BRFCS

July 17, 2016

Duncan Mckenzie left Rovers to try his luck in the NASL, first with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_Roughnecks_(1978%E2%80%931984) and then https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Sting

Just finished reading his autobiog 'The Last Fancy Dan'. Although he said he enjoyed his time here, he didn't seem to like Rovers fans, who he called 'dour' and having 'a negative attitude' (was this board going in the late '70's?!) . He relates a story of one old bloke telling him ' Whe you can see Darwin Hill it's a sign of rain, and when you can't it's already raining' Shocking anecdote, and he spelt Darwen wrong.

He also relates a story about the Board not stumping up the cash for a 'players pool for spending money' on an end of season promotion-winning jaunt to Majorca, and Jimmy Branagan having to have a whip round all the players. Early in the trip Garner was getting in late hammered and singing loudly in the hotel and generally making a 'nuisance of himself' so Howard Kendall threatened to send him home (and tell the local press). At the end of the week in the airport Kendall congratulated Garner on not behaving badly for the rest of the break. Garner informed him he'd just slept on the beach all week instead! The 'lads cracked up'. That's the best bit of the book. The legend of Sir Simon.

McKenzie said he left cos HK needed to bring another striker in but had to let someone go to finance it. HK described the boards decision as a 'hammer blow'. Who did we bring in and did it cost us a consecutive promotion?

July 7, 2016

Graham cant wait to pull on the Rovers shirt again.

http://m.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14602576.Danny_Graham__I_can_t_wait_to_pull_on_the_Blackburn_Rovers_shirt_again/

His all-round game was excellent at times last season. He looked a far better footballer than Rhodes or Rudy ever did, especially with his back to goal and the way he worked the channels. He just needs to hit the 20 goal mark now! Considering he hadn't played for months and was carrying an injury when he joined he was pretty impressive. We've done well to get him back.

December 29, 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/29/guru-josh-rave-star-dies-aged-51

Feel a bit like the Grim Reaper. Guru Josh has thrown his last shape.

December 29, 2015

That' two this year from the Specials that have gone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_Rude_Boy

Well worth a read.

December 29, 2015

This town...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-bradbury-dead-the-specials-drummer-brad-dies-aged-62-a6789746.html

Another good un gone. RIP John Bradbury

December 29, 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/29/lemmy-kilmister-obituary

I could take or leave his music but i always found Lemmy to be a true original, a man/musician who actually had something to say and was worth listening to. Musicians/artists like that are are few and far between these days.

RIP Lemmy.

December 22, 2015

Add Dave Wagstaffe to that list.

He retired just as i started watching Rovers. My dad used to love him. Brief mention here of his time with Rovers:-

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/david-wagstaffe-gifted-wolverhampton-flankman-with-a-distinctive-dribbling-style-8756396.html

December 22, 2015

Seen the first set of stadia on here before but I got nine, eight and seven.

good effort. It's sad to see what has become of some of the old grounds, housing estates with commemorative circles where the centre circle used to be. (Maine Road)

The full terracing at Hillsborough looked incredible. A lot of p1ss down the back of the legs on there!

December 22, 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2014/dec/22/football-stadiums-then-and-now-interactive-quiz

http://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2015/apr/02/football-stadiums-then-and-now-interactive-quiz-part-two

http://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2015/dec/22/football-stadiums-then-and-now-interactive-quiz-part-three

A bit of christmas guess-the-stadium fun

December 22, 2015

He went to Barnsley and things fizzled out, ended up coaching at Accrington I think. He was a centre back/left back but he was tiny. No word of a lie, those boots were minute! They blistered me like hell but they were top quality and Uhlsport were a top brand back then so I persevered with them for a few games.

coaching at Oldham since September according to Wiki. Dunny must have took him there.

December 22, 2015

James Thomas was brilliant. He was only small but I was sure he would make it but as you say, only featured in the lower leagues. I was a regular watching reserve team football back then when we used to play at Springfield park and Preston. Duff, Dunn and Johnson would sit beside us in the stands scoffing pies when they weren't playing!!!

I also inherited a pair of Keith Brown's boots. Size 8 Uhlsport's - they were worth abot £100 back in the day but were as tight as hell so I gave them away!

That was him, Keith Brown. What happened to him? Did he retire cos you nicked his boots?!

December 21, 2015

We've been blessed with some quality left-wingers - Brotherston, Sellars, Wilcox, ~~Witscghe~~ and Duff.

Duff was the best of the lot.

It was a bid part of the match day ritual in those days watching the yoots. Brockhall in the morning, pub for lunch and then off to Ewood. Good times! James Thomas i think ended up at Swansea and Graham Coughlan at Plymouth. That Scottish lad at CB (Brown?) was touted as being a good un but dont know what happened to him. Good footballer but a bit small.

