Reading the above makes me fearful of another Lambert situation. I can all too easily forsee a situation at some point in the season where Broughton and JDT simply walk out due to the sheer incompetence and bloody mindedness of their bosses. Please God, can't they pull themselves together just once?

I love watching these games from the late 80s. This was the time when I joined the Away Travel and went all over the country having left school, got a job and had money in my pocket for the first time. The main thing to strike me when looking back at these videos is the close link between the singing element of the Blackburn End and the players themselves. During the warm up at least half the team have a song or chant sung about them, and they wave and applaud the fans. Gennoe, Scott Sellars, Colin Hendry, Howard Gayle, Andy Kennedy, Simon Garner: All these players had an individual song, instantly easy to bring to mind when looking back . This doesn't happen quite the same now. The exciting players will still be sung about of course (Dack, Breo etc) but I don't believe that the sense of camaraderie between us and them is quite the same. The link isn't as strong and they don't seem to belong to us quite the same. It might be because the players no longer live in the town or drink in the pubs but I think it's something else too. Players in bygone times felt like our representatives somehow. They were part of our community and it felt like we were all vesting in a common goal. The modern relationship seems somehow to have lost its way sadly.

Perhaps they count fingers through the turnstiles?

That's brilliant. I've never seen that advert before. £15.50 was a good price for a projector in the 1970s, albeit a silent projector. I am a collector of these things. I have a 400 foot reel of the1966 World cup final with Wolstenholme commentary which is great to watch. some of the films in this advert occasionally come up for sale on Ebay.

Good luck JDT. The first Rovers manager in history to be born after me. Reading up on his style of play, I'm not sure Dack will find it easy to be a regular. This is the only Venkys appointment with any real thought and structure behind it other than the Lambert one. I'm actually excited for next season now for the first time in years!

Just been and renewed for my Dad, my son and myself. Didn't dare leave it until tomorrow in case I forgot. Club shop practically deserted. Onwards and upwards....

He isn't called Kenny Dogleash by any chance is he?

I hadn't heard that Alan was poorly. What a shame. He had been a very good player in his prime. Slightly over the hill when he came to us. He memorably played his part at Wembley in the FMC. I'll never forget his quote after the final whistle on TV which I watched a hundred times. "They've enjoyed it, we've enjoyed it, we'll have a good night tonight "

Due to having far too much time on my hands and absolutely nothing better to do, I've done a bit of detective work on this photograph. Alan Ainscow played alongside several number 9's at Rovers, including Thomson, Quinn, Archibald, Diamond, Hendry Patterson and Curry. Clearly then, the unidentified male must be Diamond or Curry. I recall however that Diamond sported a popular mullet cut and wasn't as stocky as this male. Assuming that this photograph shows Simon Barker congratulating Simon Garner on scoring a goal and further deducing from the photograph that this took place at Ewood Park during a night game, I think I've arrived at an answer. The only home night match with Garner, Barker and Ainscow on the pitch together, in which Garner scored and with a number 9 who isn't Hendry, Quinn, Archibald, Patterson, Thompson etc took place on Tuesday 5th May 1987. We beat Birmingham City 1-0 with a Garner goal. Number 9 was Sean Curry. I would have been one of the 8844 in attendance.

Definitely not Kennedy. Sean Curry?

The youth of the early 1960s were the first generation for a long time not to fight a war or complete National Service. The testosterone had to be channelled another way.

I certainly predict them to suffer another relegation before promotion.

Never thought I'd say this but I'm praying to God that Mowbray remains in charge for the last game. If Johnson, or God forbid Venus are put in charge and we win, it might spur our workshy owners into making a very cheap and painless managerial appointment.

The big question for me is will Mowbray have the balls to stay 4 at the back or will he fear the opposition and revert to type?

So, so frustrating that these rubber dinghy men go 2nd, completely bottle it until the chance is gone then put in a performance like this Almost criminal.

I read an article in last week's paper about Neil Warnock. Whilst he claims to have retired, it's clear that he really wants back in. If it was up to me, I would pot Mowbray today and appoint Warnock tonight for the last few games, with a view towards next season.

I simply can't believe this Mowbray to WBA rumour at all. Isn't it more likely that he was considered by them a few months ago when we were riding high but that they opted for Steve Bruce instead? Bruce was appointed in February when we were at our peak. That seems the more likely source of these rumours to me.

Tremendous post. I'm right with you. The other thing with me is that I can't ever forget (or forgive) the behaviour of the cockroaches calling themselves Burnley fans singing their Jack Walker song. It wasn't just a few morons in isolation either. This is why I'm so keen for them to have a couple or three relegations.

Very true. I was just correcting the assumption that a rail problem caused only 800 Burnley fans to travel to London as that is demonstrably a false assumption. Lack of demand for tickets amongst Burnley fans was the real cause. My point that Burnley fans didn't turn out in numbers to support their beleaguered team in a time of crisis remains valid regardless of our support in similar bad times.

The rail disruption didn't seem to have the same effect on Liverpool or Man City fans going to Wembley. Perhaps Burnley just don't have a very good away support.

Very true . Unfortunately I showed a little less Christian spirit than you on this holiest of days and just couldn't stop myself from applying the salt.

Apparently this former 4th Division outfit took a paltry 800 fans to West Ham, having been offered 3000 seats. Nothing like getting behind the lads in a crisis.

I think Allardyce will come in, which tells us this is a last gasp, smash and grab. There is no plan for next year. Just a naked, desperate last throw of the dice. None of the named candidates including big Sam are better placed to keep them up than Dyche in my opinion. He and his staff won't have been cheap to sack either. This is officially where history will show when the rot set in folks. Good Friday 2022

I agree with this. It wouldn't be the end of the world. I would say he is generally respected by supporters but I don't see any real affection or love for him. There are large parts of his game that never seem to improve. He still reminds me of a raw youth player sometimes.

Great post: but next to Pickering you forgot to write (cat piss).