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# Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is a professional football club based in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, which competes in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system. They have played home matches at Ewood Park since 1890. The club's motto is "Arte et Labore", meaning "By Skill and Hard Work" in Latin. They have a long-standing rivalry with nearby club Burnley, with whom they contest the East Lancashire derby.
Blackburn Rovers was founded in 1875, becoming a founding member of The Football League in 1888. They won five FA Cup finals in the 19th century: 1884, 1885, 1886, 1890 and 1891. The team was crowned English League champions in 1911–12 and 1913–14, then won a sixth FA Cup in 1928. They were relegated for the first time in 1936, but returned to the top-flight as Second Division champions in 1938–39. Relegated in 1948, Rovers secured promotion again in 1957–58, but were relegated in 1966 and again in 1971. Blackburn won the Third Division title in 1974–75, and were again promoted in 1979–80 after suffering relegation the previous year. They won the Full Members' Cup in 1987.
In 1992, Rovers gained promotion to the new Premier League via the play-offs, a year after being taken over by local entrepreneur Jack Walker, who installed Kenny Dalglish as manager. In 1994–95, Rovers became Premier League champions. Relegated four seasons after being crowned champions, they secured promotion at the end of the 2000–01 season, and won the 2002 Football League Cup Final the following year. They spent eleven successive seasons in the Premier League, but were relegated in 2012 and again into the third tier in 2017. Blackburn secured promotion out of League One at the end of the 2017–18 season.

## History

### Early years
The club was founded following a meeting, at the Leger Hotel, Blackburn, on 5 November 1875. The meeting was organised by two young men, namely John Lewis and Arthur Constantine, two old-boys of Shrewsbury School. The purpose of the meeting was "to discuss the possibility of forming a football club to play under Association rules". The first match played by Blackburn Rovers took place in Church, Lancashire on 18 December 1875 and was a 1–1 draw.
On 28 September 1878, Blackburn Rovers became one of 23 clubs to form the Lancashire Football Association. On 1 November 1879 the club played in the FA Cup for the first time, beating the Tyne Association Football Club 5–1. Rovers were eventually put out of the competition in the third round after suffering a heavy 6–0 defeat by Nottingham Forest.
On 25 March 1882 the club won through to the final of the FA Cup against the Old Etonians. Blackburn Rovers was the first provincial team to reach the final, but the result was a 1–0 defeat by the Old Etonians.
Rovers finally won the FA Cup on 29 March 1884 with a 2–1 victory over the Scottish team Queen's Park. The same teams played the FA Cup final again the next season, with Blackburn Rovers again emerging victorious, with a 2–0 score. Rovers repeated this success yet again the next season, winning the final replay 2–0 against West Bromwich Albion. For this three-in-a-row of FA Cup victories, the club was awarded a specially commissioned silver shield.
The 1885–86 season was the birth of the legal professional footballer, and Blackburn Rovers spent £615 on player wages for the season.

### Football League commences
Blackburn Rovers were founder members of the Football League in 1888.
Blackburn Rovers again reached the FA Cup final on 29 March 1890 at the Kennington Oval. The club claimed the trophy for the fourth time, by beating Sheffield Wednesday a hefty 6–1 with left forward William Townley scoring three goals and becoming the first player to achieve a hat-trick in the FA Cup final.
The 1890–91 season saw Blackburn Rovers win the FA Cup for the fifth time against Notts County with a 3–1 victory. During the 1897–98 season the club were relegated but were elected back into the first division at the Football League's AGM along with Newcastle United. The season marked the beginning of Bob Crompton's 45-year association with the club, as a player and later an FA Cup-winning manager.

### Early 20th century
Blackburn Rovers continued to struggle during the early years of the 20th century, but the results began a gradual improvement. Major renovations were made to Ewood Park: in 1905 the Darwen End was covered at a cost of £1680 and the new Nuttall Stand was opened on New Year's Day 1907. During the first three decades of the 20th century, Blackburn Rovers were still considered a top side in the English league. They were First Division champions in 1911–12 and 1913–14, and F.A Cup winners in 1927–28 with a 3–1 victory against Huddersfield Town, but the F.A Cup win was their last major trophy for nearly 70 years.

