See comment above addressed to Pedro !!!!??

See comment above addressed to Pedro !!!!??

See comment above addressed to Pedro !!!!??

See comment above addressed to Pedro !!!!??

Write a piece...write a piece...write a piece ...write a piece *pause for breath* write a piece...write a piece...?

Fancy writing / recording something for the pod ? ? That’s one of my earliest memories too - outer wings of Riverside on the bench seats...

I’m giving this topic a bump...when I put out the original appeal back in 2018 I did have a number of DMs expressing interest but for whatever reason, only a few came to pass & resulted in actual podcast items so I thought I’d put out the appeal again. Those who listen to the pod regularly will have heard pieces written (& in some cases narrated) by individuals who have a particular fond memory or topic they would like to share. If you haven’t listened to the pod, please give it a try. I’m really proud of our contributors, we cover different demographics and have different takes on the club as a result. if you’ve never written anything...there’s a first time for everything, if you fancy narrating that’s great, if you don’t we can sort that for you. So over to you...be great to add to our pool of contributors & share some new tales of being a Rovers fan...

Mowbray has balls the size of watermelons. Astonishing result (& performance) with 6 changes. Sometimes you just have to doff your cap & tonight is one of those occasions. Terrific stuff.

Send me a piece Vinjay...if it’s any good...it will go in a future episode...

I presume because it’s written by Jim W ? The piece is a worthy tribute to a fine manager. Jim W’s pieces on Ken Furphy & Howard Kendall were also terrific & were warmly received. I will gladly consider pieces from anyone who wants to submit something for future podcasts. We are a broad church. ??

A special tribute to former Rovers manager Jim Smith who sadly passed away earlier this week. Written by Jim Wilkinson, narrated by Ian Herbert. Special additional Tony Mowbray interview by Michael Taylor & Louis G. Thanks again to The Symmetry Band for all the music used. View full record

Tonight, yes.

