2 hours ago, darrenrover said:

I pass by your Mum and Dads grave most mornings Mark, when I'm taking the dog for a walk. I always say 'Hi' and remember your dad as being a real card, made everyone laugh and a fantastic jazz pianist to boot.

Thanks for that Nick! I’m surprised we never went to any games together in the mid to late 60s. Not sure if you remember Alan Bates and his family. Mad keen Rovers fans, Alan worked with my dad before he moved to the Leeds area through work. My dad was never keen on football and it was Alan who took me to my first away match, a win at Bury in 1967. I also got taken to Everton for the 3rd round FA Cup tie when we lost 2-0, in 1972. That was with Bill Cocker (RIP) and his two lads, Simon and Tim? 

Like you say, Nick, they can’t take away our memories. Mostly painful during the first 26-27 years I followed the lads but every now and again you had a great day out, usually away in the cup!
 

2 hours ago, darrenrover said:

The other distinct memory I have of being stood in a similar place on the terraces, was at the Baseball Ground for an FA Cup Tie, when Derby County were in their pomp. Charlie George scored for them, I think we lost 0-3. It was the first time I was worried about being a Rovers fan away and can recall the small alleyways, between Rolls Royce factories, leading to the ground). How many Rovers fans were there that day? 6,000 to 8,000+, I'd guess.

 Keith Newton lived on Knowsley Road West in Wilpshire at the time. He and Ronnie Clayton were good mates with my Dad (Clayton's Left Boots' parents were also in the same circle of friends)

I went to the Derby cup tie as well, think we lost 3-1 and they had won the league the previous year if I remember correctly. There were 40 Rovers coaches on our coach park near the ground and I was told there were another 40 somewhere else. We took a huge following and were given the whole of the side under that concrete stand (where the Derby singers usually stood). It seemed pitch black under there and the roof was so low you could almost touch the steelwork above.

I don’t remember Keith Newton as being part of that circle of friends, Nick. Only Ronnie but memories fade over time! I do remember going camping, en masse, in the Lake District, would have been 1966. We all climbed Red Pike, near Kirkstone Pass and, unsurprisingly, Ronnie was first to the top.

You’re right Herbie, someone has replied saying it’s Palace and that’s the Arthur Wait Stand just starting to be built in the background, November 1968.

If anyone is on Facebook, the Football Stadia and Grounds site is superb. Brings back loads of great memories.

I’m not convinced it’s Selhurst Park. I’ve asked the question on the Facebook site, Football Stadia and Grounds and will let everyone know in due course.

38 minutes ago, Gav said:

Last one for now - Anyone recognise the ground 1968?

I’ve seen this photo before and for some reason Watford rings a bell.

Edit - first played them in Sept 69 so could be wrong

The Clayton brothers, Ken and Ronnie at Ewood. Found this photo on a Blackburn Facebook site. The photo has been restored and, whilst there is no floodlight in evidence over Ken’s right shoulder, it was in the original photo. This dates it to around 1959 or 1960.

16 hours ago, Gav said:

10,000+ Rovers fans.

Away sections full at 2pm - 1000’s sent to the beehole end, scene from Zulu as the fans battled throughout the game. 

I wasn’t there, gutted.

@USABlue was, @trs was.

Over to you chaps.

Atmosphere wise, best Rovers game ever. We got on just before they locked the gates to the away section at 2pm. It was rammed in there. As you say there were two or three thousand Rovers fans on the Beehole End, maybe more. We scored early and Rovers fans queuing to get on the Beehole End thought Burnley had scored, the roar was so loud. Fights were breaking out all over the shop and hundreds of Rovers fans were led out around the perimeter of the pitch and somehow shoehorned into the Longside. I remember EiT commenting about this game in the past, a guy near him crapped into a pint pot and lobbed it over into the six fingered lot. There were Rovers fans in the Cricket Field Stand as well. We absolutely murdered them and missed a pen to make it 4-0 just before half time. They somehow scored twice to make the score look respectable and with the ref playing seven minutes injury time, I was biting my fingernails at the end to say the least. The atmosphere on the Longside with the fans side by side was generally superb and probably the best in the entire league but, with this game being an East Lancs Derby, it was white hot. Never to be repeated, unfortunately. 

11 hours ago, grinder said:

Is the bearded Villa player Dennis Mortimer? there weren''t as many beards around in those days!

Yes, that’s him. I remember him as a great player for both Coventry and Villa. Captained Villa when they won the European Cup. I don’t think he won an England cap.

23 minutes ago, Gav said:

@Claytons Left Boot

Love those pics from Villa game, the Riverside packed, The Manxman pub in the background, lads sat on the wall at the back.

Taking the mighty Aston Villa to a replay, they won the European Cup in 82, great days under Howard Kendall and I loved that shirt. 

Superb.

I went down for the replay Gav. We took thousands and absolutely packed the end behind the nets. Packed in like sardines. Good game as well.

40 minutes ago, arbitro said:

I had an embarrassing encounter with Duncan at Darwen Leisure Centre Mark. Rovers used to train in the sports hall and I was coming out of the changing room as they were leaving. I was starstruck and asked McKenzie if the was any truth in the rumour they didn't want to go up as champions. It was undoubtedly the dumbest question in the world. He looked at me and said "Fucking right we do". and carried on walking. It was one of the wanting the ground to open up moments for me.

