I wouldn't go if I were you. Any football fan will just be blown away by the committment, intensity and raw power on show, not to mention the lack of play acting. Football will never be the same to you again.

What a weekend. My Football Team gets dicked one day and then next day my Rugby Team gets dicked as well !

Sorry to hear that. I'm off to Keigthly this afternoon hoping for a win that'll take us to the play off finals. A win would make up for yesterdays dross.

Sorry to hear about your grandad. Hope he get's well soon.

I don't agree about the play offs. In Rugby League you get greater rewards for finishing higher up the league. I think that's a good thing. Just don't ask me to explain how it all works.

I believe Wigan played Saints today. Any pie eaters know the score ? My lot ( the mighty 'nets ) won a titanic struggle against Doncaster Dragons at Spotland today. Next week Keigthly away. I never could spell Kiegthly.

A guy stopped me at work last Wednesday - " You're a rugby fan aren't you, do you want some tickets for a final " ? I say O.K thinking Oldham St Annes v Rochdale Mayfield or some other local teams. I say " How much " ? He says " Nothing, they're free ". I say " OK , I'll have two ". He says " I've got four, you can have them all, I'll bring them in tomorrow. Tomorrow comes and I'm dashing out to get a lift home, The guy sees me leaving work and shoves an envelope into my hand, I quickly put the envelope into a small pocket in my work bag and forget all about it. Late Saturday morning I'm emptying my work bag and find the forgotten envelope, belatedly I open it. I find four tickets for that days final !!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR.

In successful teams everyone should be defending when the opposition have the ball, there shouldn't be any exceptions.

I've been following Rochdale Hornets since 1966, I've seen us beat every team in that time, Wigan, Saints, Leeds we've beaten them all. I used to go home and away but now it's just the home games. It's a great game, most Rugby League players have more honesty and integrity in their little fingers than a lot of our so called super stars. I saw a great game last Sunday, Hornets v Workington, we were 20-4 down at half time but came back to win 22-20, it almost made up for the Fulham game. Having said that when both teams lose it really ruins your weekend.

According to todays paper Ray Mathias is Technical Adviser at Stockport County, bottom of league 2 ( the old Fourth Division ).

I was bitterly disapointed that I wasn't able to show my appreciation and condolences today. I'm glad many others were able to attend.

I remember the 'City game, it was a bit scary. I was in the Blackburn end and I could see a small space at the far end of the Riverside terrace near the Darwen end. Why did nobody ever stand there ? Was it windy as it looked out there ?

I agree, one of the few players I've seen who could play either full back position equally well. Keith could also do a job in a defensive midfield role or at centre half in a pinch. Trouble was although substitutes were allowed in League Football at that time I'm sure they weren't allowed during the 1966 World Cup. I used to try and model myself on Keith's style of play, obviously I was nowhere near as good but I could play on either side of the pitch no problem. One footed players really annoy me , It's the one element of the game that any player can improve on with dedication and practice.

Ronnie and Bryan never had a chance of playing in the 1966 World Cup. It came at the end of our worst ever season when we were ignominiously relegated without much of a fight. Bryan had been injured most of that season anyway. It also did for the chances of Keith Newton who was in the provisional 26 but missed out when the squad was finalised to 22. He lost his place to Gerry Byrne of Liverpool who was a journeyman at best. Having said that Ray Wilson was probably the best left back in the world at that time and Alf had a soft spot for right back George Cohen (in spite of him being one of the worst crossers of a ball I've ever seen) so Keith would have probably only warmed the bench even if he had been picked. People say Alf didn't like wingers but he picked 3 out of 19 outfield players for that World cup. The only time I saw Douggie play in midfield under Alf was when he played for the English League against the Italian League, Bryan was bang in form for Rovers and absolutely ran the show, he was the man of the match for most observers. I think that was when Roma made enquiries about him. Next game though it was business as usual with Arsenal's George Eastham back in the team and Bryan out in the cold.

Very sad news. Ronnie was the Rovers captain in the first game I ever saw. When he strode out in front of the Rovers team you could see the pride he had in the club. He was an outstanding wing half, equally skilled at both ends of the pitch and a captain who led by example. He was not the sort that led by shouting and bawling. Later on in his career he moved into the back four and in spite of not being very tall played very well there for a season or two, his reading of the game making up for the march of time. There was a time in the early 60's after he'd lost his place in the England side when he was as good a wing half as there was in the country, but the selectors refused to be proved wrong and re-call him. I never saw him commit a nasty act and the story from the Sheffield Wednesday cup match sums him up. I know for a fact that he was having traction twice a day for a back problem in the week running up to that game. I met him years later when my son and I did the ground tour and he was kindness itself, nothing was too much trouble. His death is a massive loss to the football world, Rovers and first and foremost his family. Thanks for all the fantastic memories Ronnie- there'll never be another.

