Andy Neild talks to Rovers legend on his 70th birthday. . .

Blackburn Rovers legend Bryan Douglas looked back on his glorious career today and said proudly: "I wouldn't change anything for the world."

Douglas took time out from his 70th birthday celebrations to reflect on 17 wonderful years with his beloved Rovers.

And he spoke of the tremendous pride he felt in pulling on the famous blue and white strip of his home town club during one of the golden eras of English football.

As a boy, growing up in the shadow of Ewood Park, Douglas had one burning ambition - to play for Rovers.

In April 1952 Duggie, as he was affectionately known, signed professional forms and he not only achieved his dream but went on to become one of the club's greatest ever legends.

"I suppose when you're a young lad everyone dreams of playing for their local team and I achieved that," said Douglas, who turned 70 today.

"You dream about it and you think about it but you never really think it's going to happen.

"However, it did with me and I suppose that now I'm 70 I can look back and think 'I did that' because there's not many of us who achieved it.

"There was me and Tom Finney and a few other people."

A winger in the Finney and Stanley Matthews mould, Douglas had an impeccable touch and immaculate control and that skill, coupled with a sleight of foot and perfect balance, enabled him to mesmerise defenders with his spellbinding dribbling ability.

The twinkle-toed maestro went on to enjoy a brilliant career with both Rovers and England and with it came a host of wonderful memories.

"My favourite memories are obviously winning my first cap with England and winning promotion," recalls Douglas fondly.

"But other highlights also include beating Spurs by seven at Blackburn and West Ham by eight.

"I was also privileged enough to play with and against some fantastic players, both with Blackburn and England.

"I loved playing in the England side of the early 1960s. We had a fantastic forward line and scored a hell of a lot of goals so having the honour of playing with people like Tom Finney, Billy Wright and Roger Byrne provided great memories for me.

"I also liked playing against them, too, and of course the old Brazilian sides because I was lucky enough to play in two World Cups."

In total, Douglas won 36 caps for England and he made a total of 503 appearances for Rovers, scoring 115 goals before joining Great Harwood Town in 1969, where he was reunited with his great friends and former colleagues, Ronnie Clayton and Roy Vernon.

These days, he still lives in the Darwen area and he is regularly seen at Ewood watching the current Blackburn Rovers side.

He celebrated his 70th birthday by throwing an early party for his family last weekend and he was set to mark the occasion today with a special meal.