### Mid 20th century
Blackburn Rovers maintained a respectable mid-table position in the First Division until they were finally relegated (along with Aston Villa) from the top flight (for the first time since the foundation of the league) in the 1935–36 season.
When the league resumed after the war, Blackburn Rovers were relegated in their second season (1947–48). At this time the tradition of burying a coffin began. The club remained in the second division for the following ten years. After promotion in 1958, they again returned to the mid-table position they had occupied in the earlier part of the century. During this time, they seldom made a serious challenge for a major trophy – although they did reach the 1960 FA Cup Final when managed by Scot Dally Duncan. Rovers lost this game 3–0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers after playing most of the game with only 10 men on the field following an injury to Dave Whelan, who broke a leg.
There were brief hopes of a return to glory in the 1963–64 season, when a remarkable 8–2 away win over West Ham United in east London on Boxing Day took them to the top of the league. Their lead of the league was short-lived, and they finished the season some way down the table, as the title was seized by a Liverpool side who would record a further 12 league titles over the next 26 years, while Blackburn's fortunes took a very different route. They were relegated from the First Division in 1966 and began a 26-year exile from the top division.

### 1970s and 1980s
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, and fell back into the Third Division in 1979. They went up as runners-up in the Third Division in 1980 and, save for one season in League One in 2017–18, have remained in the upper two tiers of the English league ever since. A second successive promotion was nearly achieved the following year, but the club missed out on goal difference, and promotion-winning manager Howard Kendall moved to Everton that summer. Kendall's successor, Bobby Saxton only managed mid-table finishes for the next three seasons, then nearly achieved promotion in the 1984–85 season, but a poor finish the following year (just one place above relegation) followed by an abysmal start to the 1986–87 season cost Saxton his job.
Saxton was replaced by Don Mackay, who steered them to a decent finish that season and also victory in the Full Members Cup. In the following three seasons Mackay re-established Rovers as promotion contenders, but they fell just short of promotion each time; the closest they came was in 1988–89 reached the Second Division play-off final in its last season of the home-away two-legged format – but lost to Crystal Palace. A defeat in the 1989–90 Second Division playoff semi-finals brought more frustration to Ewood Park, but the following season saw the club taken over by local steelworks owner and lifelong supporter Jack Walker (1929–2000).

### 1990s
Following the Walker takeover Rovers finished 19th in the Second Division at the end of the 1990–91 season, but the new owner had made millions of pounds available to spend on new players and appointed Kenny Dalglish as manager in October 1991. Rovers secured promotion to the new FA Premier League at the end of 1991–92 season as play-off winners, ending 26 years outside the top flight.
Rovers made headlines in the summer of 1992 by paying an English record fee of £3.5million for the 22-year-old Southampton and England centre forward Alan Shearer. After finishing fourth in 1992–93 and runners-up in 1993–94, they went on to win the Premier League title in 1994–95. The title chase went down to the last game of the season, but despite Rovers losing to Liverpool they edged out rivals Manchester United to win the championship.
Kenny Dalglish moved upstairs to the position of Director of Football at the end of the Premier League winning season, and handed over the reins to his assistant Ray Harford. Blackburn Rovers made a poor start to the 1995–96 season, and found themselves in the bottom half for most of the first half of the season. Rovers also struggled in the Champions League and finished bottom of their group with just four points.
A poor start to the 1996–97 Premier League campaign saw Harford resign in late October with the club bottom of the division, having failed to win any of their first ten games. Relegation looked a real possibility, just two seasons after winning the league. After an abortive attempt to bring in Sven-Göran Eriksson as manager, long-serving coach Tony Parkes took over as manager for the rest of the campaign, narrowly steering the side to survival. That summer, the manager's job was taken by Roy Hodgson, who joined the club from Internazionale. UEFA Cup football was secured with a 6th-place finish. Rovers made a poor start to the 1998–99 campaign and Hodgson was sacked in December less than an hour after a 2–0 home defeat by bottom side Southampton, a result that locked Rovers in the relegation zone. He was replaced as manager by Brian Kidd. Kidd failed to save Rovers from relegation.

