Jason Wilcox on the Blackburn Rovers revolution: Part three

5:50pm Wednesday 26th May 2010 in News Photograph of the Author By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

WEMBLEY WONDER: Jack Walker waves to the Blackburn fans after their 1-0 play-off victory over Leicester WEMBLEY WONDER: Jack Walker waves to the Blackburn fans after their 1-0 play-off victory over Leicester

In the third part of our series on Rovers’ rise to the Premier League, Jason Wilcox talks about the special bond between the players and the man who made it all happen, the late, great Jack Walker.

HE was simply known as Uncle Jack. Even now Jack Walker’s Blackburn Rovers’ love affair shines from Ewood Park like a beacon.

From the state of the art stands, to the envied Brockhall Academy, to the Premier League replica trophy standing proudly in their trophy cabinet. None of it would have been possible without the club’s favourite ever son.

A memorial statue of the Black-burn-born steel magnate still greets visitors to Ewood today as the memories of Rovers’ Premier League triumph remain there for all to see.

Starting out as a Rovers fan on the terraces in the 1950s watching local heroes Bryan Douglas and Ronnie Clayton, Walker inspired a new chapter in the club’s history, possibly the finest, when he took control in 1991 and ploughed millions into his boyhood club.

His money, made in the development of Walker Steel, suddenly propelled the club among football’s big boys and facilitated the arrival of the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton and ultimately the 1995 Premier League title.

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Former Rovers winger Wilcox was still in his early 20’s, having progressed through the ranks, as the direction of the club’s future changed forever and he admits the contributions of one man can never be under estimated.

He said: “We had heard all these rumours about Jack, how he had won a nightclub in a game of pool. These rumours just circulate, or on the toss of a coin he won something else. We never knew what is true.

“We never really knew him. He was a man of mystery to us but he was a great man and so generous and a real Blackburn Rovers fan. What he did for the club was immense.

“To put his mark on his home town club the way he did, that will never happen again. He came into the dressing room, a real humble fella and none of us knew how powerful he was or how wealthy he was. He was one of us, he was like Kenny.”

Life changed around the East Lancashire outfit almost instantly on Walker’s investment as Liverpool and Scotland legend Dalglish was appointed as the club’s manager, with Ray Harford as his assistant, and money made available.

Promotion to the Premier League was quickly achieved but this was just the start of the Walker revolution. Over the next couple of years three sides of Ewood were demolished and totally rebuilt.

Alan Shearer’s £3.3million arrival from Southampton in the summer of 1992 broke the British transfer record and Rovers were starting to spring to national prominence.

All the time ‘Uncle Jack’ was building his football empire though he never strayed away though from what was crucial in the construction of a title-winning team, looking after the people who were part of it.

Wilcox remembers: “He took us over to Jersey one particular year to play his team First Tower. He flew us over on one of his planes and we had a pre match meal at a fish restaurant somewhere. We were all sat on these long tables, with Jack, Kenny and Ray in the middle of everything.

“Jack said to Kenny ‘can the lads have a glass of wine with the pre match meal?’. Kenny said ‘yeah, just the one’. So these bottles of wine just started coming, coming, coming and coming. They just didn’t stop.

“In the end we were just all absolutely drunk as skunks.

“I don’t know if Jack did it on purpose because he wanted his team to win or at least give them a chance. That would sum Jack up because he was a real clever bloke.

“I remember seeing Stuart Ripley being sick during the national anthems before the game. The first ball that came he couldn’t even see the ball. We just about won in the end. We just had a fantastic time.

“We went to this nightclub, that we were all saying Jack had won, and everything was on the top floor. Stan Boardman was on and he got pelted because no one was listening to him, we were all partying.

“Everything was free. I remember seeing David May walking round with two bottles of champagne in his hand. What was going on? I had never heard of champagne before.”

While Walker’s wealth remained something of legend to Wilcox and company, the man himself refused to put himself on a pedestal as he mixed with everyday life around the club.

In Dalglish and Walker, Rovers had two of life’s success stories but Wilcox believes it was their down to earth approach that made the transition so comfortable.

Wilcox said: “Kenny had done everything in the game and Jack had done everything in business. It was the perfect marriage and there were no airs and graces.

“When we went back to the hotel on that trip to Jersey, Jack was playing this game, flick a 10 piece in a wine glass and Jack cleaned up from all of us. I don’t know how long he had been practicing that? Who practices that?Maybe that is where he started making his money.”

