Reading 'En Kule' by Tom Kristensen at the moment - developing very nicely. Any of the Norwegian lads read any other of his books?

Just been to Norway for a week. P!!ssed it down for 6 days out of 7 - even Bergen is drier than Darwen!

Was at Old Trafford last night for the Genesis gig. Third time I've seen them and 20 years since the last time. Definitely worth the wait! The old troopers were simply brilliant.

Sunnyhurst Hey Resevoir on the edge of Darwen Moors is very high now and getting fuller by the day. A significant amount of water from this resevoir is pumped to top up Fishmoor Res in Blackburn, but despite this and the time of year, the water level is virtually what it normally is in winter. Nearby Earnsdale Resevoir (Dean Lodge to most of us) is also as full as I've ever seen it in mid summer with water running out via the overflow system. Whoever put together the sewerage/drainage systems in Darwen did a sterling job. With moorland on three sides of the town and water everywhere running down towards the town centre you would have thought that it would be flooded on a fairly regular basis but I have never known this to happen.

Just seen the interview on SSN this dinnertime. All footballers are mercenaries or at least most of them and I can't blame anyone for wanting to better themself or earn more money. Benni isn't a mercenary , however, he is a whore. He may as well be sitting in a window in the red light district of Amsterdam. He couldn't advertise himself any more than that. Gone right down in my estimation. Deplorable. And I hope the door does whack you on the way out.

In Darwen it was FIVE years ago. I don't think anyone can dispute that!

It has just been confirmed - Brazil are not playing England - They are only playing David Beckham. Eleven Brazilians against one Englishman - they should win. The media circus strikes again. Well done David Bentley - fully deserved.

I wonder if Kewell is in BUPA?

Just what I thought! A few deals like that in the summer and we'd be looking to revisit Turf Moor the following season.

Well done lads! I'll see you a couple of times next season.

Franny who?

I was going to post this a few months back but didn't. Roger Jones is actually the kit man at Swindon Town now. (How the mighty have fallen!) When they played at Stanley this season he was in the dug out with manager & coaches etc. My mate, who was a regular at Ewood in those days and now employed at Stanley tried to have a brief word with Sir Roger to get him to do a half time draw, bearing in mind his previous connection with Rovers and this area in general. Jones didn't want to know. Twice, my mate tried to explain that it was something and nothing, but Jones never even looked at him and with his gaze firmly on the pitch held his hand out to usher him away. With quite a few Rovers fans in the crowd it would have been a nice gesture from Jones, who has now gone down in my estimation.

Was talking to a lad at Stanley last week who has followed Rovers in the past and goes now and again now. He was in a large group of Rovers fans, including Birdy, who walked it home to Darwen after the game. Bury to Bolton, past Burnden Park and over the moors to Darwen.

Looking at Jackman's book, den, Beamo was at Tranmere then, although I can't remember him scoring. You could well be correct. He moved to Brighton in March 1972 from whom we signed him the following season.

Relegated to Division 3 for the first time in our history in 1971, we started life in the lower leagues dismally. Ten defeats and only eleven points gained from our first 17 games saw us next to bottom and with confidence exceptionally low we were heading for the abyss and Division 4. Step in Big John McNamee. As Mike Jackman says he was a rough, tough centre half in the traditional mould. Few frills to his game, he simply used his height and weight to intimidate opposing forwards. He was born to play centre half and did it with relish. He signed from Newcastle in time to play Tranmere away on 26 November 1971. A car load of us went to that Friday night game in Birkenhead and what a joy. Big John shored up the defence, we started to play with a newly found confidence and with goals from Price, Field (one of my top five ever Rovers) and Conlon, we won 3-1 and started our climb from probable oblivion. Make no mistake about it this was a turning point. Only five years previously we had been rubbing shoulders with Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Spurs et al but were now, it seemed, destined to be playing Workington, Crewe and other Division 4 outfits. We came back from Tranmere full of hope and sure enough started to win games. December and January yielded four valuable wins, three draws and only two defeats. Big John found the net three times during this period and ended the season with a credible six including a brace against Brighton at Ewood in April. One of these was the hardest shot I have ever witnessed in football. He blasted the ball from inside the centre circle which nearly removed the net from the Darwen End goal. It wasn't a lob or a looped attempt, the ball kept more or less the same height from centre circle to net. Ten further wins and six losses saw us finish the season in 10th and, importantly, both saved us from potential disaster and gave us breathing space before a small amount of team building allowed us to have two good seasons (3rd & 13th) prior to winning the 3rd Division in 1974/75. Anyone who followed Rovers at that particular time in the early 70s knows the gloom, doom and despondency that was around. The late 60s were bad enough but what could have happened had we been relegated to Div 4 doesn't bear thinking about. McNamee partnered Faz for the most part of the 72/73 season but didn't feature the following season and in December 1973 was transferred to Hartlepool on a free. In such a short space of time he gave the club a huge lift and in my opinion was a major factor in saving us from disaster............he was The Turning Point.

The Hovis theme tune would be ok. We could all sway from side to side whilst humming. Everyone to wear a flat cap, the ladies could wear a headscarf and your whippet could be sat on the otherwise empty seat next to you. Sorted. Hmm, hmm......hmm, hmm, hmm...........hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm.................that's it.

Fife - How about you including this as a feature in the Heaven, I'm In Heaven section? I know what happened that day but it would be great getting an eye witness account including numbers of Rovers fans, atmosphere, build up to the game, what you did after, etc etc!

As I've said a few times on here before, the reaction of a crowd should be spontaneous, not orchestrated. Get rid. That's with all due respect to the drummers who I know have Rovers' best interests at heart.

No See later post by JH.

I was at both Duggie's and Ronnie's which were within a year or so of each other towards the end of the 60's.

I'm moving house shortly and over the last couple of days have contacted 13 places to amend my details. Twelve accepted things verbally and only Rovers wanted it in writing although they agreed to me sending a fax.

Fife - I think you'll find Rovers' highest ever league average was just over 30,000 the first season back in the top flight in the late 50's. As you say, certain games attracted very high attendances, Liverpool twice in a week at Ewood in the 50's, FA Cup & second div, 52k and 40k, Burnley in the FA Cup in 60, 53k with 10k locked outside etc etc, but the highest average has been 30k.

Just needs to be a straight 'Yes' or 'No' in the form of a poll on here and then submit to the club. Hell, get rid of the drummer(s) and get those under 25 or so to sing the correct words of 'will we play.....' (instead of 'till we play......' ) and everything will be sorted. No nay never (clap, clap, clap, clap) No nay never no more (clap, clap) WILL WE PLAY Burnley Bar Stewards, No never no more...........

If anyone is interested in Progressive Rock, I've just come across a Polish band called Riverside who are excellent. Lead vocals are very good. Can hear bits of Marillion and Pendragon and I've read they are similar to Porcupine Tree (never knowingly heard any of their stuff) but best of all they have their own identity. Two studio albums to date and if you order from an American distributor via Amazon they can be yours for around £7/8 each including delivery. Their name's pretty cool also.