135 years of class!

First of all - Happy birthday all Rovers fans! Today on November 5th, 2010 is Rovers's 135th birthday. In those 135 years, we have witnessed a lot of ups and downs and that is what today's post will be about.

Little more than a month after its founding, Rovers played their first match. It ended in a 1-1 draw. Three years later, along with 22 other clubs, Lancashire Football Association was formed. After only seven years Blackburn played in its first FA Cup final, although now so famous, Old Etonians won. The first trophy was won in 1884, the second in '85 and the third in '86. The club was awarded with a silver shield along with the privilege to have the crest on the corner flags. The first season of professional football was 1885-86 in which Blackburn spent a whooping £615 on player wages! That's almost enough to cover an entire half a day's wages for a below average EPL player nowadays

In 1888 Blackburn were founder members of the Football League and in 1890 Ewood Park became the clubs permanent home. The FA Cup was won for a 5th time already in 1891. 1897 was Bob Crompton's first season at the club, the first of 45 which included League Champions twice and winning the FA Cup for the 6th time in 1928! In 1905 the Darwen End was built, for a mesmerizing £1680, which nowadays will get you about a handful of gummy bears!

Rovers didn't win a single major trophy in nearly 70 years. But then came our savior - Jack Walker - and it took him and Kenny Dalglish only four years to get the team from the Second Division to Premiership Champions. A footballing feat shadowed by none. In 1992 the club signed Alan Shearer for a record £3.5 mill, making it's intentions to become the club in the country clear to everyone.

In 1994-95 Blackburn won their first top league title in 81 years. Since then there have been a lot of ups and downs, including relegation in '99, the death of Jack Walker in '00, promotion in '01 and League Cup glory in '02 and most recently the passing of Ronnie Clayton. In the last ten years, we have seen players like Damien Duff, Tugay, Friedel, Cole, Bellamy, Roque, Salgado, Nelsen, Robbo and David Dunn - all world class players!

To top it off - 31 YEARS!!!