HOME Secretary Jack Straw has accepted a personal invitation from Jack Walker to become an honorary vice-president of Blackburn Rovers.

The long-serving Blackburn MP is regularly seen at games, home and away, and has always taken a keen interest in the club's fortunes.

"I am delighted that he has accepted my invitation," said Mr Walker. "He has been a Rovers supporter for a long time and has done a great deal for the club."

In February, Mr Straw brought a prestigious World Cup security conference to Ewood. That was his prerogative as Home Secretary and he exercised it, despite rumblings of discontent about taking such an event to a provincial town. Rovers have only one other honorary vice-president - former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven! She was honoured after a visit in the 1970s.

Previous sport story

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.