Thanks to Mrs Old Blackburnian "doing an Andre Gomes" to her right ankle last Friday night, there isn't an Old Blackburnian column as such this week as I've been otherwise engaged. Instead, here is a piece from the latest @4000Holes magazine to fill the gap. Hopefully back to normal next week...the column, not Mrs OB's ankle...oh, go buy 4000 Holes, it's terrific..! Saturday Kitchen with Tony Mowbray (as watched by BRFCS.com’s @IanHerbert) Saturday Kitchen: Tony welcome to the show, great pleasure to have you on the programme...are you a dab hand in the kitchen then? Tony Mowbray (for it is he): Aye...well I’m partial to a chicken parmo as a rule and they do a lovely “croque monsieur” in the Costa in Yarm...one of Danny’s favourites that, so I like to think my tastes are cosmopolitan...Normally wor lass does the cooking but I like to help out every now and then... SK: and I understand that you have a signature dish that you are going to show us today? TM: That’s right...it’s my own, unique take on the staaaple dish of students the world over...Spaghetti Bolognese... SK: I see, but with a twist Tony? TM: Aye...nothing frustraaates me more than seeing good food and spices going to waste, especially if they’re my old favourites....so I like to add them to the mix so they feel part of the recipe. They rarely let me down and I feel that you’ve got to trust them to do their job you know...when to sit back in the flavour...when to combine with the vegetables...when to pep up the stock...that kind of thing... SK: Well Tony, I am intrigued so let’s get you over here to the hob and get yourself started... TM: First thing is to choose your pan...now most people use a heavy bottomed frying pan to fry but for me; your milk pans, your saucepans, your casseroles...they deserve respect and I often brown off my mince in a milk pan like this... SK: Tony, that is unusual to say the least... TM: It's the versatility I admire...your milk pan here can warm up milk for sure but it can slot into the back, the middle or the front of the hob here and be equally effective in any position... SK: But Tony...most people use a frying pan or even a wok are you sure that... TM: (interrupts) Now I have been in this game for many years and I have cooked faggots and peas in the Black Country, haggis in Glasgow and of course a chicken parmo back in my beloved Teesside so I think I can knock up a solid Bolognese here... SK: Well if you are sure Tony... TM: So we’ll start by chopping some onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and celery to make a solid back four to build on. Except we don’t seem to have any onions or celery...I had borrowed some from celery from my mate Colin in Cardiff but if you ask me it looked more like leeks but anyhow...I can make do and mend here with some baked beans, tomato ketchup and maybe a bit of black pepper... SK: You value versatility Tony clearly...when you’re cooking wouldn't you find it to be a better idea to have a fully stocked store cupboard with all the necessary ingredients? TM: You’d think so wouldn't you? But what I like is start a recipe without truly being fully certain of how it’s going to turn out. For instance, I started making a cracking Lancashire HotPot a few weeks back and as I was slowly braising some lamb I’d borrowed and slicing the potatoes it all looked fabulous and smelt terrific...I’m not sure what went wrong...my sous chef dropped the casserole dish, another 45 minutes in the oven and it all seemed to dry up and lose its flavour proving to be an utter disappointment. The family weren’t keen on it so I ended up giving it to the dogs. It was a proper dog’s breakfast you might say... SK: You don’t follow a recipe book then Tony? TM: Well I have some standard approaches to the kitchen and some “go to” recipes that I can feel I can rely upon in difficult circumstances...but as I say, I do like to throw in a curve ball every now and then... SK: Well I can see that Tony...you’re now adding...is that corned beef? To the baked beans and you’re smothering it in strawberry jam... TM: The jam has really impressed me at breakfast...performing exceptionally on toast...white at home and seeded brown away... but it’s time to see if it can step up to the challenge of contributing to a Bolognese...Many chefs wouldn’t do it this way but I think the jam can learn from the experience and become a better preserve... SK: Tony...where’s your pasta ? TM: Aye...well Steve says that our European supermarket scouting network is still being set up and so I prefer to use more traditional domestic produce...I mean post-Brexit that might be all we can use you know, so growing our own carbohydrate is crucial just in case the fancy foreign ingredients prove to be too expensive... SK: So you’re not actually using pasta Tony ? TM: No. *pauses* Potatoes. Very versatile your spud, it can make your mash, your roasties, your new potatoes...chips of course...what’s not to like ? I think potatoes need to be included in every menu personally...they’re definitely a favourite of mine... SK: Now it’s all coming together there Tony...you have baked beans, corned beef, strawberry jam and...a jacket potato...what are you doing now Tony? TM: Well thinking about it...the strawberry jam doesn't really go does it? SK: Well I didn't like to say to be honest... TM: No...it’s lonely, isolated and struggling to integrate....so what I’ll do is put some mustard alongside it, take off the potato and ask the corned beef to play dessert...so there you have it... “Mowbray Spaghetti Bolognese” SK: Well Tony...I can safely say that’s the most unusual Spaghetti Bolognese I think I’ve ever seen...do you get asked back to cook often? TM: Not really, no. SK: Thanks Tony.

Just been reminded of this: The (Rovers) Floral Dance I thought I could hear the peculiar tone Of the Burnley fans when they start to moan It’s hard to smile when you’re 3 goals down Rovers are giving you the runaround It’s always hard to win away Except for Burnley on a Boxing Day RIP Bald Eagle

I understand the club has bought some copies but John wasn’t sure as to whether these were for resale or gifting...

