May 14, 1995. Where were you?

I’ll tell you where I was.

As an eight-year-old lad, just making my first forays into becoming a Rovers fan, I was sat on my Dad’s settee in Oswaldtwistle.

There, with my Dad, I was watching Rovers take on Liverpool at Anfield in the final game of the Premier League season – the third season in the league’s history.

Rovers, at that point, were two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the league. United, champions for two seasons running, were playing West Ham United at Upton Park, knowing only a win would suffice.

Throughout a frantic hour-and-a-half, my Dad was up and down, constantly flicking between the two channels to monitor the situation at both grounds. This was in the days of Sky before remote controls, so he probably got a fair bit of exercise.

Rovers took the lead through Alan Shearer. Stuart Ripley tearing down the right and playing it along the ground towards the centre spot, where Shearer slotted the ball through John Scales’s legs to put us ahead.

Unfortunately, John Barnes equalised, making things very nervy.

At West Ham, United were drawing and Ludek Miklosko, the West Ham goalkeeper was on fire, while United’s record signing Andy Cole floundered in front of goal.

As Rovers fans begun preparations for a title party, with United being held 1-1 by West Ham and Rovers level with Liverpool, Paul Warhurst brought down Steve McManaman on the edge of the box. Jamie Redknapp took the free kick and, to the dismay of just about everyone at Anfield – Liverpool fans wanting us to win the title almost as much as we did, just to prevent it from going to Old Trafford – it flew into the top corner.

Everyone went pale. This couldn’t be happening. We’d been top for months. It can’t be thrown away now.

Then, the final whistle blew at West Ham, sparking jubilant scenes across the Blackburn area. As I said, I was only a nipper then, but I can still remember being driven home by my Dad and seeing all the fans outside the pubs. My Dad pipping his horn at them as we drove by. Magical.

At the time, I didn’t really recognise the magnitutde of the situation. In the time I started to become aware of football and Rovers, Jack Walker’s millions had already had their effect. I knew no better – I still don’t, really.

But Rovers winning the title then was unthinkable. An unfashionable small town team with barely a receptacle to urinate into taking the biggest prize in English football.

I said the other week we are the most successful town team in English football. What more proof do you need than a Premier League trophy?

Notts County stun the football world by bringing in former England and Manchester City manager Sven Goran Erikson as director of football

1991

Jack Walker stuns the football world by bringing former Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish out of retirement to manage Second Division strugglers Blackburn Rovers

It’s uncanny…