Remember there is a world of difference between clarity and certainty!

Sad b....that I am, Arbitro, I just checked. 12 April 1972 was a Wednesday, so it looks like we were both correct. Something about the special atmosphere of a night match under the floodlights!

Great thread. Delicious memories. I love and remember all the above suggestions, although we were still in the car park for Kennedy's Van Basten moment at Villa. A few others, including 3 from Tony Field. 1) his famous dribble, leaving 4/5 defenders for dead before scoring in the Blackburn End in the 5-0 defeat of Watford 2) a similar mazy dribble before scoring at the same end v Charlton 3) a stunning strike from the Nuttall St side of the pitch, just a few yards into the Darwen End half that flew into the Darwen End net in a 4- trouncing of Lincoln 4) (although sullied by the fact that Coyle was the manager), that goal by Graham at Derby after some 30 odd passes!

It's a shame his name became synonymous with missing sitters-it began that season after promotion-because he scored plenty to help us win promotion under Gordon Lee!

It was. I can remember Saxton saying. " We were hoping to catch Liverpool on an off day, but unfortunatelythey caught us on one".. And Souness saying " But it was an FA Cup tie out there", as if it was supposed to make us all feel better..

Funny, I am pretty certain that the Brighton game was indeed a night match. Both the Bournemouth and Brighton games were close together, towards the end of the season. The McNamee goal was struck from practically the halfway line too. Special long shot mention to Johnny Price v Bradford from a similar place...

Roger was a Rovers player before we got relegated,

We often reminisce about this fantastic goal. A wonderful, flowing move. The only bit where my memory differs from yours is that I am sure that Beamo finally put the ball in with his head, when it looked easier to use his foot?

Hence, "Venkygraph" lol

A great read!

Pickering and Kopel though that day v Millwall!...

Dead right...thanks!

My bad...Neil Ruddock! He was mates with Shearer and Flowers from Soton days...

One of my favourite players too. I remember watching him, playing for Leicester in that dramatic game at Ewood. I think Newell actually got sent off, but I was really impressed with his touch and work rate...I was actually wishing he played for us....and a few short years later, there he was making his Rovers debut at home to Boro. He scored a really cool finish that day at the Blackburn End. Happy Days!

Le Saux clearly had issues/others had with him...I remember an interview he did with Barry Davies, after his awful injury,when he implied he hadn't had good wishes from everyone.. Then there were rumours of a significant clique/Southport Mafia, which I assumed meant Shearer, Flowers, Warnock ...and Newell? And something was clearly going on beneath that scene with Batty in Moscow....

I was feeling a bit superstitious in being amused by this...then I remembered we are already in Purgatory!

I knew I had forgotten someone.One of my favourite Rovers players of all time. I remember being so proud for him, when George Best was on the commentary team for an international and referred to "Noel Brotherston's magic."

Good luck. For a while, it seemed I used to spend half my working life, mingling in the juvenile court throng!

Dougan was also UKIP and a Bring Back Hanging campaigner! I only remember him playing for Wolves, but the Wembley fitness/ transfer thing certainly takes some forgiving! Football and fairness are funny, though. My Dubliner wife never forgot how hurt we all were about the way Chris Price left Rovers for Villa and found it inconceivable that he returned to the club and was allowed to play at Wembley, while Simon Garner wasn't!

Now I know the mods get sensitive about anything that could be construed, as political, but a Rovers "united Ireland" team would be interesting...Off the top of my head,..Allan Hunter, Derek Dougan, Jimmy Quinn..

Well done to all for this and thanks!

This!

Brilliant! Dirty mag men, both...