WHEN six-year-old Frank Leigh was given his first Rovers season ticket he vowed to be a life-long supporter - now 84 years later he is believed to be their longest serving fan.

In all that time his enthusiasm has never waned, despite the low moments of Division Three football and play-off defeats.

And Frank, who will be 90 in August, was the first person to apply for a ticket for the new season.

From his home at Livesey Branch Road, just a minute's walk from Rovers' ground in Ewood, football mad Frank proudly displays photographs of himself with various players from more than eight decades of matches.

One, where he is pictured with former centre half Colin Hendry, was taken when the new Ewood Park was being built. Although it took more than five years to complete the construction work, Frank went to monitor progress for five hours every day.

He said: "I have watched every brick, nut and bolt put in that stadium. The builders ended up letting me sit in their cabin to shelter from the rain and bought me a bottle of whisky on my birthday. At Christmas every year I was there with them."

Long suffering wife, Alice, 88, has put up with Frank's obsession for 69 years. They will celebrate 70 years of marriage next June 1.

She said: "If he doesn't get down to Rovers there's no living with him. He even got out of bed while he had pneumonia to go."

Going to the matches has now become a family affair. Frank and Alice have nine children, 36 grand children and 48 great-grandchildren and he hopes that at least one of them might venture into a footballing career.

He said: "My dad was a trainer for Rovers A-team and if they were a player short I would stand in for them. I was offered a place on a team in Scotland, but when the letter came offering me the job my dad threw it on the fire and said I was going to play football for any team, it had to be Rovers.

"I didn't enjoy last season at all. We lost too many games, had too many injuries and getting rid of Duff and Dunn wasn't a good idea. We were fortunate to stay in the Premiership."