Keith Gillespie: Seeing Jack Walker in tears after Blackburn Rovers relegation really upset me

If your tie is askew on the appointed day, or the cap doesn’t fit, too bad.

That’s the way you were: that’s the image that goes on the mantelpiece.

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Over the years, a wretched few have come home with pictures they would prefer to turn to the wall.

For others, like Keith Gillespie, they have experienced both the agony of relegation and the highs of success.

Having also played for Manchester United, Newcastle United, Leicester City and Sheffield United in the top flight, Gillespie says Rovers’ dramatic plunge from the Premiership they had won four years earlier, still haunts him.

“There was an air of disbelief in that Ewood dressing room after the draw (0-0) with Manchester United, and some were more upset than others,” recalled Gillespie, who will talk about his Rovers career and his colourful life in football at Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre in January.

“Jack Walker came in and he was in tears – that really upset me.

“Jack had this incredible passion for Blackburn Rovers, building the club up again, brick by brick, and we’d let him down.

“I looked around and some of them knew that they’d be playing in the top flight the following season, they weren’t too fussed whether Rovers stopped up or went down and that cut really deep.

“The reason that Blackburn were relegated was because there was a lack of fight in that dressing room.

“We had the quality to be competitive further up the table, but we didn’t have the application.”

Gillespie was Brian Kidd’s first signing when Sir Alex Ferguson’s number two was appointed Blackburn boss in December 1998, shortly after England manager Roy Hodgson had been sacked.

The initial success of Kidd’s tenure was quickly replaced by despair, though, with Kidd branding his squad, ‘rubber dinghy men,’ following a particularly poor home defeat to already doomed Nottingham Forest in the final week of the 1998-99 campaign.

“I have to admit that I could have done better too, but there were too many contrasting attitudes in the squad, and Kiddo inherited a tough situation,” said Gillespie.

“Everybody should have been fighting for their lives but some weren’t.

“Several members of Kenny Dalglish’s ‘94-95 title-winning side were still in the squad.

“Jason Wilcox had a real passion for the club and cared about our position in the table.

“If every Rovers player had his attitude, then Blackburn wouldn’t have been fighting relegation that year.”

Gillespie’s four-and-a-half year stint at Blackburn was the longest of his career, adding: “That season was an education, a reminder of how rare sentiment is in football.

“Also, to see the decline of Blackburn under Venky’s has been just as painful to watch for me.

“I think there should be a rule against foreign owners coming in and buying clubs, because we are losing our soul and the fans – all over the country – are getting ripped off.”

The following season, when Blackburn failed to make any headway in the First Division, and seemingly unable to halt a downward spiral, Kidd was fired.

His replacement, tough as teak Liverpool and Scotland legend Graeme Souness, guided Rovers back to the promised land of the Premiership and landed the League Cup in 2002.

“It was difficult to forget his success at Liverpool because he never stopped talking about it,” joked Gillespie.

“The only positive thing about hearing one of those stories is that at least it meant he was talking to you.

“We didn’t get along, and I was pretty much exiled.

“During Souness’ first year in charge, I may as well have not been there.

“He blanked me every time I passed him in the corridor.

“So I became the invisible man and a regular in the reserves.

“Then, one Sunday morning, he surprisingly acknowledged my presence and asked for a chat.

“He wanted to throw me into the side for the FA Cup tie at Derby County.

“I’m giving you another chance,” he said.

“I can’t play boss, I’m cup-tied. I played for Wigan (on loan) in the second round.”

“Oh….”

“Luckily, though, this wasn’t a one time offer.

“Something had changed and I don’t know what to this day.”

Suddenly, Gillespie was part of a side that was on the way back to the Premier League.

“When we won promotion Souness was a nicer man to be around and I actually grew to like him because he was an insightful guy.

“Sure, the arrogance remained, and he never lost the fondness for striding topless around the training ground and talking about his Liverpool medals, but I began to understand his personality a little bit more.”

Although Blackburn’s league form was patchy, it all came together in the League Cup, Rovers dumping out Arsenal 4-0, Matt Jansen scoring a hat-trick.

And when they brushed aside Sheffield Wednesday in the semis, Rovers were on course to win their first major trophy since 1928.

Spurs were red-hot favourites, boasting the experience of Les Ferdinand, Teddy Sheringham and, of course, ex-Blackburn Rovers midfielder Tim Sherwood who had joined the White Hart Lane ranks.

With Wembley Stadium being rebuilt, the Worthington Cup final was staged at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in front of 72,500 fans.

Gillespie recalled how the game unfolded.

“The sliding roof was closed because of the heavy rain, so there was an unbelievable atmosphere in the stadium and Souness had us well prepared,” he said.

“We took the lead mid-way through the first half and we just had that crucial momentum that you need in a final.

“I remember Ledley King’s headed clearance out of defence dropped for me, and I fired a shot in.

“The deflection fell into Matt’s Jansen’s path, and he stabbed a close range shot past Neil Sullivan from 10 yards.

“I just knew it was going to be our day after that.”

Keith Gillespie – How Not to be Football Millionaire – will be appearing at Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre on January 22, followed by a Q&A with the audience. Tickets £10. Box office 01200 421599 or www.thegrandvenue.co.uk.