We lived in Zürich for six months back in 2009-10. I had a choice of watching either FC Zürich or Grasshoppers but, because of the kit, it was a no brainier. They were formed in 1886 by an English student called Tom Griffith and we were the inspiration for their blue and white halved kit.

The more I look at the home kit, the more I like it. It helps once you get used to seeing the players in it but I would say it’s the best homer in years. Love the traditional Royal Blue, as well. ?

Probably a Keeley/Faz and a Mick Rathbone but you get the gist.

If only BRFCS could manage the lads. That’s not sarcasm, by the way. We have all known that our defence is the key failing in the team, has not been addressed and will cost us points. A Keeley and Faz in that team and we win 2-0.

Me neither, or backwards-sideways-backwards as I call it. I’ve heard of one of them, Stanislas. ?

Manchester United v Hull City

Having seen the kit on a few YouTube clips, it looks very nice and much better than on the original promotion photo. Back to Royal Blue as well. May even be tempted to buy one.

Yes, that looks much better Stuart. If you’re going to have red on the sleeve cuffs, it then makes sense to have a red collar. Without it, it seems unbalanced. I think once folk see the players wearing it though, it will grow.

Credit where credit’s due. This appears to be a very good signing. Ok, anybody would be an upgrade on Walton but at 27 years of age, as a keeper, he should still be a year or two off his peak. Let’s hope he turns out to be the real deal.

Yep, I remember playing for St Edwards on that pitch.

Had three good seasons up at Blacksnape, Andy, until I snapped and dislocated my ankle. Must have been the joint highest pitches in Lancashire, along with Trawden. Bloody freezing in the depths of winter.

Yep, I was mainly Puma, TS, although I did have a pair of Adidas much later on. Arbitro and EiT May remember this but there was a very decent player in our year at SMC, Charlie Fairclough (think he supported the Clarettes). Anyway he had a pair of Adidas 2000 and I think he was the only lad with a pair of boots that good. It was 1969-70. We were all very envious. Think his family must have had a bit of brass because his dad had a cine camera and filmed our 7-7 draw with QEGS that season. ?

Too right Andy. Adidas or Puma! ?

Either of these but there isn’t a cat in hell’s chance of it happening. Away kit, red and black halves in same style. Keeper’s top, plain green without any of this fluorescent sh!te. And while we’re at it, the ball should be white, plain white and only white. Old school.

Just found this on a Facebook football site. No info, just the photo. A bit of Googling and I think it is Roy Keane’s testimonial v Celtic in 2006. Keane played one half for each team. United won 1-0 in front of over 69k. Question is, is that you Tony, closest to Ryan Giggs?

Just watched the highlights of the Barcelona v Bayern game. Wow, have Barcelona ever conceded eight in one game? This is some Bayern team. No backwards-sideways-backwards from them. Not in that game anyway.

And this isn’t the ‘new normal’ for Blackburn Rovers. It’s been the norm for years. We are one of the worst clubs in the entire league for this sort of thing.

Yes, it’s been explained several times now (only just seen your post bazza) and I think the YouTube video covers everything. I have only seen it referenced on here recently but sort of worked it out. Like you, I can’t stand the term ‘playing in the hole’. I know it can be explained but ‘in the hole’ doesn’t actually mean anything to me. I’m a bit old school, when I see a player with either a number 8 or 10 on his shirt (pretty rare, I know these days), I simply equate that to an inside forward. Think it’s an age thing. ?

Brilliant that Tony, a really good listen. The Ronnie Moore/Rotherham bit was hilarious! I seem to remember you as a linesman at Ewood in a pre season friendly versus Aberdeen and thinking, bloody hell, Tony’s running the line. Would have been mid 80s. Was that the start of things starting to move for you? Well done as well, Ian, top interviewing as usual.

I hadn’t a clue who Noel Fielding is but now I’ve looked, the likeness is pretty good ?. After the Orient game, I never saw the guy again until one night on the Barbary Coast in Blackburn in the mid to late 80s. There was a group of us around town and Birdy was sat at the bar alone, can’t remember which pub. One of our lads was originally from Carlisle and a Carlisle United fan. A nice lad but loud, jovial and never knew when to shut up. As soon as I saw Birdy, I told this lad not to take the mick or say anything against the Rovers. He (our lad) thought it was funny and started mouthing off. I had to literally drag him away and spell it out to him in no uncertain terms..?

I think he was known as Church Birdy, as in Church near Accy. I went on the coach to Orient away, the game where Waggy got the first ever red card. Birdy supped a bottle of whisky (or something similar) and threw the empty bottle down the coach. It hit a lad on the back of the head, cutting his head open. We pulled in at a motorway services near Birmingham and an ambulance was called. We ended up getting to Orient at half time because of all this. That Birdy was an absolute nightmare and God help anyone getting on the wrong side of him. There were other antics from him on the coach and half the lads on it decided to make their own way back from London rather than risking a beating from him. The coach was half empty on the way back. I just kept my head down and I think by then Birdy was in a drunken stupor and just slept it off, thankfully.

If I hear the phrase ‘false 9’ ever again, I’m going to do something I will definitely regret.

Went to Albert’s in Standish today, first time in a restaurant or similar establishment since the virus broke. There was a decent distance between tables, some tables had been removed, servers wore face shields, ordering by app if you so wished, one route in, one route out, left to your own devices re the toilet. Everything calm and collected, extremely busy and felt very safe. Had our party’s main name and telephone number for possible track and trace. Top marks.

I agree Matt and rather begrudgingly have to admit that they’ve done rather well for themselves. Once we had sort of found our level as a mid table Premier League club, we were the benchmark in how to operate as a very well run club outside of the six or so really big clubs. Just goes to show how one or two mistakes at the wrong time can bring the whole shooting match tumbling down. Here’s hoping it happens to the Clarettes..and soon.

True. I’ve told a couple of Clarettes supporting mates, in all sincerity, to enjoy it whilst they can because as soon as the ginger haired, gravel voiced bast’ad departs, they’re on there way down like a runaway train. ?