JDT’s tactics today have been woeful. And now Brittain has won ‘PoTM’* * Plonker of The Match

Don’t forget the theme for the day is a 🔵&⚪️ Christmas. It is time to go into the attic and dig out the old flags that have been hidden away. The only negative thing to report is that Duncan has ordered 200 thunder clackers. I have told him not to hand any out to kids going in the JW Upper. This is a We Are The Rovers Supporters Trust initiative actively supported and promoted by brfcs, Proud Rovers, Her Game Too, South Asian Supporters, Rovers Chat and of course the Club who have been very supportive. Please consider joining the Trust via: http://www.roverstrust.com

Exactly. Just over a week ago we had sold more than we would normally sell up to 2 days before a game. Most tickets are sold in the 48 hours before a game. We had sold just over 12,000 at 09:30 yesterday morning. I know of a couple of people who have not got round to buying yet. Thank goodness it is not a digital only game 😞

Sorry but I can’t not respond. I will say it as it is……. All my dealings with Fraser have been excellent and he is a credit to the club and is really good to work with. I do not know whether this is his idea but he is a decent bloke and I am pleased he is with the Rovers.

A week ago I was advised we had sold more for this game than we would two days before a similar fixture. I am really hopeful of 16-18,000 home fans. The JW stand looks like excellent sales so far as does the BBE Lower. Forever the optimist.

Good points. These are fire retardant and have been pre-approved by Ewood staff. As for away games that, I agree, is more of a challenge.

We are asking all fans to get into the theme for the day which is a ‘Blue & White Christmas’ and to bring your banners and flags and help make a decent atmosphere at Ewood. We also have the three large We Are The Rovers Supporters Trust banners for the BBE (one for possibly the JW Lower towards the DE). We are looking for 3 responsible individuals 😂😂😂😂 who will ‘own’ the banners and take them to Ewood on match days and also away grounds where possible. Please come forward via this mb and you can pick the banners up at our hut we will be using at the BBE fanzone at the Watford game. Thank you.

Yes, Wahlstedt MoTM by a mile, in contrast their goalie had little to two except pick the ball out of his net twice with our only two attempts on goal. We fought hard for that win but the players looked buggered including Sammy and Moran who looked shattered from the first minute. There were less than 8k on tonight.

I could well be wrong but I cannot see Wharton staying more than a couple of years at best. His contract will deliver salary wise for him but more important to his employer it increases his sale value and this fits with our new way of doing business.

I hear Rosie the Riveter is a Rovers fan 🔵⚪️

A brilliant effort from our fans. I sadly it does not mean an extra 1,500 fans attending. You can’t just get that number to attend along with parents / guardians. Any balance goes towards Community Trust community programmes over Christmas.

I can’t take credit for that one; it was either Duncan or Ian but collectively we pushed it. For a number of the kids attending v Watford using the brfcs raised monies it will be their first time ever at Ewood, or a rare visit at least; giving them Rovers themed gifts will hopefully cement their relationship with Rovers for life.

I 100% agree. Although I must admit when I go and watch Rovers at Leeds I normally sit in their kop with family. It has been a problem for years when tickets are in demand.

Yes, plenty.

IMO it looked nailed on from where I was sat. The player moved his arm towards the ball and changed the direction of the ball movement. However it is history now and whilst I was fuming abut it I am going to move on and have a whisky snifter instead.

I know of quite a few Leeds fans in the JW Upper today; the ones I was chatting to (sat behind me) had tickets bought by Rovers fans. A couple of acquaintances also bought tickets for Leeds fans - this was always going to happen and it is difficult to blame the Club when this happens. As for the game we seriously lacked an experienced striker and tried to play it around the penalty area. We have no money for a striker in January unless it is funded by player sales or commercial activities. The owners are back in the Delhi High Court in January but this is another Interim Relief application similar to the recent application. I thought we played well for periods but it was literally men v boys out there and clearly shows the farce and unfairness of parachute payments. SS looked tired from the onset and sadly James Hill picked up an injury that could make him doubtful for Tuesday.

They will get very wet 💦

Met Office weather warning has been posted.

One of the other ideas suggested by the Supporters Trust and our BRFCS friends in the planning meeting was a collection point in the Roverstore for fans to donate Club shop items for less well off families with children. The Club, yet again, agreed to our suggestion. There are plenty of stocking fillers in the shop close to the donation point. Thank you in advance to those who donate 🔵⚪️👏👏

Exactly Mattblue. Many Rovers fans have never lived in BwD. I originate from Leyland and now live in a part of Chorley; virtually all of those ST holders who sit immediately around me in the JW Upper come from Chorley (especially the villages of Wheelton, Brinscall and Hoghton), Penwortham, Bamber Bridge and Leyland. Sad to say, and this is not a cheap point, it is almost certainly the case that all have a higher disposable income than most in BwD and is therefore another reason why the outside of BwD support and the diaspora of Rovers fans should be nurtured. I was speaking with a PNE Director some 12+ months back and their Club have a policy of targeting every PR postcode and it is fair game to build their fanbase across all those areas. Are you aware for example that Chorley Borough starts after the 2nd terraced house on Moulden Brow which is the terrace on the right hand side as you start up the hill after coming out of Fenniscowles - they have PR postcodes!! This is a real issue with me and I will not let it drop; Rovers, and the Community Trust relationship is with BwD schools, while PNE and others such as Accrington and Burnley to the East have a relationship with LCC schools which gives them far greater school coverage and for PNE a near monopoly over schools in our joint catchment area of Chorley and South Ribble.

Coming to Blackburn Library in February. Talk sponsored by ‘We Are The Rovers’ and given by our Trust Board lead on heritage the excellent historian Steve Williams. Watch this space for more details. A further Rovers talk by Steve is planned in the Chorley area as part of outreaching to the many Rovers fans* outside of BwD. Incidentally Steve is presently researching a new book ‘Rovers in Uniform’ giving the stories of around 180 Rovers players to have served in the armed forces, some sadly never to return. *over 50% of Rovers ST holders are from outside of BwD.

January.

This is from the Watford FC official website:

We have just finished another planning meeting at Ewood with the Club. Again this was an excellent open discussion. We are clearly on the same page as far as the Watford game is concerned and Club staff have been very helpful with images, publicity, access to players and JDT as well as general logistics. Let’s make this game to remember. Well done to ‘We Are The Rovers’ Supporters Trust and our partners : brfcs; roverschat ; Proud Rovers; Her Game Too; and of course the fans for supporting #GreatRoversFanTakeoverChristmasAppeal Ticket sales are very encouraging and the big push starts after the home games v Leeds and Bristol City. Some areas of the ground such as the BBE and JW Upper and Lower are already looking good ticket sale wise.

The banners have arrived 🔵⚪️