SUPPORTERS of Blackburn Rovers made a significant contribution to the Titanic Relief Fund as the Ewood club enjoyed its most successful year to date.

Rovers qualified for the 1912 Charity Shield, after becoming Football League champions for the first time.

An epic season for the club, it saw them claw back the advantage from the likes of Newcastle and Aston Villa, ending with an 11-match unbeaten run and a 4-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion, their FA Cup semi-final conquerors three weeks earlier.

Because of the maritime tragedy, the Charity Shield fixture was brought forward significantly and was played on May 4 at Tottenham Hotspur’s White Hart Lane ground.

Rovers would defeat Southern League champions Queens Park Rangers 2-1 with a brace for Glasgow-born Walter Aitkenhead, with the gate receipts handed to the Titanic fund.