YESTERDAY we celebrated 30 years since that great day (if not exactly a great game) at Wembley Stadium.

A string of saves by keeper Vince O’Keefe kept the scores level until Colin Hendry (whatever happened to HIM after 1987?) volleyed home the winner.

I had just turned 16 the week before and to watch my team play - and win - at Wembley was, I thought at the time, to be the pinnacle of my Rovers fandom.

What unknown pleasures awaited!

What is not often remembered is that less than 12 months before this iconic Rovers moment was a must-win last game of the season at home to Grimsby.

Fail to win and relegation to the old Third Division beckoned.

Typically Simon Garner scored his 100th career goal after only 40 seconds to calm the frayed nerves but Vince O’Keefe - a year before his cup heroics - gifted Grimsby an equaliser and was lucky not to concede more soft goals to a team playing for pride and nothing more.

Eventually Rovers squeaked a 3-1 win and stayed up.

Why the history lesson I hear you ask?

Well, besides the fact that all is currently quiet on the Rovers front, it seemed a good time to remind ourselves to stiffen the sinew because this relegation struggle may go down to the last game.

That heroes and villains can change masks unexpectedly, and lastly, if anyone at Ewood that May Bank Holiday in 1986 proclaimed that 10 or 11 months later Rovers skipper Glenn Keeley would be leading at least half this team up the steps to the Royal Box to pick up, almost drop, and then hoist aloft a trophy, then they would have been sectioned.

Granted it took a change of manager and the 1986/87 league season wasn’t altogether thrilling, but even in dark days the glimmer of success can be seen on a far horizon.

Yes, times have changed but the teams with the most points still finish highest.

Grit your teeth and put your trust in Tony Mowbray’s regime.

There may be troubles ahead, but before May 7 there will be joys too, count on it.