A slightly longer version of this week's Accrington Observer column “Ah, Mr Mowbray, We Weren’t Expecting You!” Apparently there's a new Bond film on the horizon... The scene is an oak panelled corridor. It’s dark, quiet and all that can be seen in the subdued light are two heavy, studded doors at either side; each with enormous brass handles. The door on the left is marked “1-12”, the door on the right “13-24”. A figure emerges from the gloom and knocks on the first door. After a short pause, the door opens and a butler announces from inside, with some formality and indeed solemnity; “Ah...Mr Mowbray...come on in...to be honest, we didn’t expect to see you in here again...EVER. Sit yourself down sir, over there if you’d be so kind, by that nice Mr McCann from Hull and Mr Harris from Millw...sorry, I mean Cardiff...I’ll bring you a drink...” Mowbray wearing a Savile Row tuxedo strides into the room and surveys the scene. A grudging nod of acknowledgement from Garry Monk but something catches Mowbray’s eye. At one end he notices a smaller area surrounded by the obligatory velvet rope and within, is an ornate top table with champagne on chill, but only two places are set. From behind the velvet rope, Alex Neil turns round, notices Mowbray and shakes his head in disbelief at the arrival of this new guest. “YOU...but how? We finished you...didn’t we?” cries Neil, an expression of utter confusion crossing his brow. Grant McCann frowns, starts to stand up to make a point but Mowbray places a hand on McCann’s shoulder and gently eases him back into his wing-chair. Mowbray knows that now isn’t the time to rise to this bait, Instead, Mowbray beckons the butler over. “What do I have to do to get in there then?” asks Mowbray, emboldened by the impact of his sudden and spectacular entrance. “Well...” hesitates the butler, “let’s just walk before we run sir and perhaps in the fullness of time, at the appropriate juncture, we can discuss admission requirements...” (to be continued...perhaps). If a week is a long time in politics it can be an eternity in sport, especially football. Not that long ago, let’s be frank, the probability of Rovers’ returning to the play-off conversation looked about as likely as the chances of Watford FC handing out managerial long-service awards. One fortunate, scrappy win and two hard-fought, but deserved wins later; nine points onto the total has certainly put a spring back into the step of the Rovers faithful. The Brentford performance demonstrated that the squad has quality, tenacity and skill. It helped that Rovers attack had Danny Graham as its fulcrum and pace provided from either side by Rothwell and Armstrong. In central midfield, Evans and Travis did the hard yards and a clean sheet was a just reward for some staunch defending and solid goalkeeping. “But can they do it on a cold, Tuesday night, away at Stoke?” is the clichéd challenge regularly thrown out by the PFM* whenever a fancy-dan foreigner is being lauded on Sky Gillette Soccer Saturday. Substitute “Saturday afternoon” for “Tuesday night” and Rovers demonstrated that yes, they could indeed. It wasn’t easy physically, nor was it always easy aesthetically but sometimes you have to simply applaud the outcome. Rovers looked leggy, especially Joe Rothwell whose normal scampering, “Jack Russell enthusiastically chasing rabbits” style seemed to have transformed into more of a “plodding, aged golden retriever” here. Notwithstanding, Rovers had the measure of Stoke in the first half and a single goal lead was scant reward for periods of pressure applied. Special mention is warranted for Corry Evans, who seemingly wanted to deliver a midfield masterclass in front of his international manager. It was the best performance I have ever seen him deliver in a Rovers shirt. He prowled, snarled and passed his way around the Stoke midfield. Whether the signings of Johnson and Holtby raised the stakes or simply these two have grown organically into their partnership, we will never know but it’s a pleasure to see. The upturn in fortunes has coincided with the return of Darragh Lenihan to the centre of defence and another embryonic partnership seems to be blooming as Tosin seems to respond to the authority alongside him. #Adarraghbioyo ! When Stoke had equalised with ten minutes remaining, Walton blotting an otherwise well-maintained copybook by flapping at a corner; it seemed like a winner would only emerge from one direction; story of my life you might say. The Potters were increasing their pressure and Rovers looked like they might just succumb. The introduction of Bennett had solidified the right wing but had rarely threatened much in the way of attacking intent but that was to change late on. Then Nyambe found Dack who threaded a pass to Bennett, who in turn outstripped his full back and pulled back a cross perfectly into the stride of the approaching Sam Gallagher. Straight from the Guardiola playbook. Two-one, six minutes plus added time between three out of three and a frenetic nine-point, eight days. Rovers held on with some aplomb and the celebrations at the end called to mind the League One promotion season. A band of brothers securing another away win on the march to...well, where precisely? That is the $64k question. Can we break through into velvet rope territory? There’s a long way to go of course but how pleasant it is to be back in the top half and looking up, for a few days at least. A few more decent results in December and our old friend the January window comes along to tease us, like an ice-cream van parked outside a Weight Watchers meeting. Can we add quality & press for the play-offs or will we battle just to hold onto Dack, Lenihan and Travis? We are to be re-acquainted with Wayne Rooney on Saturday, but just in a coaching capacity until January, Derby County’s wild card for their push to the Premier League. Saturday’s fixture is followed by two very tough away games and so it takes on a different complexion than it appeared a couple of weeks ago...a “1-12” six-pointer. Velvet rope not quite in reach... just now. *Proper Football Men

