Even when we were the best team in the country we couldn't fill a 31k stadium. With the overall rise in crowds over the last 30 years we could well have got to filling the stadium regularly had we stayed as a leading Premier League club. I guess it depends on how you define a fan base. Does it include those who will turn up for the occasional big match and take a casual interest in what is going on? If that is the case then 13k is a minority of that total. If you only include those who would ever go regularly to games (depending on the success of the team and other factors relating to the club, such as it's ownership) and/or take a more detailed interest in the club then 13k is a significant proportion. I respect those who have deliberately boycotted - that must be a painful thing to do. But surely the reality is that the managed decline of the club and the lack of success on the field is the key factor in the hollowing out of the support. The season in League One showed that supporters will return if there is a genuine prospect of success.

Why should that have ruined him? Did a bit of a stupid thing and was harshly punished but no big deal really. Trav was sent off at Portsmouth early on his career - he seems to have recovered ok. Unfortunately Buckley hasn't kicked on after a promising start and probably best for all that he moves on. If he drops down a division or two he could well be a 'big fish' and that might help him have a better career.

Emi Martinez - total knob of a bloke but a world-class keeper. And when they won in 86 I seem to remember some bloke called Maradona 😉 '78 - home advantage offset lack of a truly world-class player although Kempes and Passarella (at least) were probably close. However it's a fair point that teams can win things without a world-class player - e.g. Greece in the Euro's - if the management is world-class.

And having the right footed winger on the right wing - what were they thinking. How on earth did they expect him to cope with cutting inside onto his weaker foot?

Brings back memories. Particularly nice to see the Darwen End roof before it's 'refurbishment' in 1982, courtesy of the six-fingered roofers.

The UEFA cup was often considered to be the toughest to win due to the fact it had more than one team from the stronger leagues and some of those teams were on the rise at the time. Of course those teams are now in the Champions League instead!

Was at a one day international at OT when Tavare was batting. He was so slow we were convinced the opposition were trying to make sure they didn't get him out Ended up with the crowd shouting at his partner (might have been Gooch) to run him out!

Good points. The toilets on the Riverside were delightful. A great view of the stars on a clear night but sploshing through the rain and whatever else (!) in the dark otherwise 😬 I was lucky (I think) to have a dad who took me to games despite the ever present threat of trouble but I can imagine a lot of people took the alternative view. Once or twice we had to make a hasty retreat!!

Football really was in terminal decline in the early /mid 80's. Also it was the Thatcher era with mass unemployment, the miners strike,etc. so money was tight for many people. Many of us who were around at the time have fond memories of the football back then and the feeling of connection with the club, owners and players. But without the kick up the arse the game received with the start of the Premier League - and I know there are lots of things wrong with it - who knows what would have happened.

Noticed how many names of the Div 3 goalscorers I can remember!

Totally agree flaky pastry on a pie is just plain wrong. Having lived in the midlands, south-west and Wales there is nowhere like the north for decent pies. Whenever I see a pie on a menu my first question is always to ask what pastry it is made with.

£4.85m? In view of the current contract situation I'd say even that was optimistic

The season after Italia 90 he was pretty well unplayable.Spurs played a cup tie - possibly against Blackpool - and he was so much above the level of everyone else it was ridiculous. My dad always reckoned Duncan Edwards was the best player he ever saw play and even he said Gazza came close. Then Gazza's recklessness did his knee and he was never the same again.

I remember a few years ago that Peter Reid (when he was a manager) was interviewed after a match his team had lost by 3 goals. He started having a go at the referee for a mistake that had lead to the 3rd goal. He then stopped, laughed, and said something along the lines of 'maybe I'm having a go at the wrong person here as he only made one mistake - my defenders made loads and that's why we lost!'

Personally think it's the wrong decision in terms of supporting the women's game. But even if you don't think the women's game is worth supporting surely most fans can (should?) see it generates more negative publicity about the club.

Two of my favourite games ever. 3rd Div Vs 1st and really felt like the whole team, fans and club pulling together in the same direction. And don't let anybody tell you a cup run damages league form. 5 FA cup ties plus a replay (roughly) coinciding with, IIRC, 15 wins and a draw in the league. Great days to be a Rover.

Agree on the fact it should be all about cricket by late May. If only Lancashire weren't so crap! Supporting Rovers, LCC and Hornets in my three favourite sports doesn't feel like great choices ATM! But I'm lucky enough to have the great memories from all 3 teams over the last 50+ years. You have to be in it for the long game I guess to get the perspective.

My ex-wife ended up with my Hornets shirt from the Div2 promotion season of the early 90's! She did look v good in it TBF!! Was tempted to ask for it back when we split but didn't. Wish I had as it was pretty much the classic style - mainly blue with the narrow white and wide red hoops.

I bloody well hope not. And if it was, I'd hope he was advised that it shouldn't be!

I'm interested in how he does but it's no more than that. Wish the lad well but ultimately he chose to move. I get that the owners wanted to sell and therefore the pressure was on Wharton but he had a contract and could have stayed. The lad is clearly ambitious and believes in his own talent and (I'm guessing here!) probably realised the move was an opportunity to fast track his development by being exposed to regular first team Prem football. Judging by what has happened since his move hard to say he was wrong. A lot of the arguments at the time from Rovers fans was that he'd have been better to stay and develop with Rovers and then move to one of the big clubs. Might have been better for Rovers but I suspect to that might not have better for Wharton.

Agreed. In Rossendale if you asked for a teacake you'd get a plain one and if you wanted a fruíty version then you had to ask for a currant teacake. My wife never believed me about this (she's originally from the potteries so only knows about oatcakes!) until we visited an old family friend. The friend was originally from Rossendale but had moved away 60 years before. When it came to lunch she asked if we wanted our sandwiches on a teacake and when they arrived the teacake was plain!

Was at that one . Didn't we give him a guard of honour?

Realistically that was the 'bigger' clubs objective all along wasn't it? Big sighs of relief all round at Utd and Spurs this year that the gap is so huge now between the haves' and 'have nots'

And, much as there is a lot about Alex Ferguson I didn't like, he made the point that we deserved to win the league because we had more points than them.

It's funny how your mind - and the situation at the time - plays tricks. I remember the run-in after the QPR game being a total disaster. In reality the only result prior to the Liverpool game that looks really bad was the home defeat to Citeh. The others (away draw at Leeds and away defeats to WH and Liverpool) are not that surprising over a 42 game season and, at any other time of the season, probably wouldn't have caused too much worry.