Blackburn Improvement.
Blackburn starts to improve along with the beginning of the 20th century. Blackburn rovers were still to be considered one of the best English clubs. They became league champions in 1912 and 1914 and once again FA Cup winners in 1928. 1935/36 season became the time that Blackburn Rovers finally relegated from the first division for the very first time since the league started, not bad for a club, most others were up an down every season or two. After an initial struggle in the second division, they got things together and won the title in the season before the war. After the war and the league resumed, they were relegated again back into the second division in 1947/48 and stayed there for the following ten years. Promotion came in 1958 but no real challenge for any trophy. Magically they did reach the FA Cup final in 1960 but sadly lost 3 – 0 to Wolverhampton. 1966 saw the club relegated from the first division yet again and this time it was for a long spell. Along came the 70’s and then the 80’s and with them, a lot of going up and down in divisions two and three. Blackburn won the third division title in 1975. 1988/89 they got to the second division playoffs but to no avail. Eventually the club was taken over by Jack Walker, a local steelworks owner and lifelong supporter.
Jack Walker’s Takeover.
After a lot of money and many changes, a new manager, Kenny Dalglish, Rovers started to climb back up the league. After unexpectedly having to go to the playoffs after a great start but a poor end, Blackburn triumphantly beat Derby County in the semi-final 4 – 2 and eventually Blackburn reached the final at Wembley and beat Leicester 1 – 0 this put Blackburn Rovers up into the new Premier League for the 1992/93 season which ended the 26 years out of the top leagues since they lost the game to Wolves in 1966. The first season in the new league saw them finish fourth after more money spent on some top players. After a couple more crucial players were signed up, 1993/94 saw them become runners up in the premiership after Manchester United.
After early exits from the UEFA Cup, F.A Cup and League Cup in 1994-95, Blackburn could turn their attentions to the league and arch rivals Manchester United for the Premiership title. After some ups and downs it was on the final day of the season that Jack Walker’s dream came true, after Man U could only manage a draw against West Ham, and the title was back at Blackburn Rovers for the first time since 1914. Jack Walker had bought a struggling team in second division and took them through to be premiership champions.
Following such glory, a dismal season started to follow, but slight improvement as the season went on and finished seventh in the premiership. Within just two years after winning the premiership and the club looked almost certain for relegation, after two more years of some huge disappointments, losing key players and poor managers it was four years after the triumph and glory that Blackburn Rovers were relegated to the second tier in English football. After yet more disappointment came bad and sad news that the clubs owner, Jack Walker had died just after the start of the 2000/01 season. With this the club dedicated a challenge to get promotion in memory of their benefactor. With great pride the club did it and returned back to the premier league. Following this Blackburn Rovers won their first-ever League Cup by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2 – 1 at the Millennium Stadium. Their cup success meant a place in the UEFA Cup for 2002-03
The season of 2003/04 saw the club sell some key players thus starting a slow demise in fortune and glory, soon they were once again near relegation and just hovering above the zone. After a quick turnaround and some important wins the club were saved from relegation.
After Mark Hughes was appointed in 2004/05, he secured them premiership survival and an FA Cup semi-final. 2005/06 Hughes secured 6th place in the league and a spot in the UEFA Cup for the coming 2006/07 season in which they bowed out in the second leg. Rovers would reach the semi final of the FA Cup in 2007 only to be eventually defeated by Chelsea. Blackburn Rovers also qualified for the Intertoto Cup, which they successfully came through.
2007/08 Rovers finished 7th in the premiership, third time in a row above the bottom half.
Paul Ince became manager in 2008 signing a three year deal.
