Bob Crompton

Back in’t day I was the author of Rovers’ section at The Offside, now still being run by my successor, a young American chap called Jimmy who does a good job.

During my time there, I started a series of weekly posts, looking back at Rovers’ legends, and I have decided to bring this back, as it’s important not to lose touch with the roots of the club.

I’ll be honest, the first few are going to be a bit of a cheat as I’m going to regurgitate those I used at The Offside, although I’ll be re-writing them a bit as, looking back, my writing in those days was, to put it mildly, a bit shit (please don’t comment, I am aware it may still not be the best, but I’m always improving!)

Any series of this kind has to begin with a man a lot of people not too big on their Rovers history may not be aware of – Bob Crompton. The man heralded as our greatest ever player and a true one-club man.

Born in 1879, he was signed by Blackburn Rovers in 1896, aged just 17. He made his Rovers debut in 1897 as a right back. A position he would occupy for 23 years. He was given his England debut in 1902 – he would go on to make 41 appearances for his country, more than any other Rovers player. He later became England’s first ever professional captain!

He also had a very impressive moustache.

Crompton in 1910

Known as ‘Mr Blackburn Rovers’ he led us to our first Division One titles in 1912 and 1914. He was also a big part of the side that toured in Austria and Hungary during the days when they were the other big footballing nations. Over the course of those tours Rovers battered their opposition, if football was as big then as it is now we may well have been regarded in the way Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona or Inter Milan are now, and Crompton would possibly be the best player in the world!

He was a master tactician, a strong leader and had an immense aerial capability.

Crompton also holds another impressive record. Courtesy of The Knowledge at The Guardian, he holds the record for most appearances for England without playing at Wembley!

After retiring as a player he went on to manage the club. In his first spell in charge he led us to our 6th, and most recent, FA Cup victory – A 6-2 win over Huddersfield Town in the 1928 final.

Following his success he chose to retire. Rovers were relegated, then finished 16th in the Second Division.

In 1938 Crompton, who decided he could not watch his beloved club continue to suffer, returned for a second spell in the managerial hot-seat. He won the Second Division and got Rovers back into the top flight.

Unfortunately, in 1939, Germany invaded Poland to begin a bit of a worldwide scuffle and football suffered a little.

Crompton died in 1941. He was still manager of Rovers and, in his last game in charge, we had beaten Burnley 3-2. He had a heart attack after the match.

Bob Crompton, ‘Mr Blackburn Rovers’, We salute you!