The death of Jack Walker on August 17, 2000, aged 71, left the town in mourning, as thousands converged on Ewood to sign books of condolence and leave personal and floral tributes to a man who had touched the lives of so many people.

The journey was over but the memories never will be for anyone who witnessed Rovers’ rags to riches tale that still sees them as one of only four clubs to have ever lifted the Premier League trophy.

Wilcox said: “Jack had a private funeral. I think a couple of the lads asked if they could attend. If we all knew we could have done that, we would have done that.

“I will always have my memories of him though.

“I have played for three clubs since but it seems as though I played for Blackburn yesterday.

“It is embedded in your memory and what Jack did for the club and the town is amazing.

“If you ask anyone who has played for Blackburn they will say it is a special club.

“Your family settles quickly because everyone is a nice person.

“They are all top people at this club and you can never take away what we achieved.”

Click on the links below for parts 1, 2 and 4 of the Jason Wilcox series.

Comments (8)

7:06pm Wed 26 May 10

BlueSkies says...

Amazing times. Been a good article about a great journey. We will always be grateful to Jack and the legacy he left behind.
.
I think sometimes that people tend to forget our history and where we come from.
.
Onwards and upwards.
Amazing times. Been a good article about a great journey. We will always be grateful to Jack and the legacy he left behind. . I think sometimes that people tend to forget our history and where we come from. . Onwards and upwards. BlueSkies

8:47pm Wed 26 May 10

Celtic Rover says...

BlueSkies wrote:
Amazing times. Been a good article about a great journey. We will always be grateful to Jack and the legacy he left behind. . I think sometimes that people tend to forget our history and where we come from. . Onwards and upwards.
The problem is Blueskies, the great late Jack Walker always believed in the saying "Think Big and believe". How would he feel today if he could see how his club still haven't been able to complete the redevelopment of Ewood Park that he started.One of only four clubs to have lifted the Premier league trophy and still we can only pull in around 23,000 regular supporters.Personall
y, i think Jack would be very disappionted on both counts, onwards and upwards your kidding yourself mate.By now, Ewood should have a capacity of 35,000 and have enough regular supporters to be able to fill it every other week.The club are literally giving season tickets away season after season to try to increase the support base but with limited success. Due to not enough so called Rovers supporters "thinking big and believing "and wanting our club to move onwards and upwards. Its no wonder that the club can't find new wealthy investment, when the clubs own supporters aren't prepared to give their club the fanbase and encouragement it realistically deserves.Never mind all this negative small town club mentality,Blackburn Rovers are now Lancashire top club and should be as big as Leeds Utd by now.
[quote][p][bold]BlueSkies[/bold] wrote: Amazing times. Been a good article about a great journey. We will always be grateful to Jack and the legacy he left behind. . I think sometimes that people tend to forget our history and where we come from. . Onwards and upwards.[/p][/quote]The problem is Blueskies, the great late Jack Walker always believed in the saying "Think Big and believe". How would he feel today if he could see how his club still haven't been able to complete the redevelopment of Ewood Park that he started.One of only four clubs to have lifted the Premier league trophy and still we can only pull in around 23,000 regular supporters.Personall y, i think Jack would be very disappionted on both counts, onwards and upwards your kidding yourself mate.By now, Ewood should have a capacity of 35,000 and have enough regular supporters to be able to fill it every other week.The club are literally giving season tickets away season after season to try to increase the support base but with limited success. Due to not enough so called Rovers supporters "thinking big and believing "and wanting our club to move onwards and upwards. Its no wonder that the club can't find new wealthy investment, when the clubs own supporters aren't prepared to give their club the fanbase and encouragement it realistically deserves.Never mind all this negative small town club mentality,Blackburn Rovers are now Lancashire top club and should be as big as Leeds Utd by now. Celtic Rover

5:06am Thu 27 May 10

Roverthere says...

Yes, and jack lived in the real world. Maybe you should!
Yes, and jack lived in the real world. Maybe you should! Roverthere

6:38am Thu 27 May 10

Lamp it! says...

how many people live in the town? how many of those are from a different culture? is it 1 in 5 people attending regularly? also blackburn is one of the most deprived areas in the country.
.
we are doing pretty well in the attendance league - ahead of birmingham - britains second biggest city!
.
we can get to a 28000 average next season and if we do that would be truely amazing. there is not much difference now to the season after we won the league. in fact, last season we had a higher average then the year we won the league, with shearer et al!
.
well done my fellow roverites for sticking with our team through thick and thin, and if you are new to brfc or are coming back from exile get down and make some noise!
.
arte et labore
how many people live in the town? how many of those are from a different culture? is it 1 in 5 people attending regularly? also blackburn is one of the most deprived areas in the country. . we are doing pretty well in the attendance league - ahead of birmingham - britains second biggest city! . we can get to a 28000 average next season and if we do that would be truely amazing. there is not much difference now to the season after we won the league. in fact, last season we had a higher average then the year we won the league, with shearer et al! . well done my fellow roverites for sticking with our team through thick and thin, and if you are new to brfc or are coming back from exile get down and make some noise! . arte et labore Lamp it!

