Hardmen of Ewood Park

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Growing up watching Rovers in the 90s, it felt like we always had at least a few players in each team who made you think: “Yeah… I wouldn’t want to mess with them!” Players like Batty come to mind, and of course Shearer, Hendry, and even Newell looked like they could certainly handle themselves.

Fast‑forward to the 00s and… well… Andy Todd arrived. A man who seemed to specialise in elbows and the occasional bit of diplomacy delivered via the boot. The famous moment he turned round and kicked Christophe Dugarry up the derrière is still one of those classic memories that feels impossible to forget. We also had players like Bellamy, big Chris Samba, and Admiral Ryan Nelsen - lads who were always up for a scrap on the pitch but gentlemen off it (well, Samba and Nelsen anyway!). You could even say that Robbie Savage would always back up a teammate, even if he wouldn’t quite make the “hardman of Ewood” shortlist.



But looking at the most recent Rovers squads… I don’t really see a proper “don’t mess with him” figure anymore. Perhaps football has changed. Maybe that edge gets coached out of them. They all seem nice. Friendly. Media‑trained. Professional. But not exactly the type to put the fear of Ewood into anyone. Am I being fair? Who would you say has that bit of bite in today’s team?

I’d love to know who you’ve watched over the years, in particular from those who watched pre-Premier League football. I bet there are some tough players back in the day! Maybe there are some players who may not be the absolute hardman but deserve a mention. 

The main question is this:

Who deserves the crown as the ultimate Hardman of Ewood Park? 🦾

[G Somerset Rover]

In my time following the club (start of the 90s), I’d probably go with Andy Todd. Not only was he tough as nails but he had the combination of that and being slightly unhinged at times. Enough to frighten his own teammates let alone the opposition!

Oh for an Andy Todd in the side today.

[MarkBRFC]

Faz, Keeley, Moran, Batty, Todd, Mokoena.

Next rung down would be players like Hendry, Shearer, Newell, Reid, Nelsen.

Can't think of many in the venkys era that you would put in that list.

[broadsword]

Nicky Reid, not Stephen? Or maybe Stephen?

Maybe my memory is failing me, but I don't remember Batty being hard. How about John McNammee (probably spelt his name incorrectly)

[Wheelton Blue]

Mick Speight?

[London blue]

I always thought Ooijer gave off this vibe, I loved him.

[LeftWinger]

50 minutes ago, broadsword said:

Nicky Reid, not Stephen? Or maybe Stephen?

Maybe my memory is failing me, but I don't remember Batty being hard. How about John McNammee (probably spelt his name incorrectly)

Roy Keane listed Batty as one of his toughest opponents and called him 'nasty'.

I'd have Batty down as being hard.

[Miller11]

Wasn’t a regular fixture, or here for very long, but Andy Morrison probably tops the list.

[MarkBRFC]

19 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

Wasn’t a regular fixture, or here for very long, but Andy Morrison probably tops the list.

Great shout, probably only played about 5 games for us.

Nicky Marker another one that could look after himself.

[LeftWinger]

Salgado was tough as well.

Steve McManaman said of Salgado:
"The hardest person in the world. A genuine psychopath, even in training."

[Penwortham Blue]

2 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

Mick Speight?

Loved Mickey Speight, hard as nails and a cannonball of a shot on him.

[Penwortham Blue]

2 hours ago, MarkBRFC said:

Faz, Keeley, Moran, Batty, Todd, Mokoena.

Next rung down would be players like Hendry, Shearer, Newell, Reid, Nelsen.

Can't think of many in the venkys era that you would put in that list.

Good old Jim Brannigan liked a bit of scuffle and needle as well.

[M_B]

36 minutes ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Loved Mickey Speight, hard as nails and a cannonball of a shot on him.

Would have been my choice, always remember him by his picture on the front of the programme, clenched fist in the air. 

[M_B]

Going from Speight to modern day, always thought I'll bet nobody messes with Rankin-Costello in training. Hard lad that on the quiet. 

[TimmyJimmy]

Keeley. Can still visualise the challenge on an icy Ewood pitch that sent the player into a vertical 180 landing on his head. I'm still wincing.

Todd though has to be capo di tutti i capi. Genuinely terrifying.

[GHR]

I'll second Andy Todd. Of more recent Rovers maybe Bradley Johnson? Per the OP though, not in the same league!

[Tim Southampton Rover]

I know very little about Speight. What was he like in general? Good player? Who would you compare him to in the post-Prem era?

[RevidgeBlue]

None of the more modern players mentioned were true "hardmen" in the 60's/70's sense of the word when it was perfectly acceptable in the first 10-15 mins to put your immediate opponent for the afternoon into Row C just to let them know you were there. Or if you were a forward to clatter the opposition keeper.

People like Ron "Chopper" Harris, Tommy Smith, diminutive Nobby Styles, Norman "Bite your legs" Hunter, Souness when he was playing etc.

From a Rovers point of view in the 55 years I've been watching us we've generally always really lacked a bit of a nasty streak. For supporters of a certain era there's really only one answer to this, John Mcnamee.

"Killer" Keeley was extremely dirty without really giving off the aura of being hard.

Watched a highlight of an old game recently and Jim Branagan committed an act of GBH which would see him in huge trouble these days.

Always considered Kevin Moran to be one of the toughest players ever to play for us without being dirty.

Shearer was tough.

Batty could handle himself.

Andy Todd came over like a playground bully at a time when the game was going much less physical. He'd have been eaten alive in the 60's and 70's although it was funny to see Wenger moaning about him.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Back in the day - John Bray. He wasn’t called “ The Tank “ for nothing. Andy Morrison could have been his double. 

[Tom]

As much as I loved him kicking bishop Brennan up the arse I’m not sure if Todd was a hard man or a coward with a hard man reputation. 
 

Someone like Nelsen, Hendry or Moran were old school hardmen who would throw themselves in front of anything. 
 

I reckon as a duo the management team of Michael Appleton and Darren Moore (the hardest man in football) would take some beating though.

I did enjoy signing players with nicknames like The Axe (Mokoena) and The Butcher (Hakan Unsall) rather than today when we have Captain Cantwell and co. 
 

 

[Hasta]

Not hard as such, but Flitty was always one who seemed happy to back his teammates up, or keen to get involved in a battle.

[RevidgeBlue]

Famous photo of niggly little bastard Billy Bremner getting his come uppence off genuine hard man Dave Mackay.

Edited 1 hour ago by RevidgeBlue

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

59 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Famous photo of niggly little bastard Billy Bremner getting his come uppence off genuine hard man Dave Mackay.

Another niggly bastard, Johnny Giles, looking on from a safe distance.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just thinking back - Ken Knighton.

[...]

Anyone from the 70s