Imagine you’d said similar to Craig Bellamy Tony 😆

Great photo this. Must have been the FA Cup game v Villa with the crowd at a touch under 30k. McKenzie looking on.

16 hours ago, Exiled in Toronto said:

I wonder if our memories of Plymouth 5-2 and Boxing Day at t’Turd would be tarnished by endless replays showing plenty of mistakes in our play. I can recall exactly our goals at Burnley..

I’d pay very good money for a tape/dvd of the Boxing Day 1977 game. Just had a look on YouTube and, as expected there’s nothing. I suppose with the game being at their place, the result and Rovers fans taking over, there would have been very little demand for a tape of the game (if indeed it was taped) from our six fingered ‘friends.’

51 minutes ago, Exiled in Toronto said:

That 1969 team is the first one I can recite in my sleep. Hill, Mulvaney and Blacklaw were the weak links IMO.

Just beat me to it John. I would have probably said Don Martin as well. Not knocking him because, overall, he was quite good for us but just not prolific enough. Can’t remember too much about Adam Blacklaw to be honest but in August 1969 he was only 31 years old and should have been only just past his peak. Perhaps with the culture at that time, booze, smoking and no proper understanding of nutrition etc., they peaked a few years earlier than they do now, hence Burnley releasing him when they did. But, yes, replace those three or four with quality and we would have probably gone back up.

1 hour ago, Exiled in Toronto said:

Funny you should say that Tony, I was just trying to remember if we had one for Tony Field, and nothing came to mind. We did have “Sirrrr Roger Jones, Sirrrr Roger Jones, Rogerrrr” repeat a key lower.

I think most of the songs back then were tribal taunts to opposing fans, either singing our praises, denigrating theirs, “He shot, he missed, he must be fking pissed, (insert rival striker’s name), or threatening imminent violence!

But we had one for Steve Kindon, John.....’Kindon’s wife is on the game again!’ Think there was another about him but can’t remember it. 😆

17 hours ago, darrenrover said:

Our version of The Beetles 'Hey Jude' used to deafeningly reverberate and echo, underneath the stand roof for ages. It couldn't have failed to motivate the team.

Similar theme Nick and, I think a 70s thing but we used to sing, ‘We are the Rovers, we are the champions (repeat) for as long as could be managed. After a while it would change to, ‘ We are the Rovers ooohh, We are the Rovers ooohh,’ then back to the original but even louder. 😆 Great days.

3 hours ago, oldjamfan1 said:

😂😂😂

Royal Oak on Wood Street was my first pint, a pint of mild, aged 14.

It was one of the few pubs I knew my dad wouldn’t have been in!

Remember that one Andy. I once (only once) went in the Foundary, further down Wood Street and on the corner of Hacking Street. Closed in 1991. I was with my father-in-law (RIP) who used to drink mild, as did I for a while.

1 hour ago, Exiled in Toronto said:

St John’s Tavern, age 14, with the current Coroner for Liverpool. Missed the last bus back to Tockholes and had to walk the 5 miles back - all uphill - getting home at 2am having run into the parental search party just when they’d given up! 

Haha, made me laugh that! 

On 27/01/2021 at 08:36, Gav said:

 

Had my first ever beer in there, aged 13. Reminds me of a tale my mate told me. At a similar age, he was lingering around the bar of a pub over ‘Arrod way, trying to pluck up courage to order his first ever pint. The barman called out last orders, shouting anyone for any more ale. He sort of put his hand up and said, yeah I’ll have a pint of ale. He didn’t realise there were different beers/lagers/stouts etc, so when the guy asked him what exactly he wanted, all he could say was ale. 😆

On 26/01/2021 at 18:31, Gav said:

Mecca/Golden Palms 

Met my wife to be there, 1st December 1974 🥰 

I kid you not (your honour), my wife has just come in from the kitchen and said she’s made a lemon drizzle cake. I think that unequivocally qualifies me to take over the running of first team duties until the end of the season. Strap yourselves in for the ride and, Mercer, get some of that expensive wine on order and lots of it.

10 hours ago, bazza said:

Wasn't that down Pleasington?

That’s a very good point Bazza. The hill behind the river didn’t look just right for that leading up to the Manxman but I put that down to the fact that it’s now covered in trees. You may well be right as I always remember the river down at Pleasington being wider and carrying a bit more water.

Exactly 62 years ago all Ally retrieves the ball from the River Darwen. Look how swollen it was then. Can’t remember the river ever being that high. Looks like the lads had just been training on the Ewood pitch as well. 

12 hours ago, Gav said:

Millwall away 88/89?

 

Great photo that Gav. A mate of mine went to Millwall (not sure if it was that game) and they found a boozer near the ground. The bravest one of the four said he’d go in and order a half and, if it looked a rough hole, he’d down the half in one and be back out before they knew it. A few minutes later and no sign of him, they were just walking in through the front door when he was just about to come out the same way, so they had to go in. Anyway, they lived to tell the tale. One of the few grounds I never went to.

13 hours ago, darrenrover said:

It's off piste and not in Darren Mark, we both know that!

Too right Nick, Brownhill Arms is in Darwen North and, as you say, off piste. I used to pass it every day though when I worked in Clitheroe. 😀