11:15am Thu 27 May 10

HighburyB&W says...

Celtic Rover wrote:
BlueSkies wrote: Amazing times. Been a good article about a great journey. We will always be grateful to Jack and the legacy he left behind. . I think sometimes that people tend to forget our history and where we come from. . Onwards and upwards.
The problem is Blueskies, the great late Jack Walker always believed in the saying "Think Big and believe". How would he feel today if he could see how his club still haven't been able to complete the redevelopment of Ewood Park that he started.One of only four clubs to have lifted the Premier league trophy and still we can only pull in around 23,000 regular supporters.Personall y, i think Jack would be very disappionted on both counts, onwards and upwards your kidding yourself mate.By now, Ewood should have a capacity of 35,000 and have enough regular supporters to be able to fill it every other week.The club are literally giving season tickets away season after season to try to increase the support base but with limited success. Due to not enough so called Rovers supporters "thinking big and believing "and wanting our club to move onwards and upwards. Its no wonder that the club can't find new wealthy investment, when the clubs own supporters aren't prepared to give their club the fanbase and encouragement it realistically deserves.Never mind all this negative small town club mentality,Blackburn Rovers are now Lancashire top club and should be as big as Leeds Utd by now.
As big as Leeds Utd? Leeds has a population of over 750,000 and has no premier league teams to compete with. Blackburn borough (including Darwen) is less than 150,000. We are within close to 5 other premier league teams, not to mention Burnley and Preston. Where exactly do you expect these supporters to come from?
[quote][p][bold]Celtic Rover[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]BlueSkies[/bold] wrote: Amazing times. Been a good article about a great journey. We will always be grateful to Jack and the legacy he left behind. . I think sometimes that people tend to forget our history and where we come from. . Onwards and upwards.[/p][/quote]The problem is Blueskies, the great late Jack Walker always believed in the saying "Think Big and believe". How would he feel today if he could see how his club still haven't been able to complete the redevelopment of Ewood Park that he started.One of only four clubs to have lifted the Premier league trophy and still we can only pull in around 23,000 regular supporters.Personall y, i think Jack would be very disappionted on both counts, onwards and upwards your kidding yourself mate.By now, Ewood should have a capacity of 35,000 and have enough regular supporters to be able to fill it every other week.The club are literally giving season tickets away season after season to try to increase the support base but with limited success. Due to not enough so called Rovers supporters "thinking big and believing "and wanting our club to move onwards and upwards. Its no wonder that the club can't find new wealthy investment, when the clubs own supporters aren't prepared to give their club the fanbase and encouragement it realistically deserves.Never mind all this negative small town club mentality,Blackburn Rovers are now Lancashire top club and should be as big as Leeds Utd by now.[/p][/quote]As big as Leeds Utd? Leeds has a population of over 750,000 and has no premier league teams to compete with. Blackburn borough (including Darwen) is less than 150,000. We are within close to 5 other premier league teams, not to mention Burnley and Preston. Where exactly do you expect these supporters to come from? HighburyB&W

6:01pm Thu 27 May 10

Celtic Rover says...

