The Rovers Return

Simon Garner

It seems only right to pay this tribute while the Burnley win is still in the memory. As Garner was a constant thorn in the side of the Dingles back in the days when we played them a bit more often!

It’s rather ironic to think that Garner, who was voted as Rovers’ cult hero in a BBC Football Focus series in 2005/06, pretty much had his long Rovers career ended with the arrival of Jack Walker.

With Walker’s millions, and Kenny Dalglish in charge, there was no room for sentiment as the pair built a side ready for the newly-formed Premier League. The arrivals of David Speedie, Mike Newell, Roy Wegerle and Duncan Shearer, to name but a few, saw Garner spend much of the promotion-winning season on the sidelines.

In his book There’s Only One Simon Garner, a must-read for true Rovers fans, remembers how he spent the majority of the Second Division Play Off final in a Wembley Portaloo smoking cigarettes he was so tense, such was his love for the club, despite not being in the side.

Garner, of Boston in Lincolnshire, played for Boston United as a youth before becoming an apprentice at Rovers. He was handed his professional contract by Jim Smith in July 1978, despite the objections of youth team coach John Pickering, who was unimpressed with The Lincolnshire Poacher’s smoking habits, and went on to make his debut against Newcastle the following season.

Garner played under seven managers during his time at Rovers. Having been handed a professional contract by Jim Smith, he was managed by Jim Iley, John Pickering, Howard Kendall, Bobby Saxton, Don Mackay and Kenny Dalglish. Unfortunately, his playing years coincided with a decidedly lean spell in Rovers’ history.

The nearest thing to success he tasted was as part of the side that came runners-up in the Third Division in 1980, beginning a decade of Rovers becoming Second Division ‘nearly men’. Numerous failed attempts at promotion to the top division followed until that famous 1991/92 season.

Garner scored 194 goals for Rovers in 570 appearances, a record that still stand today.

After promotion he was bought by former teammate and West Brom manager Ossie Ardiles. He later moved to Wycombe, from where he spent a spell on loan at Torquay, before moving into non-league football.

He eventually retired in 2000 to concentrate on his London painting and decorating firm, but still regularly makes the trip back to watch the club he loves, Blackburn Rovers.

My one regret as a Rovers fan is that I was never able to see Simon Garner play.

All together now, one Simon Garner, there’s only one Simon Garner.