As I said, Hard hat fully affixed !! 😎

I'll be sure to quote that back to you, in the happy event that a gentleman in a Blue and White halved shirt is holding aloft the Championship play-off trophy at Wembley, at some point during the last weekend in May !! Anyway, the Anglo-Scottish trophy counts as a European trophy, doesn't it !! 😉

Yep, only went down there to make sure we completed the set !! Wolves achieved it first ( 87-88 ) then Burnley ( 91-92 ), Preston North End ( 95-96 ) and Sheffield United & Portsmouth both joined the Club in 2016-17 ....

Both " Longsiders " and I have had some criticism for downplaying our success this season, indeed it has been referred to as a " little owd Burnley " schtick by one poster ... so I'm donning my hard hart after posting this !! I've just realised you have a " Ticker " Clock at the foot of the home page detailing the number of years, months, days etc since " Burnley won anything ". This is factually incorrect, as since our 1959-60 Football League Championship, we've won the following ... Championship/2nd Division (Tier 2) Winners: 1972-73, 2015-16, 2022-23 ( pending ! ) Play-off winners: 2008-09 Second Division/Third Division (Tier 3) Winners: 1981-82 Play-off winners: 1993-94 Fourth Division (Tier 4) Winners: 1991-92 Cup FA Charity Shield Winners: 1960 (shared), 1973 Anglo Scottish Cup Winners: 1978-1979 I would also point out that Burnley currently lead on the " Head to Head " in League & Cup, 43 to 41, with 19 draws. On a more serious note, I attended the wake of David Hopkinson, the QEGS Master who passed away recently at Ewood Park. Not only was I there for myself, but also to represent a number of former pupils who asked me to pass on condolences, including Mike E, Revidge Blue and Herbie6590 of this Parish !! Rather bizarrely, I had to walk through the Main Stand marked " Players Entrance ". Given the fact that a combination of genes & the Good Lord gave me a frame far more suited to being a Rugby 2nd Row Forward, I chuckled to myself walking up the stairs, " Too old, too fat, too slow, wrong game and what's more, wrong bl***y Club ! ". Hoppy would have seen the irony, I'm sure !! 😎

I was working at QEGS yesterday, as a Cover Supervisor. David was my old 6th form Tutor & teacher, and the pupils behaved immaculately in giving him a well deserved tribute. As I stood near the entrance to Alexandra Meadows, an elderly lady in her late 80's with a walking stick identified herself as the mother of Andrew McDonald, ( 1971-78 ) ... " My son thought the world of Mr Hopkinson ... he lives abroad now, but I just thought I should be here to pay respects on his behalf " .... that lovely gesture spoke volumes for David's influence on generations of pupils !

Farewell Mr Hopkinson – QEGS Blackburn

Mike ... can I add you to the ever expanding list for my note for the family for tomorrow's funeral ? I you you could Email me your name and QEGS years to memphis555@hotmail.com

Yes, they were promoted in 1977-78 from the 4th Division, went up again the following season, and in 1980-81 were promoted to the top flight. They finished 6th in their first season, finishing above Villa, Everton & Forest, before being relegated in 1982-83. They then suffered 2 relegations in the next 3 seasons, and started the 1986-87 back in the 4th Division ...

Never dull, I suppose ... Northampton Town' s record in the 1960's takes some beating. They kicked off 1960-61 in the 4th Division and with 3 promotions in 5 seasons, played a season in the top flight in 1965-66. They went down after just one season, two more relegations followed over the next 3 seasons, and kicked off 1969-70, back in the 4th Division ....

You're welcome .... 😎

Golden rule, don't believe everything you read in the " Grauniad " ... 😎

If Message Boards had been around in 1994-95, a poster of a Claret persuasion may have written .... " The trigger for all of your success is simply down to the fact that you've had the ability (money) to buy better players than everyone else, and thus were able to attract Dalglish. Having Dalglish in charge would mean jack, if all you could afford were the Kurt Nogan's of this world. Dalglish probably wouldn't even be there, if that were the case. " And I agree, we're going around in circles ! Your 1994-95 Premier League title sit's proudly amongst your famous, historical Club's achievements, as it should. Hopefully, we will add the Football League Championship trophy, for the 4th time ( Twice as top tier winners, twice as Championship winners ) to our Honours board. Yes we've spent money and very effectively it seems, as did Rovers when breaking the British transfer record twice ( Shearer & Sutton ) & also the British record for a Goalkeeper ( Flowers ) Personally, I was delighted to see Rovers break the endless City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal " Big City " monopoly of the Premier League, as I was when Leicester also did it.

We weren't really at the races today, goalkeeper error led to their goal, but a Watford win would have been an injustice !! Blades v 'Boro tomorrow so they can't both win ...

You two also added ... Many thanks !

Consider it done !

Can I put your name on the list, " Revidge Blue " .... ( 1975 - 82 ) unless I'm much mistaken ?

The years have been kind to you, Ian !! That wouldn't be Scott Foster, sitting just down to your left front row, 3rd in from the right, would it ? Alan Holden ( ? ) front row 2nd left ? But struggling for the others ...

Hi all, I have been asked by a few of my exiled ex QEGS friends to " represent " them at David's funeral, which I hope to attend. I thought I should type up a list to enclose in the card I shall be giving to the family , giving their names. Should any posters on this board wish me to do the same, can you please e-mail me below. Please feel free to forward my details on to any of your contacts and I'll happily do likewise and add them to the list. A note of your years at QEGS, ie ( 1988 - 1995 ) would be a helpful touch, and perhaps a maiden name, if appropriate. memphis555@hotmail.com

This is a personal thread, so please bear with me ... I was gutted to hear the news yesterday of the passing of David Hopkinson, my former 6th Form Tutor at QEGS, Blackburn, and a fine " Rovers " man. He was 72 .. Born in the Borough, he studied in Swansea, returned to his home town and served the school as teacher, house master, tutor, head of junior school and then clerk to the governors for 46 years. He was also involved with the Old Blacks AFC, as a fine left back. Without " Mr H ", I would never have obtained a place at University ... I know there are quite a few ex-QEGS posters on here so I thought I'd share this news, there is more information and a suitable place to pay tributes here ... Tribute to David Hopkinson, 1951 - 2023 (muchloved.com)

I'm fully expecting to see a fired up Rovers team at the next renewal of the " Derby " ... I wouldn't bet against an early red card for Rovers as the players fly into tackles ...

Dyche on the touchline, Tarkowski header from a Dwight McNeil corner .... sounds vaguely familiar !! 😎

Distinctly unpleasant, especially at that time when Football was on it's arse, post Bradford & Heysel. Rover's average gate in the 1985-86 2nd Tier was 5,826 .... 😒

Yes, but it was times like losing 0-6 at home to Hereford in '87, in front of less than 2,000 that makes times like this even sweeter. And, no, he didn't ... 🙄

Multi-tasking ..... Clarets on TV, Laptop open, making a batch of Cottage pies, Wales v Ireland 6 Nations on the radio and observing our neighbours pointing at planes ... having six fingers has it's advantages !! 😎

I suggest that Ashley would just laugh and point to the scoreboard ....