So the following weekend we had to play Middlesbrough at home, 20th April 1985. A win could see us back in the top three and on course for promotion again. On a fairly pleasant afternoon weather wise, another jittery Rovers performance unfolded in front of an ever decreasing Ewood crowd, who did their best to urge the players on. But anyone of a certain age will remember the edginess of the fans in those days, quick to criticise and seemingly always on the look out for a scapegoat. Chris Thompson, a modestly skilled journeyman style footballer, had enjoyed a decent first half of the season, but had found the goals increasingly hard to come by of late, and was coming under some major abuse from the Riversiders. But it was Garner who eased early nerves with a good goal in seven minutes, bit then Rovers eased off and Boro pressed us into our own half. Future Celtic boss Tony Mowbray went close, and once again Geno made a couple of excellent saves to keep us in front at half time. After the break it was finally Thompsons turn to end his drought , with a tap in, and Windy Miller added a third later on. Couple of nice photos follow this, and the win left promotion still in our own hands. Which is not how we like at at Ewood!

But by the time you read this, you may already be aware of the answer!.

Is this a classic Vicious Circle? I mean you do run the risk of going blind don't you?

RE Olive Press I have eaten at the Winckley Square branch often, and always found it excellent , if a little tame, even when it has been very busy. I went too the Manchester Olive Press the other week when I said on this thread I was going to Cafe Istanbul (Mrs changed her mind...), it was the Saturday before the the Manchester sprint thing (met Usain Bolt and his entourage) the service was another 10% up on any of my previous visits. For the relatively unadventurous menu the prices are a tad OTT but, the current promo of half price pizza and pasta make it a bargain.

It was often frequented by Johnny Briggs, AKA Mike Baldwin.

Directions are not an issue thanks. I love Turkish/ Greek/ Armenian grub, and use to go to the Topkapi, but as you say they seem more interested in the hand to mouth brigade these days, but the staff were still very friendly last time I went in.

Thinking of going to Istanbul Cafe in town Saturday, (Here), anybody been before?

James Brown went in there a few years ago. The woman serving tells him there's no fish left. So Brown says "I know you got Sole, 'cos if you didn't I wouldn't be in here." True story.

Very expensive, and overrated. But you will know this by the time you read this.

If you haven't seen No Country For Old Men then watch it next-it is superb. It'd kind of a western movie(set in the wild west) but it is a real heart pounding thriller experience. Another gem from the Coen brothers.

Blimey John I had you down for a PussyCat Dolls guy!

On Saturday 13th April I made my one and only visit to Cardiffs Ninian Park to go and watch Rovers play. This Saturday, the chance to go again finally disappears, as Cardiff play their last league game at their old home. A stadium which has held many internationals, European ties and even a visit from The Pope John Paul II finally goes the way of all flesh as Cardiff move into a new 25,000 all seater stadium next season, and I am sure they will be very happy there, in the sanitised, all-seated, catered for environment. The BBC have a potted history of the old ground here. My and Johnny Barrow went down on the train from Chorley, changing at Preston and Crewe. As we got about 20 miles from Cardiff, we got talking to an old guy, who advised us to go and get stuck into the Brains SA in the pub when we got there, which certainly was the plan. However, when we got off the train at Cardiff, we were met by a group of five Ploice officers, with batons and snarling dogs. Not sure what the local Bobbies were expecting to arrive from the North West, but I think they had catered for a worst case scenario, and not two college students dressed like Morrisey and Michael Foot. The coppers took us into their van, wosked us away from the Soul Crews reception comittee and took us straight to Nnian Park for our own safety. They then chucked us out at the locked gate of the away end. It was half past twelve. So we managed to avoid death by misadventure till the gates opened at 2pm, when we were joined by around 200 other travelers following the Rovers. The weather was awful, driving rain and wind blowing into our faces stood on the open uncovered terrace. Once again we were awful. Terry Gennoe kept us in it time and time again, as he had done many times this season. Then two Cardiff defenders both leave a cross to each other, and Windy Millers sticks it in. Second half Cardiff equalise, but on the hour their keeper drops a cross, and Simon Garner lashes the ball into the net. The second Rovers goal prompted some unrest from the locals, indeed a hail of house bricks and rocks came flying over the back wall above us, landing on empty terraces next to the huddled East Lancs crowd. Saved by our own apathy. So we were back on track with three points, and moved back into fourth spot in the second division table with six games left.

Easter Monday brought Barnsley to town. A pleasant day as I recall, weather wise, but an atrocious performance by Rovers, particularly in front of goal meant another 90 minutes of goalless football, and giving us a point when 3 were desperately needed. Bloody Chris Thompson had a nightmare, missed a shed load of simple chances. We were now down to 5th in the league, and promotion looking unlikely.

