? I went to Turf Moor, Nick, with a few of my India Mills FC, Rovers supporting mates when they played Runcorn in 1981. We were in the away section of the Longside and it’s fair to say we went mental when Runcorn went one up. Unfortunately, the Clarettes eventually won 2-1.

True, well not until the later rounds anyway. The cup competitions do, though, bring much needed income to the L1 and L2 teams, especially when playing PL opposition. In the scenario I mention above, the FA Cup for example, could be an opportunity to bring together non league and league teams much earlier in the competition to potentially earn the non league boys further income. There’d be more chance of one of them ‘doing’ the Clarettes, as well.

True, when I started going in 1966, our away colours were as you mention and with red socks. We used red as the colour for our away shirts for a fair few years before we first switched to yellow.

It could be at least August (if not further away) that football resumes. If that were the case, the 2019-20 season could be finished by, say, the end of September. I would then have a month’s break and start the 2020-21 season on 1 November but, for that season only, play a reduced number of games, perhaps 19 games by playing each other side only once, instead of twice. Any slack could be taken up by improving the cup competitions (home and away legs for all) or other steps.

A mate of mine was at that game, seven Rovers fans in a row together, on the side but right up near the Gladwys Street End. Their intention was to remain seated and tight lipped if Rovers scored. When Sutty scored they all rose as one punching the air. They got a few verbals but nothing else lol. I’ve done it at Bolton in one of the 2-2 games where we equalised at the death. There were six of us, three Rovers and three Bolton. I got warned when our first goal went in (off a steward) and when our second went in, us three Rovers fans went absolutely ballistic, as you would expect.

Very sad seeing the video clip with his daughter this morning. Brought back memories as my mother in law had to endure several years of this horrible condition a few years back. Tony really was a genuine and very nice bloke as well as being a stalwart on the pitch in his earlier years. He was regularly seen down at Brockhall when I used to watch the youth teams in the mid 90s. Always had time to chat to the fans with a story or two. Best of luck with your fight Tony.

Met him in Ankara when we played Gençlerbirligi and saw him here and there at games after that. There may have been a thread either on him or a few other names from the past, two or three years ago. Think he was living in the Harrogate area and following them football wise. Also mention of him being in poor health. He was absolutely Rovers mad, albeit several years ago and it will certainly be sad if anything has happened to him. Funny how fans go from being absolutely obsessed with Rovers to seemingly then having no interest at all, although I appreciate there will be reasons for some. My old friend Bjarte, from Bergen in Norway, fell into the obsessed category. He ran the Norwegian Supporters Club (along with others) for several years, came over for games regularly and then went to university in Manchester, partly so he could attend games. I am still friends with him on Facebook but he doesn’t now appear to have any interest at all. He used to post regularly on here and went under the name of Pennyduff.

The points above are the reason why we’re past the point of no return. As individuals, we are gradually getting there with our awareness of the problems but it’s got to come from the top. Must come from governments. If governments renege on their promises, they have to be pushed by the people. Procedures have to be put in place such as limitations on each persons/families’ air journeys per annum, number of cars per household, number of children per household and so on. This, however, all becomes irrelevant to a large degree if countries like China (contributes to 29% to world CO2 emissions), the US and Russia pay the problem lip service. It’s more serious than most folk realise and it’s not going away.

Thought this was appropriate, as well as amusing!

With regard to climate change, I think we are past the point of no return. Yes, climate has changed in the past without man’s meddling, for example the last ice age but, current problems like the fires in Australia, the melting of the ice caps etc. are purely down to the warming of the planet due to CO2 emissions. Tundra fires are now at record levels numerically but, because they are in the far north, they are rarely mentioned. Out of sight, out of mind. The biggest concern, of course, is the growing human population and the demands that brings with overcrowding, the need for food and the like. I dread to think what conditions will be like, nationally and globally, when my grandchildren are my age. I’m glad I won’t be around to witness it.

Dasslers Craft is run by the son of an old friend of mine from way back when. Darreners and a keen Rovers family who now live down in Devon. To the best of my knowledge, all legit and above board, so no issues with Adidas. The finished articles are very impressive and I’ve given them plenty of likes and acknowledgements on Facebook. Not just limited to Rovers either, can be any other teams, Rugby Leage, personalities, tv people and so on.

I worked in both Chorley and Preston in the mid to late 80s. There were plenty of Rovers fans over that way (Chorley/Leyland/Bamber Bridge/Preston) well before we returned to the top flight. It’s always been like that and just the way it is.

I said to my lad after the Wigan game that I could sense a poor run coming. I also had the misfortune (ie. a reality check) in watching a social media clip from the club, showing us hammering someone in the Souness promotion season. Jansen was finishing a sublime move by putting it where it matters. That team would knock half a dozen past our current one without breaking sweat. We are probably six quality players short of a squad that could really make the playoffs. Of our present lot, probably only two would make the running for the Souness team. One is a Man City player and one is out for the best part of a year. That is our ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ moment as to where we are. Not only do we need further, substantial investment from our owners (never gonna happen), we need a new manager who knows what he is doing.

