ON Monday it will be exactly 15 years since Blackburn Rovers secured promotion back to the Premiership with a 1-0 victory at Preston North End thanks to a Matt Jansen goal, but the magical night remains fresh in the memory of Garry Flitcroft.

Flitcroft was the captain of the Graeme Souness side which finished second in Division One in the thrilling but sadness-tinged 2000-01 season and this week he spoke to the Lancashire Telegraph about the evening when Rovers fans took over Deepdale.

“We were nervous because it was a local derby as well but we knew how well we’d been playing and Graeme Souness, who was a fantastic manager, kept everyone calm on the night and we got the result,” said the former midfielder, who scored 20 goals in 280 appearances for the club.

“I just remember how fantastic the fans were. They had been all season. We were in the division below but they backed us all the way and on the night they came in their droves and it was brilliant to get them the win.

“Janny (Jansen) took it off my head and I’ve never forgiven him for it! But he’d had a great season, and scored loads of goals for us, so it was fitting he scored the winner on the night.

Lancashire Telegraph:

“The fans came in their thousands, we probably had the majority there, and it was great to see.

“It was a great occasion and a great night out after. We all went back to Blackburn and rolled in about 5am. Everyone stayed out.

“That was the type of group of lads we were. We were all in it together and we all wanted to play for Graeme. If you have that it brings the best out in you.

“And not only did we have a good team spirit, we had a good work ethic too. That, as much as our ability, got us up that year, because you’ve got to work hard to get out of that league. It’s tough. But Graeme got it spot-on.

Lancashire Telegraph:

“We had leaders in there and young lads we looked after.”

The win ensured Rovers made good on their promise to seal promotion for the club’s late, great benefactor Jack Walker, who had passed away in August 2000.

“We did it for Jack,” remembers Flitcroft, who last summer called time on his successful reign as Chorley manager, where he won two promotions, to concentrate on his thriving eco home building business Flitcraft, and watch his sons at the start of their football careers.

“I was very close to Jack. I was probably one of the only members of the team to get invited to his funeral.

“When I got sent off on my debut, after I first signed for Blackburn, he came down into the dressing room, put his arm around me and said, ‘it was never a sending off’, and then went back up to his seat. That’s the kind of guy he was.

“I had a close relationship with Jack, being captain.

“It was great to do it for him, and get back up to the Premiership, where the club deserved to be, because of the legacy he left behind.

“As far as owners go he was the best. He just lived for the club. It wasn’t about money-making with him. He just wanted to have success.

“He was a down-to-earth genuine guy. He would come in on a match day and have a laugh with you. He never interfered with anything.

“We lost him and, out of respect, we wanted to do it for Jack.”