BRFC Action Group

Own A Legend Shirt

Posted on May 21, 2013 Posted in General

This Wednesday will see 16 former players return Ewood Park for an exhibition match as they take on a team of supporters which has been put together from around the UK , when an open invitation was sent out for players to sign up on a first come first served basis .

The event is in aid of raising much needed funds for the clubs Former Players Association who tackle many issues. Predominantly the association was set up to look after former players and their families from a time when players earned very little money and when medical assistance and technology was limited. Many players had career ending injuries and in later life have struggled not only with mobility but also the financial repercussions.

After the match all 16 player shirts from the legends will be auctioned off, some on the floor and some by secret auction. All the shirts will be personally signed by the legend who wears it for the match

If you would like to bid on any of these shirts:

John Filan
Simon Grayson
David May
Craig Short
Jeff Kenna
Stuart Ripley
Craig Hignett
Tugay
Keith Gillespie
Kevin Gallacher
Mike Newell
Mark Atkins
Lee Richardson
Paul Dickov
Colin Hendry
Simon Garner

Then please send your secret bid to secretary@brfcactiongroup.co.uk

Closing time and date for bids via email will be: 7pm, 22nd May 2013

Legends Team Preview – Part 3

Posted on May 21, 2013 Posted in General

On the eve of the Legends v Supporters match we continue to preview the former players team.

Lee Richardson

Was heavily involved at Rovers as the club transformed from Championship to Premiership from 1990-1992. Lee played 62 games for the club in this time and was part of the team promoted to the Premiership in 1992.

Tugay

Tugay became the darling of the Rovers supporters when Graeme Souness secured his services for just £1.3 Million from Rangers. Known as a pass master, and the scorer of wonder goals. Tugays status of one of the all time greats to have graced the clubs midfield will remain etched in the clubs history. The Turkish international played 233 times for rovers scoring 11 goals. Tugay was also capped 94 times by his country and also represented the national team as captain. Tugay has won 18 trophies across his professional career including the league cup with Rovers.

Craig Hignett

Was instrumental in Rovers securing promotion back to the Premiership under Souness. He came off the bench during the Worthington cup final when Rovers beat Spurs 2-1 to lift the Trophy. Hignett was renowned for his creativity and scoring important goals from midfield. He made 53 appearances for Rovers scoring 8 goals before he moved on.

Stuart Ripley

Became Rovers record signing when he moved from Middlesbrough for a fee of £1.3 Million in the summer of Rovers maiden season in the Premier league. Ripley is also the scorer of Rovers first ever Premier league goal as he was on the score sheet against Crystal Palace during the 3—3 away draw in Rovers first Premier league match. Ripley was instrumental in Rovers march up the table as they went onto the win the league in 1995. His delivery to Shearer and Sutton in particular was up there with the best. Ripley went on to be capped for England during his time at Rovers. After 188 appearances, 13 goals and so many assist, Ripley joined Southampton in 1998.

There are still limited After Party tickets available for this game and they can be purchased by following this link.

Legends Team Preview – Part 2

Posted on May 19, 2013 Posted in General

With the forthcoming Legends v Supporters match now only 3 days away we are going to preview the former players team over the coming days.

Jeff Kenna

Kenna joined Rovers during the 1994-1995 Premiership winning season and played a key part in the title run in. Kenna was equally at home at both left back and right back. In a Rovers career spanning seven seasons Kenna went on to play 157 games for Rovers. Kenna also represented the Republic of Ireland 27 times

Colin Hendry

Nicknamed Braveheart Big Colin made 337 appearances for Rovers across two spells. Brought in from Dundee by Don Mackay, Colin made an immediate impact at Rovers scoring the winner in a 1-0 Full members cup win at Wembley against Charlton Athletic. Hendry moved to Manchester City for a couple of seasons before Kenny Dalglish brought him back to Ewood Park for £700,000 as the Jack Walker revolution got fully underway. Hendry went on to achieve promotion with Rovers before being a rock at the back with his body on the line tackles as Rovers went on to win the Premiership in 1995. In 1998 Hendry moved to Glasgow Rangers for £4 Million where he won a Scottish domestic Treble. Hendry was capped 51 times by Scotland and returned to Ewood during 2012 in a coaching capacity.

Craig Short

Joined Rovers for £1.7 Million in 1999 from Everton, the no nonsense defender was a rock at the heart of the defence as Rovers regained their Premiership status. Short was suspended for the Worthington Cup final but was instrumental in the clubs march to winning the trophy in 2002. Without doubt though the highlight of his Rovers career was scoring twice against local Rivals Burnley as Rovers demolished their arch rivals 5-0 at Ewood Park.

Simon Grayson

Currently the Manager of Preston North End, Grayson joined Blackburn in 1999 and made 34 appearances for the club in his first season, however he found his chances limited after that and after a few loan spells away, he joined Blackpool in 2002. Grayson was linked with the Rovers Managers job following Steve Kean’s departure, however missed out to Henning Berg. Grayson also sold Blackburn their record signing Jordan Rhodes in August 2012

There are still limited corporate tickets available for this game and they can be purchased by following this link.