Dack was yelling like mad. Hope it’s not his ACL.

I used to spend shed loads in the club shop each year. T-shirt, polo shirt, sweatshirt, Winter coat, scarf, bob hat, replica shirts, season tickets (mine, my lads and twice for my daughter), beach towel plus other bits and pieces. Initially it was decent, well made stuff. The t-shirts and polo shirts were especially good with a great club crest. At one point, the club lost the plot and most of the stuff became just sports wear with very few Rovers branded items. After a couple of years, if I remember correctly, they then saw sense and normal service was resumed. I haven’t bought anything for years. I tend to buy the odd bit of Wigan Warriors stuff these days and, to be honest, I find their club shop clothing to be dull, drab and not of the best quality.

Would have liked Man Utd at Ewood. Think we could have given them a scare.

How close was that to Rovers v Dingles?

Well done lads. I’ve knocked both TM and SG recently, so credit now where it’s due. Keep it up and let’s see where it gets us. Three quality signings in January - keeper, centre half and striker - and we could be knocking on the door of promotion. If only Venky’s could be convinced of our position, if only they could be persuaded to invest in the club’s future, they could then be closer to the Holy Grail than they possibly realise. (I know in the real world, it’s not gonna happen before anyone tells me but I like to dream)

The John Lewis Suite was open during the week prior to the ground redevelopment, Matt. When I worked in Blackburn, me and the Mrs went for our dinner one day and I was delighted to see Kenny and all the players in there for their mid day meal. I remember, the bar man was temporarily away from the bar and Shearer, fed up of waiting, got up and poured himself a pint. The food was good as well.

Quite agree, TS.

I was led to believe it was more a mutual decision, rather than a dismissal, DE. There was absolutely no way Big Sam was going to recruit from Kentaro’s pool of players. He saw the problems that that would create and had the necessary wherewithal and foresight to move on.

I know Uncle Jack was lurking behind the scenes for a while but it was essentially 1991 when he was acknowledged to be funding the club prior to becoming the owner. As we know, he sadly passed away in August 2000. Nine years. We have now had the ‘honour’ of suffering under under the wretched Venky’s for the same length of time. Nine frigging years. It’s like death by a thousand cuts. And then some.

At the moment, having Tony as our leader is as good as it’s going to get. We’re an average Championship side that’s going to be stuck in mid table forever. Tony’s a nice guy who has sorted out some of our problems, forged a good relationship with our owners and got rid of a lot of deadwood. However, his track record as a manager isn’t too impressive and, for me, he possess neither the nouse nor the credentials to take us to the next level. Were we to get someone in with a bit more mettle, a bit more authority and the ability to win games by employing both the right tactics and the right players, you would hope that this type of manager would have sat down with the owners to discuss a plan. Yes, a plan. Maybe a short term plan or hopefully a longer term plan. That’s what a Souness type manager would demand. A plan on where we would want to be in two or three years time and a more importantly a budget for player purchases to help that plan unravel. Ever since Venky’s rolled in to town (other than paying us a bit of false lip service and a few photos in the LT) they have been conspicuous by their absence. That’s nine fecking years of absence. Nine years of managers having to travel to India for discussions and coming back none the wiser. No strategy, no budget, no plan. Big Sam grasped hold of the situation immediately and walked. Not that they didn’t have a plan. He didn’t get that far. He foresaw the car crash that we were about to become. We’ll never get anyone of Sam’s ability, or close to it, ever again. So, unless Venky’s change the way they operate (if it hasn’t happened in nine years, it never will), we are left with relatively unambitious, run of the mill managers who will gladly take their very nice monthly salary without asking too many questions. Or...we take a chance on an up and coming, younger manager at a lower level. Someone with something to prove. Someone like Gareth Ainsworth. Bearing in mind Waggot falls into the same category as Mowbray, he’ll be unwilling to rock the boat and more than unwilling to have a poor decision (if it turns out that way) fall on his shoulders. So, that leaves us in a sea of mediocrity, with a bang average captain, riding the waves in permanent mid table until such time as our hand is forced ie. relegation or as near as. We’re right back to November 2010, knowing that the club can’t and won’t progress until new owners are at the helm.

I really wouldn’t want to try and guess Brereton’s level. It certainly isn’t in the Championship, top six or not. A mate of mine went to one of the earlier games this season with a Forest fan (not the Forest game) who couldn’t hide his delight, not only that someone had taken Brereton off their hands but also the fee they received.

An unbelievably gifted footballer. One of only a few Celtic players since the 1970s that would have made their 1967 team. Dalglish, McGrain, McNicholas and McStay being the others (in my humble opinion). It would be interesting to hear opinions from your family/friends on this Andy!