### 2000s
In 1999–2000 Rovers began the season as promotion favourites, but with the club hovering just above the Division One relegation zone Brian Kidd was sacked in October and replaced in March by Graeme Souness. Jack Walker died just after the start of the 2000–01 season, and the club dedicated its promotion challenge in memory of their benefactor. Fittingly, they returned to the Premier League after a much improved season, finishing second behind Fulham.
In 2001–02, record signing Andy Cole was bought in for £8million, and Rovers won their first-ever League Cup by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Cole scoring the winner in the 69th minute. The following season Rovers finished sixth to qualify for the UEFA Cup for the second season running. Souness left just after the start of 2004–05 to take charge at Newcastle, and he was replaced by Welsh national coach Mark Hughes. Hughes secured Rovers' Premier League survival for the 2004–05 season as well as an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, with Rovers finishing 15th once again. He led the team to sixth the following season and Rovers's third European qualification in five years.
Rovers reached the semi-final of the 2006–07 FA Cup, but lost to Chelsea in extra time, and finished that season's league in tenth, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup, which led to a short run in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup. In May 2008, Mark Hughes left Blackburn Rovers for the vacancy at Manchester City. He was replaced by Paul Ince, whose first job was to persuade some of the wantaway players to stay. with Archie Knox coming in as his assistant. Ince's time in charge started well, but following a run of eleven games without a win he was sacked in December 2008. Sam Allardyce was appointed as Ince's replacement and in 2009–10 he led the team to a tenth-place finish and a League Cup semi-final.

### 2010 onwards
In November 2010, the Indian company V H Group bought Blackburn Rovers under the name of Venky's London Limited for £23 million. The new owners immediately sacked manager Sam Allardyce and replaced him with first-team coach Steve Kean, initially on a temporary basis, but by January 2011 he had been awarded a full-time contract until June 2013. Kean's appointment was shrouded in controversy since his agent Jerome Anderson had earlier played a major role in advising Venky's during the takeover of the club in the preceding months.
In December 2011, Blackburn Rovers posted an annual pre-tax loss of £18.6m for the year ending 30 June 2011. Despite this, the owners of Blackburn Rovers provided assurances over the continued funding of the club, even if they were relegated.
On 7 May 2012, Blackburn were relegated to the Championship after being defeated at home by Wigan Athletic in the penultimate game of the season, ending eleven years in the Premier League. At the start of the 2012–2013 season, Kean was given a chance by the owners to win promotion and kept his job as the manager. Ultimately though, pressure from the supporters who had been calling for the manager's removal for months resulted in his resignation as manager on 29 September 2012.
On 7 May 2017, Blackburn were relegated to League One. On 24 April 2018, the club were promoted back to the second tier with a 1–0 win at Doncaster Rovers.
In recent years, they have finished 15th (2018–2019), 11th (2019–2020), 15th (2020–2021), 8th (2021–2022), and 7th (2022–2023) in the Championship.
In the 2023–2024 season, Blackburn narrowly avoided relegation on the final matchday, finishing in 19th place after a 2–0 win against title winners Leicester City, their lowest finish since their promotion back to the Championship in 2018.

## Players

### Current squad
As of 4 August 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player          |
| --- | ---- | ------ | --------------- |
| 1   | GK   | ENG    | Aynsley Pears   |
| 2   | DF   | ENG    | Ryan Alebiosu   |
| 3   | DF   | ENG    | Harry Pickering |
| 4   | DF   | POR    | Yuri Ribeiro    |
| 5   | DF   | SCO    | Dominic Hyam    |
| 6   | MF   | NOR    | Sondre Tronstad |
| 7   | FW   | SLE    | Augustus Kargbo |
| 8   | MF   | CPV    | Sidnei Tavares  |
| 9   | FW   | SEN    | Makhtar Gueye   |
| 10  | MF   | ENG    | Todd Cantwell   |
| 12  | DF   | AUS    | Lewis Miller    |
| 14  | MF   | BEL    | Dion De Neve    |
| 15  | DF   | IRL    | Sean McLoughlin |
| 16  | DF   | ENG    | Scott Wharton   |
| 17  | DF   | ENG    | Hayden Carter   |
| 18  | MF   | SWE    | Axel Henriksson |
| 19  | FW   | WAL    | Ryan Hedges     |
| 20  | FW   | ENG    | Harry Leonard   |

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player                     |
| --- | ---- | ------ | -------------------------- |
| 21  | MF   | ENG    | John Buckley               |
| 22  | GK   | HUN    | Balázs Tóth                |
| 23  | FW   | JPN    | Yūki Ōhashi                |
| 27  | MF   | ENG    | Lewis Travis (captain)     |
| 28  | MF   | ENG    | Adam Forshaw               |
| 30  | MF   | ENG    | Jake Garrett               |
| 31  | MF   | SCO    | Kristi Montgomery          |
| 32  | FW   | ENG    | Igor Tyjon                 |
| 33  | DF   | ENG    | Jake Batty                 |
| 34  | GK   | ENG    | Jack Barrett               |
| 35  | GK   | ENG    | Nicholas Michalski         |
| 36  | MF   | ENG    | James Edmondson            |
| 37  | GK   | ENG    | Felix Goddard              |
| 38  | DF   | NIR    | Tom Atcheson               |
| 40  | DF   | ENG    | Matty Litherland           |
| 41  | DF   | ENG    | Lorenze Mullarkey-Matthews |
| 43  | DF   | ENG    | George Pratt               |

#### Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player                                         |
| --- | ---- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------- |
| 26  | DF   | IRL    | Connor O'Riordan (on loan at Doncaster Rovers) |
| —   | DF   | ENG    | Charlie Olson (on loan at Oldham Athletic)     |

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| --- | ---- | ------ | ------ |

For recent transfers, see 2025–26 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season.

### Notable players
For a list of notable Blackburn Rovers players in sortable-table format see List of Blackburn Rovers F.C. players.

## Club staff
As of 22 May 2025

### Senior Management
| Position                | Staff                |
| ----------------------- | -------------------- |
| Chief Operating Officer | Suhail Pasha Shaikh  |
| Chief Financial Officer | Matt Wright          |
| Director                | Gandhi Babu          |
| Director                | Mr. M Sreenivasa Rao |
| Non-Executive Director  | Robert Coar          |

### Senior Football
| Position                                                | Staff            |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- |
| Head of Football Operations                             | Rudy Gestede     |
| Head of Technical Development                           | Adam Owen        |
| Head Coach                                              | Valérien Ismaël  |
| Assistant Head Coach                                    | Dean Whitehead   |
| First-Team Coach                                        | David Lowe       |
| Goalkeeping Coach                                       | Ben Benson       |
| First-Team Technical Coach & Head of Player Development | Damien Johnson   |
| Lead Sports Scientist                                   | Karl Hodges      |
| Consultant                                              | Dr. Chris Dalton |
| Head of Medical Services                                | Andrew Procter   |
| Head of Performance Analysis                            | Adam Collins     |
| Kit Manager                                             | Paul Schofield   |

### Academy Football
| Position                                   | Staff           |
| ------------------------------------------ | --------------- |
| Academy Manager                            | Paul Gray       |
| Under-21s Lead Coach                       | Mike Sheron     |
| Under-21s Assistant Coach                  | Paul Butler     |
| Under-18s Lead Coach                       | Darragh Tuffy   |
| Head of Academy Sports Science and Medical | Rob Pulling     |
| Head of Academy Recruitment                | Michael Cribley |
| Academy Secretary                          | Dawn Dunn       |

### Club Operations
| Position                          | Staff           |
| --------------------------------- | --------------- |
| Head of Football Administration   | Brett Baker     |
| Head of Operations                | Lynsey Talbot   |
| Head of HR & Safeguarding         | Faye Billington |
| Head of IT                        | Kieran Shellard |
| Head of Media & Communications    | Rob Gill        |
| Head of Commercial & Partnerships | Yasir Sufi      |
| Head of Marketing                 | Anna Melia      |
| Head of Community Trust/CEO       | Gary Robinson   |

## Awards

### Player of the season
| Year    | Winner            |
| ------- | ----------------- |
| 1980–81 | Mick Speight      |
| 1981–82 | Mick Rathbone     |
| 1982–83 | Derek Fazackerley |
| 1983–84 | Simon Garner      |
| 1984–85 | Terry Gennoe      |
| 1985–86 | Simon Barker      |
| 1986–87 | David Mail        |
| 1987–88 | Colin Hendry      |
| 1988–89 | Howard Gayle      |
| 1989–90 | Scott Sellars     |

| Year      | Winner        |
| --------- | ------------- |
| 1990–91   | Kevin Moran   |
| 1991–92   | David Speedie |
| 1992–93   | Colin Hendry  |
| 1993–94   | David Batty   |
| 1994–95   | Alan Shearer  |
| 1995–96   | Alan Shearer  |
| 1996–97   | Colin Hendry  |
| 1997–98   | Chris Sutton  |
| 1998–99   | John Filan    |
| 1999–2000 | Damien Duff   |

