An England cap?

I was there twice with 52000 crowds, both times in cup games against Burnley.One we lost the other we won. However I was cosily ensconced in the Nuttall Street stand so no issues for me!

A very touching and accurate obituary from the Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ronnie-clayton-footballer-who-captained-england-and-played-at-winghalf-for-blackburn-rovers-for-20-years-2122434.html?

Certainly true that Ramsey didn't like wingers but as all good Rovers supporters know, Douglas was not a winger by then. For some years he excelled (dominated) as an inside forward. However he was never allowed to play for England in his best position! Its my recollection that Duggie featured in the lead-up matches to the World Cup but wasn't chosen for the tournament. However my memory is probably the same as your's!

Clayton was slowing down by that point and Stiles played a different game. The big surprise was that Dougie didn't play a big role in that World Cup. He was just about the best player in the country at that time whereas Martin Peters was almost unknown. To be fair to Ramsey he did win the World Cup though!

You must have been at Ewood with 52000 on Jim? Burnley 6th round replay 1960? And no "incidents"! Those were the days when the southern-based media crucified him Jim. All in his autobiography. Should have got 100 caps.

Don't know if this has been posted before but even Burnley fans are paying their respects. Credit to them: http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=104&fid=297&sty=2&act=1&mid=2119694856

Heart-broken. Lived near his shop in Darwen for years. Captain of England serving newspapers between training and never a cross word for anyone. A truly great player for so many years.Would have had a hundred caps for England if he'd played down south. Clayton and Douglas---the heart and soul of Blackburn Rovers. We will never see the like of them again I fear. Sincere condolences to his family.

I remember him at Ewood in 1974 when we were going for promotion and Palace were our rivals. Peter Taylor was mugged in the penalty area in the last few minutes and a stone-wall pen wasn't given. Allison was practically on the pitch he was so enraged, crowd hurling abuse at him, fantastic atmosphere and we hung on for a lucky draw. I think over 17000 there but could be wrong. Couldn't cut it at City when he made some bewildering buys but a great character. RIP.

Yep, apparently Sam was out of his senses for letting him go! Absolute miracle to get 2M for that fat, lazy loafer.No wonder he was on the verge of coming to the Premier League for years but no-one would take the risk. See what I mean!

An accident maybe but avoidable certainly. The bin didn't throw itself did it?

You've lost me there. he's telling the truth, it was an accident waiting to happen. Anyone following Rovers in the last 2 or 3 years will say the same.

I wrote along these lines after the Everton away game very early in the season. There are "fans' supporting Rovers I wouldn't want my family near. The drunkenness and the obscenities hurled at decent Everton supporting families really sickened me. At least in the bad old seventies you never expected to be injured by one of your own. Hope the poor man recovers and the Club has a good hard look at its away following who are dragging our name into the mud.

I'll remember him for THAT GOAL against Arsenal which took us to the FA Cup Semi-final. But even then he was at war with the manager (Hughes). Remember he went and sat on the sub's bench to highlight the fact that Hughes hadn't been starting him? He was booked for it! Just another piece of poor management Benni had to endure I guess!

Mismanaged by all 3 Rovers managers he "worked" for Eddie! Admittedly one was an idiot.

Tris didn't blame the manager when Dunn fell out with Souness!

Tris' little echo. Stay in our top 3 goal scorers list this season? He's after Dunn and Nelsen then. What a star!

MGP!! Scraping the barrel there! Dunn apparently wants a longer term contract than the club has offered. Who's right there? Hoilett--I don't know. Doesn't see himself as a winger and is being courted by big german clubs I guess. Hardly the managers' fault.

Like Tris you are just using this issue as a stick to beat the manager with. pretty much what you do with every post. Benni's conduct is indefensible as is your own.

To perform to his maximum he would have to get fit. What sort of professional footballer comes back after the break in the state he was?

Sounds like you're condoning his behaviour. He's been like this, more or less, for the whole 4 years we've had him. How can you use Benni well if he can't even be arsed to get fit?

He certainly never wanted to leave. There were plenty of reports that he held out as long as he could before joining Stoke from Sheffield Utd because he wanted to come here. Sam wanted to buy him but Board said "no dosh".

It would be GROSSLY unfair to drop either Dunn or Di Santo. If we are going to play 4-4-2 at Bolton the best option would surely be McCarthy partnering Di Santo with Dunn in midfield.The issue is whether mid-field would be strong enough.

His attitude makes him unpickable. No problem at the moment because he wants to play in the World Cup, when that's over he will return to type. The manager obviously has had a long look at him since he was appointed and clearly doesn't like what he has seen.If someome stumps up the cash in January he is off.