EWOOD legend Fred Pickering got the chance to meet up with a few old friends when he was invited to be the guest of honour at last week's game between Rovers and Everton.

The Merseyside club are currently celebrating 100 years of top-flight football and to mark the achievement they have organised a host of special events over the course of the season based around their games against fellow 'founder' clubs such as Rovers.

Pickering, therefore, was an obvious choice to make the half-time draw last Saturday after serving both clubs with distinction during the 1960s and 70s.

And he used the occasion as a perfect opportunity to catch up with a few old friends as they took time out to reminisce about the good old days.

"I try to get down and watch Blackburn when I can but I've never been a great watcher," said Pickering, who had two spells at Ewood in the 60s and 70s.

"It's just enjoyable to reminisce with some of the people I used to play with in the Sixties.

"I still see Ronnie Clayton and Bryan Douglas now and again and I speak to them occasionally on the phone, too, but I don't get down to Ewood as often as I should do."

Pickering became a Rovers legend after turning into a more-than-useful centre-forward under Jack Marshall in the early 60s.

Originally, he had started out as a left-back but it was Marshall who converted him into a powerful, strong-running target man and he soon struck up a deadly partnership with Andy McEvoy.

However, a dispute over money prompted his departure to Everton in 1964 where he continued to be a huge success.

But he later returned to Rovers for a second spell in March 1971and he still lives in the town to this day.

So what's his view of the modern game and how does he think he would have fared today?

"I don't think I'd find it a problem, to be honest," said Pickering, who scored a total of 74 goals for Rovers in 158 appearances during his two spells.

"They say the game is quicker these days but the only thing quicker to me is the ball itself.

"If you look at the players from my era they were just as quick over 100 yards as the players are today.

"I honestly don't think the skill levels are the same today as they were in the 60s.

"We played more football in that era whereas the emphasis now is on everyone being fitness fanatics."

One man who does excite him, however, is Everton's Wayne Rooney.

"He looks like a special talent and as long as he keeps listening and learning then he could have a big future."