To change it up a bit on here and delve into out Rovers past a bit, and also to get us away from the present state of our club for a moment, I was just wondering who everyones all time favourite player to play for Rovers is?
We seem to have a broad range of ages on here so thought this could be interesting and curious to hear others thoughts and opinions on there favourite players!
I, myself, am not the oldest and so cannot go back too far (being 26) and so cannot comment on legends of yester year, but I would have to say for me it would be Tugay. Just loved him to bits, never complained, always got stuck in, scored some wonder goals and was just a fabulous player for us, who played way beyond the average age of a football player at the top level. He made us tick everytime he was on the pitch. Can't remember too many bad performances he ever put in either when playing for Rovers, and he really was our Turkish Delight.
I know we had some fantastic players during the Premiership winning era, but for me, Tugay just had something that others didn't that made me love him and will probably always be my favourite ever player.
So...who is everyone elses favourite to put on the blue and white halves?
Favourite Player to ever play for Rovers?
posted on 3/11/12
The player who instantly comes to mind when I look back is always Noel Brotherston.
I Will never forget his chip goal against Plymouth to win in the early eighties.
A tragedy he died so young at 38.
posted on 3/11/12
Late 1970's - Don Martin and Derek Faz.
1980's - Terry Gennoe, Simon Garner, Scotty Sellars and Derek Faz.
1990's - Alan Shearer, Hendry as a player,
2000's - Brad Friedal, Tugay, Damien Duff, Matty Jansen.
2010's - Goodwillie, Ribeiro, Anderson and the rest just don't cut it for me.
posted on 3/11/12
2010's - Just remembered Morten. Classy guy, very loyal, like his style, but not his tackling.
posted on 3/11/12
In the 2000s I'd add Nelsen onto that list as well. Someone I admired as a player (I too am a shorter centre half), made of New Zealand stone, uncompromising as a player and a never-say-die attitude. Speaks like a gent off of the pitch and thoroughly likeable. I honestly think his departing the club in the manner it went symbolised the low of the Venkean alliance.
Aside from that the 1990's team just for the optimism of watching the Rovers then - Ripley and Wilcox made me want to be a winger, Berg and Hendry sowed things up at the back, atkins was an unsung hero and Shearer and Sutton showed the art of good strikers. And then I always liked Newell and Gallacher too.
posted on 3/11/12
Forgot about Nelsen. Brilliant player, role model and professional.
Just remembering some of our great players puts the current shower in perspective.
posted on 3/11/12
Great memories all, funny how the early heroes stick isn't it. I'd forgotten all about N Brotherstone, heckuva player in a poor side
But no one has answered my Q about Bobby Craig, am I the only one that old??!! Looks like the Bovril did everyone else in!
Well, somebody good like Pickering(?) left for pastures bigger and the Telegraph had an exclusive about a Scottish star being snapped up as at least an equivalent standard. At the first home game we couldn't believe it, he was so small we thought he was the mascot. Needless to say he didn't stay too long in those days of craggy defenders.
Poor start today though for Berg-man
Duggy
posted on 3/11/12
AFC ey up and welcome back;
All the way since 1963, good stuff, you and I can share stories about Bovril and "Noddy", I'd forgotten about Mike Harrison, each leg wider than my entire body at the time; the man with the 50 yard pinpoint pass, stunning but unnecessary.
But what does AFC stand for, you are shy about yersel in the profile, (Accrington, Altham, 'Apton, 'Aslingden...?)
Duggy
posted on 4/11/12
Hya Duggy, thanks for the welcome back whilst I haven't posted during my absence I still regularly read the comments posted on the board.
AFC are my initials and 2701 is my "old" police number. I think I once mentioned this a while ago along with the detail of my first visit to Ewood at the age of 11. My Grandad took me to an evening match where we played Leeds Utd and I sat with him in the old riverside stand sitting on the ancient wooden benches. I still remember the smell of cigar smoke and the fantastic atmosphere in there. It was cold that night and the thunder in the stand of stamping feet is still a vivid memory for me.
I was just thinking about Barry Hole what was that chant again?
"Give Us a Goaaal, Give us a Goaaal; Barry Hole or something on those lines- happy days at Ewood.
In later years I was fortunate to meet both Bryan Douglas and Ronnie Clayton at Ewood a few times when I was a member of the 100 club prior to match kick-off. One time was when we were playing against Huddersfield I think during the Souness era. They were circulating with the club members at the time and they came and sat with me and my brother.
I think I was a bit "star-struck" in their presence to be honest because I spilt my coffee over Ronnie Clayton. He was so gracious about it and I felt a total idiot.
Both very nice guys great players in their day and totally loyal to the Rovers cause.
posted on 4/11/12
lee carsley
posted on 8/11/12
I thought long and hard about all the players that have come and gone!Like Duggy we have seen 4/5 decades of Rovers so I tend to think in decades.If it came to choosing one player then I would say Ronnie Clayton and then Bryan ( Duggy ) Douglas would be a close second.Modern eras Shearer without a doubt ,the best striker/forward we have ever had at Ewood Park.