Ozz

Ok-league progress was improving, and late September saw our 2nd round tie in the League Cup. Our opponents were Oxford United, managed by ex-Ewood boss Jim Smith. Oxford were on the verge of a real purple period, and at the time were the form team in the 2nd division. Some of the players they had went onto bigger and better things, some had acheived better and bigger things, as they say, including Dave Langan, John Trewick, Malcolm Shotton, John Aldridge, Trevor Hebberd and former dingle Billy Hamilton. We ended up playing Oxford five times this season, more to follow on further encounters. 1984-what happened elsewhere round the world. Jimmy Connors was in the Wimbledon Final! As usual, the league cup was over two legs, Rovers at home in the first leg. As I recall, we fairly battered them and went in front, scorer unknown. Oxford scored a late-ish equalizer, that left a bad taste in the mouth. As I walked up the LBR, I said to Big Bill Gornall, who had driven us in his Ford Escort to the match, that I vowed to go to the second leg at Oxford and we would batter them on and off the park. I was furious we hadn't sewn the tie up on the night. I didn't go in the end, no money and no transport being the usual sticking points on a long midweek away trip. We lost the second leg 3-1 I think, but it was in extra time. Billy bloody Hamilton got at least two, maybe even a hat trick. Billy had been playing in the World cup in 1982 in Spain, I think he laid on the cross for Armstrongs winner against the hosts. Noel Brotherstone was there too though, as a Rovers representative. October 6th saw a regulation 3-1 home win over Shrewsbury, a team we seemed to play about 4 times a season in them days. "Who do we play next week?" "Shrewsbury again." "Crap." Then on the 13th October, a trip to St Andrews to take on the top of the table side, Birmingham City. Birmingham had been relegated in the previous season from top flight, the newly sponsored Canon League Division One. They were on the slide big time, but were still generally thought of as a big club, and had some decent players. Dave Seaman, Mick Harford, Martin Kuhl-all household names at the time (well maybe in Birmingham) and Ron Saunders had been in charge since 1982. Again, lack of funds wouldn't allow me to go to Birmingham-it was a choice between paying Paul Astley travel services a few quid and probably getting me head kicked in by the Zulus or finally coughing up for the Smiths first album. Either way I was likely to end up in tears, so chose the musical option and listened to the match on the radio. Birmingham did well in the end this season, but it will spoil the ending if I tell you that they finished above us. I will allow the reports below to fill in the details. Cyril Chapman from The Guardian As you can see, even back then the papers were less than complimentary about Rovers. Getting a report in a major national broadsheet was highly unusual, and I was dead chuffed on the Monday morning to see our game in print in a proper paper. A Sunday redtop report. The 2-0 win meant Rovers were now second in the league, heading into November. Things were getting quite interesting now. Readers who may find the first part of the season boring, don't give up-it gets really exciting later on.

Right I've had enough of this weather-it's like we're half way through the forty days and forty nights. Anyone seen Noah yet? Hillsborough sunk under water-video here on BBC site.

I doubt he wants your sympathy, but I'm sure his family will appreciate your kind words Rev.

That's made me laugh, well done.

OK, according to "The BOOK", the next two matches were away at Huddersfield on a Tuesday night, and away at Fulham on the Saturday. I say according to as I have no recollection of the games at all, and there is no cutting out of the report stuck in there either. It does say that we got a 1-1 draw at London Road, and lost by the odd goal in five at the Cottage. This was early September time, so it was quite possible that I was actually trying a bit a college at this stage, in the misguided hope that I could actually do well in my A levels and get good grades and go to University. I actually went to an open day at the University of North London. I was hoping to do a Geology degree, and at the time this looked the most likely destination for me (easiest grades, good reputation for Geology courses, near Spurs and Arsenal... ). I got the Inter City down for the day, but predictably ended up in a Uni common room, watching England v Turkey in a world cup qualifier I think, drinking cheap cans of lager. Looked a bit like a scene left out of The Young Ones. I would think it was probably around this time that I went actually, maybe I went to the Fulham game but blocked it from my memory so as to avoid mental scarring for life (If this is true, it didn't work). Anyway, next match was Grimsby at home on 15th September. A good game I recall, as Rovers started to get into their stride. Always have been slow starters Rovers, but I think Chris Thompson got at least one maybe two and we set off on an amazing winning streak now that ran for 6 matches. Cardiff at home midweek (2-1) and Notts County away (3-0) saw Rovers climb to third by late September with Wimbledon up next at Ewood. By now college work was definitely taking a back seat as interest getting to Ewood became #1 priority. Here is the Lancs Evening Posts Neil Farnworths match report.

