancaster Rover]

19 hours ago, DE. said:

Would people rather this thread was kept to the personal posts rather than debate over action & boycotting? I'm happy to move posts over to one of the other threads if general consensus is that this thread should primarily be for posts like Devon Rover's original thoughts rather than another thread talking about boycotts/action/inaction (as we basically have two threads for that already). 

Absolutely otherwise it turns into the standard Willy Waving and “I’m a better fan than you” stuff that only serves to miss the whole point of this thread

[Tim Southampton Rover]

18 hours ago, LWX said:

this should be turned into a published book, I'm sure there are thousands more that could share their stories of the raw pain that has been caused by the owners and those around them. A book could potentially gain some traction and attention and get our feelings/experiences out into the wider world. I'd happily get the ball rolling by collecting and archiving the raw materials (the stories).

This reminds me of a book called 'Rocky Stories: Tales of Love, Hope, and Happiness at America's Most Famous Steps' where people were interviewed about why they're running up the famous 'Rocky Steps' in Philly. 

I bet a Rovers fans book in general would be pretty brilliant especially about a range of Rovers topics from their love of Rovers, memories over the years, away day adventures etc. 

[...]

24 minutes ago, Tim Southampton Rover said:

This reminds me of a book called 'Rocky Stories: Tales of Love, Hope, and Happiness at America's Most Famous Steps' where people were interviewed about why they're running up the famous 'Rocky Steps' in Philly. 

I bet a Rovers fans book in general would be pretty brilliant especially about a range of Rovers topics from their love of Rovers, memories over the years, away day adventures etc. 

Sell more of those than the one they brought out in store