The Legends Team Preview

Posted on May 14, 2013 Posted in General

With the forthcoming Legends v Supporters match now only 8 days away we are going to preview the former players team over the coming days.

John Filan

Filan signed for Rovers for a fee of £700,000 from Coventry in July 1997. He was brought in initially by Roy Hodgson as understudy to Tim Flowers. Following Flowers departure in 1999 Filan was promoted to the number one jersey, which he kept until Brad Friedel joined the club in 2000. Part of the team which regained its Premiership status Filan eventually moved to Wigan during December 2001 for £450,000 and was voted Wigan’s greatest ever goalkeeper during a successful spell there. Filan has 3 Australian caps and made 62 appearances for Rovers.

David May

May came through the ranks at Ewood Park and his career kick started under Kenny Dalglish. May was part of the 1992 promotion winning team and played in the 1-0 play-off final win against Leicester. May who was comfortable at both Right Back and Centre Back caught the eye of Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson after two solid seasons in the top flight. In July 1994 May made the move to Old Trafford for £1.4 Million. Mays United career was disrupted by injury however he was part of the famous treble winning team in 1999, and went on to win 2 Premiership winning medals, 2 FA Cups, a Champions League and although not capped by England he did once earn a call up.

There are still limited corporate tickets available for this game and they can be purchased by following this link.

The Sam Shaw Appeal – Signed Rovers Merchandise

Posted on May 3, 2013 Posted in General, News

A signed Blackburn Rovers shirt and a signed matchday programme for the Blackburn v Burnley game have been very kindly donated to the Sam Shaw Appeal.

Sam Shaw is fighting neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. To give him the best chance of beating the disease, Sam needs clinical treatment in America. The treatment Sam will receive in the United States is not available in the same format in the UK. The proposed treatment and associated costs of £250,000 will not be funded by the NHS which is why Sam needs your help.

The signed items are up for auction – If you would like to bid for these ‘money can’t buy’ items please e-mail the kind lady who donated these at tracy.thompson93@ntlworld.com.

Good luck and thank you for your support!

More information on the Sam Shaw Appeal and how you can help can be found here

Committee Member Elected as Vice Chair in FSF Shake Up

Posted on May 1, 2013 Posted in General, News, Press Release, Statements

This weekend saw the North West division of the Football Supporters Federation hold its Annual General Meeting in Hyde.

On the agenda for the meeting where updates and discussions into ongoing campaigns being ran by the federation including ‘safe standing’, Policing and Stewarding as well as electing divisional officers for the coming year.

It was agreed during this meeting that the division itself needed to build foundations in order to become stronger and to improve the way the branch interacts with the supporters around the region in order to become less reliant on the National Branch in the way it operates.

During this detailed discussion it was agreed that 2 new officers would be elected onto the committee of the branch, whilst one volunteered to step down as part of this restructuring.

At the meeting our Communications Officer Phil Thompson was invited to stand as a candidate and in the resulting show of hands Phil was duly elected to the committee of the North West division of the branch and was later appointed as Vice Chairperson by its elected body.

Phil will remain as Communications Officer for the group in addition to his new role with the FSF.

Mark Fish, Group Secretary Said:

“The news that Phil Thompson has been elected as Vice Chairperson for the regional division of the Football Supporters Federation is great news. We as a group had no hesitation in supporting Phil for this role and his election is a fantastic opportunity for Phil to help make a difference at a wider level and further strengthens the growing relationship between the BRFC Action Group and the FSF. During his time on the committee Phil has worked tirelessly to open and maintain communication with various bodies and has used his skill set to ensure the group continues to have the opportunity to present the case of Blackburn Rovers to not only the Football League, the Premier League and the Football Association but in person to the Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson at Westminster last summer. Phil’s professionalism together with the contacts he has built up over the previous 15 months will be of great benefit to both our local division and the federation nationally and we wish him the best of luck in his role”

Phil Thomspon, Communications Officer Said

“It is a huge honour to be elected into this position. It reflects the great strides that the Blackburn Rovers Football Community Action Group has made since its formation and the high esteem with which it is now held within the game. My desire to rid Rovers of all incompetent management remains undiminished.

These are vitally important times for our national game, with the new TV deal set to bring billions of pounds into the Premier League over the next three years. This money must not be used to further line the pockets of players and agents. The Football Supporters Federation must urge the authorities to use some of these monies for the benefit of supporters at all levels of the game. Fans are the backbone of the game and their voice must be heard. I would urge ALL football fans to look at the benefits of becoming FSF members and sign up because the more members means the more pressure can be exerted.

There is a great deal of work still to be done locally to ensure Rovers becomes a well run club once more. This is our group’s aim and we won’t leave any stone unturned in our quest.”