Sorry to be pedantic Jim but Tony Book was at Plymouth Argyle when City signed him. He had previously played for Bath City in non league football though. What a good solid player. I remember seeing the very good Mercer/Allison Man City team tear us apart at Ewood in a F.A. Cup tie in the late 1960's. If you can still find it read his coaching book- " Football for Beginners " I think it was called- very interesting. Rest In Peace Mal.

Really sad news. In my first Derby against Burnley in 1962 Ian scored a fantastic equaliser just after half time, he hit a tremendous drive from about 25yds out, it never went above about 2"above the ground all the way into the far corner, a real daisy cutter. Adam Blacklaw in the Burnley goal never saw it ! Fred Pickering got the winner for us later on and I was well chuffed that day. He came from Sunderland with a big reputation to replace Dougan who'd moved to Aston Villa. I remember him scoring quite a few goals for us, the last in a 3-0 win at Old Trafford and a cracking header at Ewood when he outjumped the England and Everton centre half Brian Labone. Although he was only about 5ft 10 inches in height he was a good header of the ball with the ability to hang in the air. After being our leading scorer in his first season he was moved inside to allow Pickering to play centre forward, I don't know wether this unsettled him but he seemed to fall out of favour with Jack Marshall and was moved on to Scunthorpe at the end of his second season. He played 59 league games for us scoring 21 goals. I'll never forget that goal against Burnley as long as I live , thanks for that Ian and Rest in Peace.

He was a short stocky fullback ( usually right back ), a good defender with a fair turn of pace but not the greatest going forward. He was more likely to put the ball out than in passing up the touchline. Never say die attitude , a real trier and a good clubman, very popular with the fans. He later became Howard Kendalls assistant manager I think.

" Come on Without, Come on Within, You've not seen nothing like Don Martin " To the tune of Bob Dylan's "Mighty Quinn ". That was the chant in the late 60's early 70's. A tall slim classy player with a good touch, could play centre half or centre forward equally well. He'd been an England Youth international at Northampton, Rovers signed him for the substantial fee of £40,000 when they were still trying to replace Fred Pickering.I remember his debut in a boring 0-0 draw to Norwich at Ewood. He gave us great service in a period of change and upheaval. I believe he liked a half time fag or two, and a post match pint. Rest in peace Don.

I remember the Villa game very well. What a shitheap we played on then, the playing surface today is like a bowling green. What sort of stuff our current lot would serve up on pitches like that I shudder to think.

Better at centre back than full back and better for Holland than for Rovers. He was just looking a class act when he had that bad injury against 'City away. You can't lose the best part of a year out at his age. As for Emmo going to right back, didn't I read that he'll be out until the late autumn. We'll need somebody in before then. Of course the opptimists will say " But we can play Reidy there " ! I say " Ha"

Well that's a surprise.

I'd have him, he's streets ahead of the dross we've got pulling on shirts in central midfield at the moment. Barton or Andrews- err, let me think. At least he cares about losing, I'm exempting Andrews from this , he cares as well. The rest , well do they ?

Just one of them would do me, either would be a massive improvement. Harrison was the best penalty taker I've seen at Ewood and that includes Shearer.

According to todays Guardian our former left winger Joe Haverty died on the 7th of this month. Joe was a Jack Marshall signing from Arsenal who came for the reasonably large sum of £ 20,000 in August of 1961 to replace the populat Ally McCleod. Although Joe was an established Eire international and a great favourite at Highbury he sadly never really shone at Ewood and was allowed to leave Rovers for Millwall at a nominal fee in September 1962. He played 27 games for Rovers and scored 1 goal. His replacement, Mike Harrison, was a bit more successful. Joe played in the first Rovers game I attended ( Home v Sheff Utd , Sept 30th 1961 ) , Our forward line that day was Crowe , England, Lawther, Douglas and Haverty. Douglas at 5ft 6ins towered over Joe who was only 5ft 3ins tall ! R.I.P. Joe. and condolences to his family.