In the early years other teams from Wales, Ireland and Scotland also took part in the competition, with Glasgow side Queen's Park losing the final to Blackburn Rovers in 1884 and 1885 before being barred from entering by the Scottish Football Association.

Shortly before accepting the offer from Nagoya Grampus Eight, Tottenham had rejected an offer from ambitious Second Division club Blackburn Rovers, who had recently been taken over by steel baron Jack Walker.

Eight months later Dalglish made a return to football management with Blackburn Rovers, whom he led from the Second Division to win the Premier League in 1995.

Dalglish returned to management in October 1991, at Second Division Blackburn Rovers.

After finishing as runner-up to Chelsea in the 2009 – 10 season, United achieved a record 19th league title in 2010 – 11, securing the championship with a 1 – 1 away draw against Blackburn Rovers on 14 May 2011.

The record was pushed steadily upwards before reaching its peak on 31 March 2007, when 76, 098 spectators saw Manchester United beat Blackburn Rovers 4 – 1, with just 114 seats ( 0. 15 percent of the total capacity of 76, 212 ) unoccupied.

In 1885 the club turned professional, and in 1886 they reached the FA Cup final for the first time, losing 2 – 0 to Blackburn Rovers in a replay.

He then played for Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers F. C.

* 1988 – 89: Blackburn Rovers ( England )

| 1987-88 || Blackburn Rovers || Second Division || 5 || 0 ||||||||||||||||

He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team.

During several years on the south coast, he became known for his classic style of play, strength and goalscoring ability ; he soon received an international call-up along with a transfer to Blackburn Rovers in 1992.

Eventually, Shearer was sold to Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £ 3. 6 million, with David Speedie reluctantly moving to The Dell as part of the deal.

Despite making just one goalless appearance as England failed to progress past the Euro 1992 group stages that summer, Shearer was soon subject to a British transfer record-breaking £ 3. 3million bid from Blackburn Rovers.

Eventually both Manchester United and Newcastle United agreed fees with Blackburn Rovers and Shearer was all set to move to Manchester United but then at the last second Kevin Keegan requested one last audience with Shearer and persuaded him that his future lay at St. James Park.

In 1884 the club changed to a " quartered " kit similar in style to that of Blackburn Rovers.

The first-ever league games of Blackburn Rovers and of Everton were against Accrington F. C.

In 1995, Blackburn Rovers manager Kenny Dalglish had expressed interest in signing both Zidane and Dugarry, to which team owner and chairman Jack Walker reportedly replied, " Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?

Atletic Bilbao began playing in an improvised white kit, but in the 1902 – 03 season, the club's first official strip became half-blue, half-white shirts similar to those worn by Blackburn Rovers, which were donated by Juan Moser.

However, hampered by a lack of funds, Furphy eventually joined Blackburn Rovers, to be succeeded by George Kirby.

In 1997, he agreed to leave Sampdoria at the end of the season to manage Blackburn Rovers.

* Bill Smith ( footballer born 1926 ), English footballer with Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers

* Jermaine Jones, soccer player for Blackburn Rovers and United States national team

Cup winner at Blackburn Rovers before joining Woolwich Arsenal as Arsenal F. C.

* George Smith ( footballer born 1879 ) ( 1879 – 1908 ), footballer who played for several clubs, including Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers

Soon afterwards he stepped down as Blackburn manager to become Director of Football at the club, before leaving altogether in 1996.

Although the club could not retain the title the following year, Shearer again ended the ( now 38-game ) season as Premier League top scorer, with 31 goals in 35 games, as Blackburn finished seventh in the league.

In 1889 the club became founder members of the Football Alliance, of which they were the first champions in a season where they also reached the 1890 FA Cup Final, losing 6 – 1 to Blackburn Rovers at Kennington Oval, London.

Manchester United also fined Cantona two weeks ' wages and he was stripped of the French captaincy ; his club eventually lost the Premier League title to Blackburn Rovers.

He scored his first goal for the club on his second appearance, the second goal in a 3 – 0 away win at Blackburn Rovers on 18 September – Newcastle's first win of the season.

* FA Cup final – Old Etonians 1 – 0 Blackburn Rovers at The Oval, the first time that a professional club has reached the final

Blackburn Rovers is the first extant club to win the FA Cup.

He supports his local football club Blackburn Rovers, and was made an Honorary Vice President of Blackburn Rovers in 1998 by Jack Walker.

On the final day of the season, they lost 2 – 1 to Dalglish's old club Liverpool but their nearest rivals Manchester United were unable to beat West Ham United and the English league championship went to Blackburn Rovers for the first time since 1914.

Blackburn Rovers Football Club () is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire.

The club was founded following a meeting at the Leger Hotel, Blackburn on 5 November 1875.

During the 1970s, Blackburn Rovers bounced between the Second and Third Divisions, winning the Third Division title in 1975, but never mounted a challenge for promotion to the First Division despite the efforts of successive managers to put the club back on track.

East London is home to Blackburn Rovers, a football club competing in the National First Division.

Ewood Park stadium has been the home of Blackburn Rovers football club since they moved there from Leamington Road in 1890.

With a capacity of 31, 367, the facility comprises four sections: the Darwen End, Riverside Stand ( named as such because it stands practically on the banks of the River Darwen ), Blackburn End, and Jack Walker Stand, which is named after Blackburn industrialist and club supporter, Jack Walker.

The Blackburn model aircraft club also use the park for flying radio controlled aircraft.

In January 1991 Jack Walker, a lifelong supporter who had built a business from humble beginnings in Blackburn, eventually making millions in the steel industry, took control of the club.

" The title of the unofficial fanzine of the town's football club, Blackburn Rovers, is 4, 000 Holes.

A lifelong supporter of the town's football club Blackburn Rovers, he owned the club for nearly 10 years until his death in August 2000.