Typical negative excuses as usual, start thinking big and start believing in our club.If we don't start taking significant steps forward soon and start to develop and grow and start to attract a significant increase in support .We will all have to accept the unthinkable, relegation in the not to distant future.This season as been a one off, this is as good as it gets and you can forget about the likes of getting into europe again, no chance. The club needs its supporters now more than ever in its history to help increase financial income.Players wages continue to increase season after season.Unfortunatley are support just isn't, to make a difference. You are all missing my point, i'm using Leeds as an example,they are the biggest team from West Yorkshire. We are the biggest and by far the most successful in Lancashire and how many people live in the county?. Even allowing for the Lancastrian gold diggers who have jumped onto the Manchester and Liverpool band wagons over the years. There must still be enough floating supporters around the county who enjoy watching the most affordable live Premiership football in the north west area to fill Ewood park.The club, according to national statistics have got 110,000 so called registered paying members to various supporters clubs throughout this country and further afield, since we became English Champions in 1995.So where are they when the club they claim to support need them!. In 2010, Blackburn Rovers football club should be pulling larger numbers than they currently are from all around the county of Lancashire.
Typical negative excuses as usual, start thinking big and start believing in our club.If we don't start taking significant steps forward soon and start to develop and grow and start to attract a significant increase in support .We will all have to accept the unthinkable, relegation in the not to distant future.This season as been a one off, this is as good as it gets and you can forget about the likes of getting into europe again, no chance. The club needs its supporters now more than ever in its history to help increase financial income.Players wages continue to increase season after season.Unfortunatley are support just isn't, to make a difference. You are all missing my point, i'm using Leeds as an example,they are the biggest team from West Yorkshire. We are the biggest and by far the most successful in Lancashire and how many people live in the county?. Even allowing for the Lancastrian gold diggers who have jumped onto the Manchester and Liverpool band wagons over the years. There must still be enough floating supporters around the county who enjoy watching the most affordable live Premiership football in the north west area to fill Ewood park.The club, according to national statistics have got 110,000 so called registered paying members to various supporters clubs throughout this country and further afield, since we became English Champions in 1995.So where are they when the club they claim to support need them!. In 2010, Blackburn Rovers football club should be pulling larger numbers than they currently are from all around the county of Lancashire. Celtic Rover

6:18pm Thu 27 May 10

Celtic Rover says...

Lamp it! wrote:
how many people live in the town? how many of those are from a different culture? is it 1 in 5 people attending regularly? also blackburn is one of the most deprived areas in the country. . we are doing pretty well in the attendance league - ahead of birmingham - britains second biggest city! . we can get to a 28000 average next season and if we do that would be truely amazing. there is not much difference now to the season after we won the league. in fact, last season we had a higher average then the year we won the league, with shearer et al! . well done my fellow roverites for sticking with our team through thick and thin, and if you are new to brfc or are coming back from exile get down and make some noise! . arte et labore
We should be able to sell 28,000 season tickets next season.Never mind a 28,000 average that includes away support visiting Ewood Park.The club should have made the all three stands available at £210 with the exception of the Jack Walker central that should be more for the money people. Both tiers in the right half of the Darwen End should be the maximum away supporters should be designated.Think big and start believing in your club!.
[quote][p][bold]Lamp it![/bold] wrote: how many people live in the town? how many of those are from a different culture? is it 1 in 5 people attending regularly? also blackburn is one of the most deprived areas in the country. . we are doing pretty well in the attendance league - ahead of birmingham - britains second biggest city! . we can get to a 28000 average next season and if we do that would be truely amazing. there is not much difference now to the season after we won the league. in fact, last season we had a higher average then the year we won the league, with shearer et al! . well done my fellow roverites for sticking with our team through thick and thin, and if you are new to brfc or are coming back from exile get down and make some noise! . arte et labore[/p][/quote]We should be able to sell 28,000 season tickets next season.Never mind a 28,000 average that includes away support visiting Ewood Park.The club should have made the all three stands available at £210 with the exception of the Jack Walker central that should be more for the money people. Both tiers in the right half of the Darwen End should be the maximum away supporters should be designated.Think big and start believing in your club!. Celtic Rover

7:53pm Thu 27 May 10

Lamp it! says...

i do believe in my club, always have - even when others like morst turned their backs.
.
i have said on this forum before that the £150 darwen end ticket should be 209 and we should have all of the bottom tier. put the away fans up top. i also agree that the wings on the JW stand should be £209. we should also throw in 2 cup games. the extra money we made through tv games at the end of the season would pay for it.
.
we must however say a big well done for bringing footy to the fans. there are always tickets available and until we sell out this will be the status quo.
.
despite what you say we are very well supported - the best supported club in the country - do the maths!
i do believe in my club, always have - even when others like morst turned their backs. . i have said on this forum before that the £150 darwen end ticket should be 209 and we should have all of the bottom tier. put the away fans up top. i also agree that the wings on the JW stand should be £209. we should also throw in 2 cup games. the extra money we made through tv games at the end of the season would pay for it. . we must however say a big well done for bringing footy to the fans. there are always tickets available and until we sell out this will be the status quo. . despite what you say we are very well supported - the best supported club in the country - do the maths! Lamp it!

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