Enjoyable evening, some terrific anecdotes & got my book signed ODB ?

Yeah...?

Frankly, I’ll take that...? ??

“It is easier to seek forgiveness than permission...” ?

A slightly longer version of this week's Accrington Observer column Dack’s Double Keep Frustrations Bottled Up Northbound on the M1 around junction 37; some political graffiti has emerged during the early days of the election campaign. One of the epithets painted onto a bridge straddling the M1 proclaims that “Barnsley doesn’t believe bullspit Boris”...at least I think that’s what it says, though I did pass at seventy miles per hour on Saturday morning (honestly officer...). Based on sentiments expressed on fan forums and social media over recent weeks, Rovers fans are growing increasingly, similarly frustrated, with what is seen by some as the same tired, old platitudes trotted out each week from our manager. Same old problems, same old bullspit? When results are poor, it seems the performance is what matters but when performances are poor, it’s the results that take primacy. The players seem to be called out individually and collectively more frequently; referees are invariably in the firing line after defeats but as Mowbray himself admits, the buck stops with him. Indeed it does. Mowbray is a fundamentally decent man in a sport that tends not to laud the principles of honesty and integrity as it ought, but he does sound even more world-weary than usual of late. Would Barnsley prove to be willing accomplices in helping to cheer up Tony? Barnsley arrived on the crest of a slump, fifteen games since their last win, but with a newly installed manager inducing the fear of “new manager bounce” in the home support, concern was widespread around pre-match Ewood. Many (your correspondent included) expressed a desire for a win by almost any means. With some tricky fixtures looming on the horizon, this was one you would simply have to mark down as a “must win”. The team selected looked decent enough; Rothwell starting, Lenihan returning and with Williams and Nyambe unavailable, the main talking point on the bench was the inclusion of Ben Brereton following his injury rehabilitation. Once the game started though, it became clear that Sam Gallagher was to be deployed wide right and Adam Armstrong was played through the centre. I recall Mark Hughes once deploying Roque Santa Cruz wide right against Manchester United in order to dominate Patrice Evra in the air. Bentley, Pedersen and Reid picked out Santa Cruz with a series of diagonal balls that he won easily and Jason Roberts was then to feed on the supply. It almost worked but a Carlos Tevez equaliser late on secured an ill-deserved point for the Reds. First Brereton and now Gallagher are being used in this fashion, but as a regular tactic and I have yet to comprehend fully the rationale or see it demonstrably pay off. The Sam Gallagher of that opening half hour at Deepdale looked almost unplayable. Rampaging through the centre, latching onto channel balls to feet or dangerous crosses in the air. This incarnation looks what it is; very much a guy playing out of position and growing increasingly frustrated with his lot. When Danny Graham plays, the team has a focal point. He holds the ball up. He brings others into the game. He categorically brings the best out of Bradley Dack. He is also 34 years old of course and so some kind of alternative approach is needed, with increasing urgency. I’m not convinced that continuing to play either Gallagher or Brereton as right wingers moves us closer to the ultimate answer. As a tactic, it has all the logic of asking a plumber to re-wire your house. It might work, but be careful plugging in that lamp. Barnsley very nearly left Ewood with a point, in all honesty they could have had all three. They dominated possession, had more shots, the same number on target and in Ben Williams (a former Rovers youth player incidentally) at left back and the tricky Conor Chaplin introduced at half time, further ahead on the left flank, Elliott Bennett was a busy man, especially in the second half. It took