Terry Gennoe selects his all-time Rovers five-a-side team

TIM FLOWERS

ARRIVED at Rovers for a then world record fee for a goalkeeper, £2.4million, from Southampton, and worked alongside Gennoe who was goalkeeping coach at the time after hanging up his gloves in 1992. Bobby Mimms had played 122 of Rovers’ previous 123 league games in goal before Flowers made his debut in the 1-0 defeat at QPR on November 6 1993.

From then on however, Flowers established himself as the undisputed number one, playing 39 times, and a major role, in Rovers’ title winning season of 1994-95.  Indeed, his match-winning performance in the 1-0 win over Newcastle United in the penultimate game of the season, was one of the best individual goalkeeping performances witnessed at Ewood Park.

The arrival of John Filan in 1997 added pressure to Flowers, before he eventually departed for Leicester City in 1999 for around £1million.

DEREK FAZACKERLEY

FAZACKERLEY made his Rovers debut in 1971, a 0-0 draw at Hull City, but it was the start of an illustrious career which would end with him being the club’s record appearance holder.

He learned his trade during a partnership with John McNamee, but it was his partnership with Glenn Keeley which would bring him, and Rovers, great success. 

He helped the club first to the Division Three title in 1974/75, and alongside Keeley, helped them to promotion from Division Two in 1979/80.

Went on to be a mainstay of the Rovers defence until he left to become Chester’s player/coach in 1987.

GLENN KEELEY

JOINED Rovers in 1976 for £25,000 following drawn out transfer negotiations with Newcastle United.  Endured a difficult start to his Rovers career, but the arrival of Howard Kendall as player-manager in 1979 helped Keeley improve his discipline while still maintain his braveheart style.

He and Fazackerley became the foundation on which Rovers built their 1979/80 promotion success before following Kendall for a brief spell at Everton.

But after his loan spell ended, he was back at Rovers, becoming captain under Bobby Saxton and would lift the Full Members Cup in March 1987 before being handed a testimonial later that year, before leaving Ewood Park.

SCOTT SELLARS

NO-ONE could have begrudged Sellars the promotion the achieved to the Premier League with Rovers in 1991/92 after three previous near misses in the play-offs.

A skilful left footer, Sellars’ energy around the pitch was another key attribute, and added to his ability on the ball, made him a key component of Rovers’ push for the top flight in the late 1980s.

He wouldn’t get the chance to play for Rovers in the Premier League, leaving for Leeds United shortly after promotion, but not before scoring 41 goals from midfield.

SIMON GARNER

ARRIVED in 1978 and would go on to become Rovers’ record goalscorer, top scoring in seven of the club’s next 12 seasons.

Was part of the Full Members Cup winning side of 1987, and like Sellars, signed off his time at the club after the Division Two play-off final win of 1991/92.

Broke Tommy Briggs’ previous record of 140 league goals with the second of three goals against Manchester City on April 15 1989 before finishing up on 192.

TERRY Gennoe explains how he chose his team.

Rather than select himself in goal, he went with a player he coached during his time on the backroom staff at Rovers following his retirement in 1992.

“Tim Flowers really was an unsung hero of the Premier League winning team,” said Gennoe.

“The focus was always on Alan Shearer and the goalscoring machine but Flowers made some important saves to win valuable points – and the goal difference, which in the end secured the title, might not have been so good had he not made them.”

In defence, he wanted to name three central defenders, but settled on just two after plenty of deliberation.

“When I played with Colin Hendry he was not quite as disciplined as he became,” Gennoe added, “but what a player he developed in to.

“Glenn (Keeley) was wonderful as a defender. Playing behind him he would relish the challenges, never shied away, and was as brave as they come.

I have to go for Derek (Fazackerley) as well because they come as a partnership. He was a fantastic servant for the club and they read each others games so well.

“When I joined in 1982 after promotion they made my job so much easier.”

Having played with so many great players, Gennoe admits his task was a difficult one, but he opted for Scott Sellars as his creative player.

“He had great energy around the field. In the play-off final of 1991/92 he ran himself to a standstill.

“He epitomised the type of player that Blackburn Rovers had, giving 100 per cent and that was part of the great team spirit.”

Having never played with Alan Shearer, Gennoe opted for Simon Garner in attack.

“He would make goals from nothing at all,” the former Rovers stopper said. “He would always come up with the goals so we knew that no matter how we were playing, we always had a chance in games.”