December 18, 2015

Hardcastle reminded me a bit of Lee Makel when i saw him on the tv, with a bit of Lee Bowyer thrown in for good measure. I'm probably overthinking it. He's also got the look of a young Jasper Carrot in the photo on the article Chaddy linked.

Irregardless, Hardcastle will never reach the creative heights of his brother Paul's 80's chart-topping electronic wizardry.

December 8, 2015

Things are looking up at all levels then.

The Academy teams have been doing well all season. The recruitment of the staff by Bowyer and their subsequent hard work is to be applauded after the Academy was decimated by Kean/JA.

December 4, 2015

Watched the Salford-H'pool game and was impressed with Lewis Hardcastle. For a 17 year old he was very composed on the ball and wasn't afraid to get stuck in. Always looked to pass forward and generally did very well in a tough game with boots flying. Looked a very classy footballer.

October 19, 2015

Wish i had those. April 1980 was when I move here so I missed the promotion party. Buggar, i was gutted but I had to do what I had to do.

Even I remember the Villa game, i had to friggin work nights at the time of the replay so missed it.

Great read, where's part 2?

not sure if he's done it yet. sure someone will post it when he does.

EDIT - he had already done it:

https://blueyedboy.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/part-two-on-the-march-with-howards-army-the-resurrection-shuffle/

October 19, 2015

tribute from blue-eyed boy. Great picture with some lovely jumpers!

https://blueyedboy.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/on-the-march-with-howards-army-part-i-the-beginnings-a-personal-tribute-by-jim-wilkinson/

The FA Cup run beating Coventry and then taking the future European Champs Villa to a reply, yes great days indeed.

the one when Cov wore that brown kit i think.

July 6, 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/06/tim-burgess-charlatans-free-tickets-surprise-gig-manchester-international-festival

Interview with Tim Burgess. Always comes across as a decent bloke.

July 1, 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jul/01/sabotage-and-hatred-what-have-people-got-against-cyclists

tacks on roads and wire at neck height, some people really are just scum.

http://www.derbyshire.police.uk/Safety-advice/Road-Safety/Cyclists.aspx

know your rights fellow cyclists. i didn't know half of this stuff.

June 30, 2015

Thanks for all your replies, genuinly appreciated. Gonna defo get a bike fitting, probably at Hewitts as it's closest to me. Probably wait till this years bikes get reduced and get a new one.Cannondale Synapse is looking fave (hopefully they won't sell out) and then it's off to see Lance Armstrong's dealer so i can get up t'hills in t'Trough

Great links Audax, cheers.

June 29, 2015

Thanks for the reply Paul. The bad back thing is the fact that i'd be more bent over on a drop handlebar and that puts pressure on the lower back, especially over long distances. It's how I 1st did my back about 20 years ago but that was only a beat up old bike and i was playing a lot of other sports then so it was probably just a combination of things. A bike fitting would probably be well worth it if i go down that route. Checked out the Cannondale Synapse Ultegra today in Evans today...a thing of beauty, but a £2.5k thing of beauty!!

June 29, 2015

A bit of advise please. I'm thinking of getting a new bike and was wondering what you serious cyclists ride. I've got a bit of a knackered back so after doing a bit of research it seems a 'sportive' or hybrid is the answer as they offer a more upright position, I currently ride a trek hybrid and it's a decent bike but i wonder if a proper road bike would be a wise investment given i'm starting to do a few more 40mile plus rides.

So do you find a road bike puts a lot of pressure on your lower back over long-distance rides? I've read a lot of good reviews on the Cannondale Synapse range which seem to be more towards the 'sportive' range of bikes,

Out of interest what bikes do you chapst ride and which would you recommend?

June 28, 2015

I see the Charlatans played early doors, not one song to date has been on from what I've seen.

They covered 'Light My Fire'? Arf Arf. Anyway, here's a review (of sorts). Travesty the BEEB haven't shown em, the best band there by a north country mile.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/26/the-charlatans-glastonbury-2015-review-indie-everymen-good-times

June 28, 2015

Kanye West was truly awful, like bad Karaoke. When he was going up in that cherry picker he was shouting 'jump', unfortunately it was to the crowd and not himself. I was hoping the fecker would get stuck and he'd have to sleep up there. Then he had the nerve to shout 'I'M THE BIGGEST ROCK STAR IN THE WORLD' at the end.

Super Furries, Suede and some band called Wolf Alice are the most enjoyable things i've seen this weekend...and Burt Bacharach, 87 years young and still more charisma than Kanye West (anag. Wankey Set)