I'll tell you now and I'll tell you firmly I don't never want to go to Burnley What they do there don't concern me Why would anybody make the journey?

Journeyman is a bit harsh Mike-you've forgotten all his skills and tricks already? Him and Ped took the mick out of right backs down near us most weeks. Journeyman, taken from Wikipedia "Professional athletes are sometimes called journeymen. It is not a technical or well-defined designation, instead it is generally given to players who are skilled enough to remain in pro sports but not skilled enough to earn themselves a permanent position on a team. Players given this moniker tend to be adept at a particular aspect of their sport, but do not possess well-rounded talent comparable to their more-successful peers" Suppose some aspects of that apply to Benni, but I would say he does have well rounded talent.

In the summer of 1984, my dad showed me a scrapbook he had made as a young man. As a born and bred Wiganer, he loved his rugby. He had created a scrap book detailing a full season of events and matches involving the Wigan RL club. I think it was from around the mid fifties, when legendary Welshman Billy Boston was in his prime. The photos had been been hand coloured, and the cherry hoops of the Wigan shirt gave the photos almost a 3D effect. Inspired by this, as a Rovers fan I thought that the tradition had to be upheld, and went to get a scrap book. I found an A4 John Dickinson Cuttings book, ring bound with thick pinkish cartridge paper pages. So I was ready for the season! I was in my second year of college then, at Runshaw in Leyland. I was studying three A levels, Maths, Geography and Computer Science. When I say studying, most of the time was spent playing 5-a-side in the gym and thinking of excuses to give to Mr Hankin the maths lecturer for my non-attendance each week. The other two were a good laugh, Steve Bagshaw was a pussy cat in geography and computer science was great as you could just play on the CBM PET computers-very rudimentary versions of Pacman, Pong and Space Invaders. The season started I think at Crystal Palace, a draw 1-1. I didn't go, and there is no report or mention of it in the book. I was doing the numbers in the score box at Chorley Cricket club that week, and had to settle for a transistor radio in the box, with Jack Holden summing things up with his usual one-eyed view for me. A week later a home game against Carlisle. I remember us dominating the match, and winning 4-0 in an easy romp. I stood on the Blackburn End, near the old bar at the back. Seems a bit bizarre now looking back, the BBE having a little cafe type thing tucked up at the rear of terrace, selling beer! It had women and kids serving in it, and service was a little poor. Pies and crisps also sold, not much changes really does it. I didn't drive, and used to get either the Tom Jackson coach from Chorley market, or sometimes the Cliff Owen coach-can't remember if they operated at the same time or if one replaced the other, but again it does seem a little odd today that a coach firm would operate a service from Chorley to Ewood just for the match, a journey of around 7 1/2 miles! Used to get quite full some days too. Anyone remember any of these games so far?

To avoid further controversy, Bentley turns invisible as he shakes hands with Pearce after changing his mind about the England U21 squad.

As an aside, there will be live Serie A footy (Or organised crime (alledgedly)) next season , on 5. Proof here.

And another thing, the more I learn about David Bentley, the more he comes across as a decent guy.

I used to be extremely passionate on watching England games, and placed great hopes and lots of emotional energy into wanting us to win, and win tournaments. But the way it's run now, and with the appointment of Steve Maclaren I finally gave up. He is literally clueless, not a crime in it's self but the FA giving him the gig was. I was proved correct with the debacle over Bentleys selection for the full squad. Maclaren buckled under media pressure, then just left him to rot whilst other players less deserving got a run out in the Brazil match. Now I don't even bother watching the England games anymore. I actually cut the grass in my mothers back garden last week whilst the Estonia game was on. However, I spent a serious wadge of cash last season watching Rovers, and if Bentley plays better next season for us because of his withdrawl from the England U-21s then that's fine by me. The opinions of the knuckle-dragging red-top reading doughnuts, which by the way are the same people who had effigies of Beckham hanging from nooses after the 1998 world cup, typify whats gone wrong with this country nowadays.

