EWOOD Park will play host to a who's who of the club's modern era on Saturday when Blackburn Rovers celebrate 125 years in the Football League.

Many of Rovers most prominent players from the 1950s onwards, representing the club's promotion-winning teams from five different decades and their 1960 FA Cup final line-up, will parade around the pitch before Graeme Souness's millenium men take on Wolves.

Going back even further will be 80-year-old Harry McShane. The father of actor and Lovejoy star Ian made his Blackburn debut on Christmas Day, 1937 and continued to play for the club during the war years, while Rovers are still hoping to find a past player in his nineties to complete the line-up.

The post-war period is kicked off by Jack 'Nudger' Campbell, who joins five other of his cup final team-mates, including the legendary former England duo of Bryan Douglas and Ronnie Clayton.

Record League appearance holder Derek Fazackerley will take his place in the line-up alongside goal-busting striker Simon Garner.

And although Rovers' Premiership title winners of 1996 will be in action elsewhere, key players who helped Blackburn out of the old Second Division via the play-offs in 1992, such as Kevin Moran and David Speedie, will be back on their old stamping ground.

And it will be a day to remember for ex-players and fans alike.

Dave Whelan, the former Rovers full-back who broke a leg in the 1960 Cup final defeat by Wolves, will leave his beloved Wigan Athletic for a day to enjoy the reunion.

Wigan launch their own Cup campaign on Saturday with a home tie against Dr Martens Premier Division club Dorchester Town.

But despite his split loyalties, Whelan will be at Ewood Park instead of the JJB Stadium. It will be a rare absence but Whelan insists there was no choice between being with the Latics or helping his old club celebrate the anniversary.

Whelan, whose 87-game Rovers career was ended by that Cup final injury, said: "I think it's fantastic they have been in the League for 125 years and it's a really, really good idea to get as many of the former players there as possible.

"We have got an FA Cup match at home but it wasn't a difficult decision. I had a wonderful time at Blackburn and they are the only club I support after Wigan.

"They are the first team I look for after Wigan, wherever I am in the world.

"Rovers always seem to play at home when we do, which is disappointing, but I usually manage to get there two or three times a year.

"I never miss any games for Wigan Athletic or the Rugby League when I'm in the country. But there was no question this time."

As well as Clayton and Douglas, Whelan will also be joined by Cup final team-mates Harry Leyland and Matt Woods.

"It's always exciting to see the lads again. The only down side is seeing how old we are. You watch the lads playing now and think 'we used to do that.'

"But I'll be taking a driver because it will be great to have a beer with the lads again," added the millionaire businessman.

For record goalscorer Garner it will be a welcome trip down memory lane, even if some of the sights have changed from the days he was banging them in. "I've only been back to the ground twice since it has been redevloped. I was at the Manchester City game at the end of last season, which was the first match I'd been to and I didn't recognise it really," he said.

Many of then fans will be the same, however, and Garner will be given one of the warmest welcomes back.

"Hopefully I will do. It's a just a shame that Jack Walker won't be there," he added.

"I usually do some work for Wycombe Wanderers on the PR side on Saturdays but I wanted to come up for this."