Blackburn Rovers F.C.

About Blackburn Rovers F.C.

Blackburn Rovers' Premier League experience is one of football's most compelling stories. Promoted to the inaugural competition in 1992 following 26 years outside the top flight, Rovers became the first team to take the crown from Manchester United in 1995. Jack Walker bought the club and aimed to end their mediocrity in the old Second Division and his dream came true after one of the Premier League's most exciting title races ever. Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton provided the firepower with their 'SAS' partnership to finally bring the championship back to Ewood Park . However, the Rovers story took another turn. They became the first Premier League champions to suffer relegation from the league in 1999. Walker sadly passed away a year before he could see his beloved Rovers return to the top division for the 2001/02 season. A superb victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup final was the catalyst for a fine end to the campaign which saw Blackburn finish a creditable 10th - just inside the top half of the table. Rovers then clinched a European place in 2002/03 by finishing a fine sixth. However, they were brought back down to earth during an injury-hit 2003/04 season as an early European exit combined with a 15th place finish meant a disappointing campaign. But under new coach Mark Hughes, the former Rover who replaced Graeme Souness in September 2004, the club are back on the up and returned to Europe after finishing sixth in the 2005/06 season.

Formed by a group of public school old boys in 1875, Blackburn 's early history was littered with FA Cup triumphs. It wasn't until 1912 that the First Division title came to Ewood Park for the first time, and Rovers followed up this success with another championship win two years later. Former Blackburn and England favourite Bob Crompton was in charge for the famous FA Cup final victory over Huddersfield in 1928, and the club enjoyed top-flight football until 1936. Blackburn found themselves playing Third Division football in the 1970s before local-boy-made-good Jack Walker transformed the club's fortunes. Walker 's financial backing and shrewd appointment of Kenny Dalglish as manager in 1991 resulted in Rovers gaining promotion and becoming founder members of the Premier League in 1992. The club achieved its highest league placing for 80 years in 1994 by finishing runners-up to Manchester United before going one better the following year to clinch the 1995 championship on a nail-biting final day.

Current squad

As of 4 July 2007. [3]