I took a few like these below, I have a few more if needed I can email them to you. The full thread is here, with more photos on I would guess. Feyenoord Thread

Good question Mick! Sure plenty of people could offer some choices... Easter Saturday 1985, pretty much twenty four years ago today (blimey I wasted my life...) saw Rovers away at Leeds United. I secured the services of the Official Away travel coaches, and rolled up at Elland Road in good order. I was a little trepidatious of my first visit there, as the reputation was pretty well documented as being , well, unfriendly to say the least. Some bits of Elland Road , even more so to this day seem a little incongruous with the rest-nowadays we see the huge Lurpak Stand, opposite the cameras dwarfing the smaller stands that surround it, which are merely terraces with seat stuck on. In 85 the away fans were located were the new stand currently sits, but back then it was a ramshackle stand alone job, were the rest of the ground has seen re-development in the 70s but the club ran out money before completion, similar to Wolves and Chelsea had done. It looked a little like the last part of Deepdale before their recent upgrade. There were even giant concrete pillars left in isolation near the away terrace, which were supposed to be the start of the new stand, but were left unfinished as the cash dried up. Having managed to avoid a kicking between coach and ground, via a rather daunting underpass, we stood on the caged terraces in half decent sunshine, and watch yet another tired and dispirited performance from Bobby Saxtons men. The report below mentions Millers late header, which I though was in, being the highlight. It was. Another point in the bag we remained forth with Barnsley at home on Easter Monday.

Things at Ewood were getting worse by the week, and the crowds had dwindled. Having had 22,000 on against Man City, only 7,100 odd bothered for the game against Notts County, which Rovers were desperate to win and get things going forward again. As the report below shows, Garner has not scored for four months, which seems unbelievable now and had been benched on several occasions, which led to rumours of him wanting to leave the club. The Notts County game I recall was dreadful, with little quality from either side, but a Garner notch settled the spoils in favour of Rovers. Some familiar names on the away side, including Rachid Harkouk and Justin Fashanu. The win put us forth, and the crucial Easter program against Leeds and Barnsley up next.

It's sign language for

With ten games left, Rovers looked out of puff with performances full of nerves and doubt, which were not helped by the Ewood crowd getting on the back of the players each time a pass went astray or a shot was missed. The clouds were gathering over the ground and the atmosphere was gloomy. A trip to Gay Meadow on 23rd March did nothing to lift any of this. I didn't go, and seems like a wise move reading the report below from the Sunday Mirror. The defeat left us out of the top three, and of course the promotion spots for the first time since early November.

League match 31 of the season was a home game against Birmingham City. City were major promotion rivals, and with recent defeats Rovers were desperate for the three points to bring some impetus back into the promotion push, whilst depriving Birmingham of points too. March 16th 1985 brought 10,000 odd to Ewood to see a patchy performance from the home team, and indeed we went behind early in the first half. Scapegoat John Lowey, who had been a target for the Riverside boo boys most of the season equalised before half time, and Simon Barker grabbing the winner in the 2nd. The there points kept us second, but as it was only our second league in 1985 things were getting very tight-and very nervy. Recognise the Birmingham keeper?

Not sure of the whereabouts of the book right now, since the baby came and having moved house 4 times in the last year. Things have been a bit bizarre...however, finally back to Jones towers next weekend so should be sorted and unpack a few boxes, which should reveal the final stages of this roller coaster ride of season. Stay tuned folks!

I won't have any criticism of the The Verve please, worthwhile or not, as Dicky lived next door to my cousin when we were kids, and last year we sold McCabe an instrument which was used on the last album, so any slagging off is really a slur on me.

First chance to get out for a while this weekend. Went here a few years ago, and returned this Saturday lunch time, the El Rincon De Rafa off Deansgate in Manchester. Subterranean and cosy, staffed by Spaniards, offering excellent seafood an a wide range of Tapas too. Fresh, quick, clean and courteous, would recommend to all for either a lunch time pit stop out shopping(as we did) , or for a proper meal in the evening.

I watched Dead Mans Shoes last night, one of Shane Meadows earlier films. Absolutely gripping, terrifying and brilliant. Cost £1.99 from Oxfam too.

Lucas scored a penalty just before half time, and took it so coolly, just a simple walk up and side foot-class! When Bentley scored his hat trick goal just after the break, I went into a trance like state, as the years of hammerings and injustice at the hands of United and their fans began to melt away, Rovers 4-1 up against the @#/?s! Ruud Van Horseface came on and paggered us for a bit, but we hung on and when the whistle went-such joy. Highlight was of course Rio Ferdinand cockily back heading in his own area to Van Der Saar, only for VDS to be right behind him, and allowing Bentley to tap the ball in in front of 7,000 manc sumbags! Enjoy-

The thing about the internet is the availability on demand of virtually anything you want to see. EG Want to see the view from Blackpool Tower but afraid of heights? Just use YouTube and search for Blackpool Tower. Loads of videos to look at. OR The Empire State Building, and this short doc in particular is a real jaw dropper. Joe McNally. Watch it all the way through.