2003-2004 Wolves We thought it was the new dawn, with Amo, Emerton both scoring and playing wonderfull football. 5-1 demolition, I recall walking back up the LBR, in glorious hot sunshine seriously thinking we would be in the top 4 that year, and how bad the Wolves fans must feel after the first game back in the top flight ended in an absolute battering. 1993-94 Chelsea Last visit for me to Stamford Bridge, a 2-0 win. Possibly Glen Hoddles fisrt match in charge, Newelly and Ripley-ey I think scored for us. See away ends thread for description of the terracing Chelsea had then. Remember clearly swooning at being informed that a match day programme cost £2.00!!! 1987 ish-Sunderland Tried in vain to hitch-hike from Chorley, got to Ferrybridge services, walked up the A1 for 2 miles, then realised it was 2.30pm and decided to start hitch back Lancashire-wards. Got home around half 9. The best of the lot... 1992-93 Crystal Palace Crammed in the corner section terrace, still blind drunk from the night before talking codshyte to Palace fans through the fence about wether Tranmere really existed! Shearer, Shearer Shearer. Gutted at late equaliser but overall happy.

Fab Rav booted Dunny up in the air-it was down near us, you could here Dunn scream as he got wacked. Ravioli scored from a great free kick, (on Derby debut), I think Malcolm Christe poached a second. Blakey then notched, and we would have got a draw if the ref had not disallowed a perfectly legit Jansen goal in the last minute. Not much has changed then eh? Loads of Rovers fans went, and it got a bit tasty outside too with the Derby fans after the match. Funny ground PP, a bit like St Marys it is round and can be a bit dis-orientating from the outside.

We normally play promoted teams, beginning with the letter W. Derby away first season back was OK, wouldn't mind that again.

That thing that struck me is Tosh still sends `Telegrams`. He really must have his finger on the pulse of the modern hi-tec lifestyle of the 21st century international football coach. "Hey Tosh, Savage broke his leg last night, shall we text him some grief?" "Nah" "Oh go on boss, lets email him a bit of banter-remember all the jip he gave you on that Radio Wrexham podcast?" "Nah" "At least lets ring him up, tell him he'll never be the same again?" "Nah. Get me one of them there new fangled Telegrams, like what the Queen sends you when you're a hundred. That'll capture the zeitgeist and I'll stun him with my famous stories about me and Keegan, and how me and Leighton James got Swansea up and down the entire football league 4 divisions in 10 months." HA ROBBIE YOU BROKE YER LEG YOU DID....STOP....YOU WONT PLAY MUCH AGAIN...STOP...HA HA...STOP..ha ha...stop..etc...etc...etc...STOP "That'll show him" "Boss, you've lost it again haven't you?" "yes." "Pass me another cake and chips Leighton."

The LCD display on my DAB radio, whilst left on Talksport channel (by mistake!) has just had this line on it. "Blackburns desire to keep hold of Benni Macarthy will be tested by Chelsea, As manager Jose Mourinho has said he wants to sign him." Cannot see any other news sources running it though.

My interent service is provided by AOL. Had it for 4 years, and looks rather expensive now by comparison. If I change to someone else, will I still be able to use my AOL inbox? All my stuff is set up for that see.

JHC Jamie-you won the lottery?

Nonda dropped due to lack of commitment! Near the end of the article.

It's called Local Hero, bu Mark Knopfler out of Dire Straights. Wikipedia link here link.

How did Burnley manage to get this match? Why could it not have been at Ewood, I'm getting withdrawl symptoms already.

Been back on search and found it now. Wasn't there two days ago. Cheers FLB.

I have tried to find this out already but cannot-anyone know where the nearest cinema to Chorley is that is currently (or this weekend) showing This Is England film (Shane Meadows latest). Anyone seen it and review it?

I saw the interview last night of Benni and Dave. Benni is off, I tell you now. It's all in the body language, not what he says. More of what he didn't say. Offski I tells ya.