a brace from Bradley Dack, a first Rovers league goal for Stewart Downing and some desperate defending late on to secure a much-needed, if barely deserved victory. We tend to remember those games where our team plays well but fails to accrue just desserts and soon forget those lucky wins. A defeat here you sensed would have uncorked the genie from the bottle of pent-up crowd discontent. The mood was at best “unsettled” – with each Barnsley equaliser the frustrations grew louder and more vocal. Dack’s winner kept it in check but only just. Ten games without a clean sheet now. Post-game, Tony Mowbray proclaimed that "Danny came on and gave us a platform to play off". He did indeed Tony, just as he so often does. Who knows, perhaps Sam Gallagher might have been able if played through the middle? Instead we had the master of the offside call, (I counted at least five in the first half) Adam Armstrong; pitted against a couple of massive centre backs as Christian Walton amongst others, launched high balls down the middle. A victory earned despite ourselves it seemed. Brentford were next up at Ewood allowing David Raya the opportunity to state his case that he was a better keeper than Tony Mowbray believed him to be. Brentford back in February of course was the catalyst for that horrible run of form that looked like it might threaten Rovers Championship place. Should Rovers race into another two-goal lead expect a lot of knowing glances being exchanged in the stands, but that would be a nice problem to have. As it turned out. a single-goal lead, the result of a lovely back to front, side to side sweeping passing movement was sufficient. It was delightful move, the best Rovers conjured up in the match. I wonder how many Rovers fans polled at 7:45pm would have declared one goal sufficient to garner three points? Not me for sure but what a pleasure when it happens. Brentford play some truly intricate passing moves and dominate possession but as we say so often, the most important statistic is the one in the goals scored column. In truth, Rovers could have had more, Raya's denial of Rothwell and Armstrong demonstrating what Rovers fans already knew. Brentford's best chance brought the very best out of Walton, who too had a decent evening. The win was a reward for effort, application and dare I say it, the manager. No Bennett in the starting XI, Graham playing through the middle, Armstrong wide right, Rothwell starting; many fans' frustrations addressed right here. Those two victories have certainly dispersed much of the gloom that was building up over Ewood. November will be seen out on Saturday with a trip to Stoke, themselves coming into the fixture following back to back wins under their new manager, Michael O’Neill. As one of those sides currently below Rovers in the table, this fixture is another that falls into the critical category. Maintaining a healthy margin over the sides in the relegation zone would undoubtedly keep the genie in the bottle...for now at least. Barnsley M1 bridge photo courtesy of @_thesaturdayboy on Twitter - a great follow if you like your quirky sports photography www.thesaturdayboy.co.uk

You should be able to yes. As long as iFollow sees you connected to a foreign IP address (hotel wifi?) then it should allow you to buy it. The issue is where the device is connected to the internet...or where iFollow *thinks* it is connected !

It’s a hellishly expensive hobby...especially when you don’t attend games or gain any discernible benefit from ownership...beats me what they get from it TBH. At least people who run classic cars usually drive them occasionally. ?‍♂️

Last accounts showed an overdraft of £12m with BoI cf a parent loan of c.£109m. The wording you quote is pretty standard “accountancy speak” in accounts of companies wholly reliant on parental support to keep trading. Nothing to see there. The issue is (as it has been since Jack bought the club in reality) we are not profitable & we rely on our owner to keep the club afloat. The borrowing from the BoI isn’t the issue, it’s Venky’s patience that is the issue.