| Year    | Winner           |
| ------- | ---------------- |
| 2000–01 | Matt Jansen      |
| 2001–02 | Damien Duff      |
| 2002–03 | Brad Friedel     |
| 2003–04 | Tugay Kerimoğlu  |
| 2004–05 | Andy Todd        |
| 2005–06 | Craig Bellamy    |
| 2006–07 | David Bentley    |
| 2007–08 | Roque Santa Cruz |
| 2008–09 | Stephen Warnock  |
| 2009–10 | Steven Nzonzi    |

| Year    | Winner           |
| ------- | ---------------- |
| 2010–11 | Paul Robinson    |
| 2011–12 | Yakubu           |
| 2012–13 | Jordan Rhodes    |
| 2013–14 | Tom Cairney      |
| 2014–15 | Marcus Olsson    |
| 2015–16 | Grant Hanley     |
| 2016–17 | Derrick Williams |
| 2017–18 | Bradley Dack     |
| 2018–19 | Danny Graham     |
| 2019–20 | Adam Armstrong   |

| Year    | Winner             |
| ------- | ------------------ |
| 2020–21 | Thomas Kaminski    |
| 2021–22 | Jan Paul van Hecke |
| 2022–23 | Dominic Hyam       |
| 2023–24 | Sammie Szmodics    |
| 2024-25 | Sondre Tronstad    |

### European football
| Blackburn Rovers in Europe | Blackburn Rovers in Europe | Blackburn Rovers in Europe | Blackburn Rovers in Europe | Blackburn Rovers in Europe | Blackburn Rovers in Europe | Blackburn Rovers in Europe | Blackburn Rovers in Europe | Blackburn Rovers in Europe |
| Season                     | Competition                | Round                      | Country                    | Club                       | Home                       | Away                       | Aggregate                  |                            |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| 1994–95                    | UEFA Cup                   | First round                | Sweden                     | Trelleborg                 | 0–1                        | 2–2                        | 2–3                        |                            |
| 1995–96                    | UEFA Champions League      | Group B                    | Russia                     | Spartak Moscow             | 0–1                        | 0–3                        | 4th                        |                            |
| Poland                     | Legia Warsaw               | Group B                    | 0–0                        | 0–1                        |                            |                            |                            |                            |
| Norway                     | Rosenborg                  | Group B                    | 4–1                        | 1–2                        |                            |                            |                            |                            |
| 1998–99                    | UEFA Cup                   | First round                | France                     | Lyon                       | 0–1                        | 2–2                        | 2–3                        |                            |
| 2002–03                    | UEFA Cup                   | First round                | Bulgaria                   | CSKA Sofia                 | 1–1                        | 3–3                        | 4–4 (a)                    |                            |
| Second round               | Scotland                   | Celtic                     | 0–2                        | 0–1                        | 0–3                        |                            |                            |                            |
| 2003–04                    | UEFA Cup                   | First round                | Turkey                     | Gençlerbirliği             | 1–1                        | 1–3                        | 2–4                        |                            |
| 2006–07                    | UEFA Cup                   | First round                | Austria                    | Red Bull Salzburg          | 2–0                        | 2–2                        | 4–2                        |                            |
| Group E                    | France                     | Nancy                      | 1–0                        | —                          | 1st                        |                            |                            |                            |
| Group E                    | Netherlands                | Feyenoord                  | —                          | 0–0                        |                            |                            |                            |                            |
| Group E                    | Poland                     | Wisła Kraków               | —                          | 2–1                        |                            |                            |                            |                            |
| Group E                    | Switzerland                | Basel                      | 3–0                        | —                          |                            |                            |                            |                            |
| Round of 32                | Germany                    | Bayer Leverkusen           | 0–0                        | 2–3                        | 2–3                        |                            |                            |                            |
| 2007 –08                   | UEFA Intertoto Cup         | Third round                | Lithuania                  | Vėtra                      | 4–0                        | 2–0                        | 6–0                        |                            |
| UEFA Cup                   | Second qualifying round    | Finland                    | MyPa                       | 2–0                        | 1–0                        | 3–0                        |                            |                            |
| First round                | Greece                     | Larissa                    | 2–1                        | 0–2                        | 2–3                        |                            |                            |                            |

## Colours
Unlike most teams, Blackburn Rovers have only ever had one design to their home kit. The distinctive blue and white halved jersey is widely acknowledged as the "town colour". Although the design has remained the same, the side in which the colours fall has often changed. Blue has resided on the wearers left since 1946; prior to this, the blue and white often switched order almost yearly.
Blackburn Rovers' first kit is uncertain. The 1905 book; Book of Football by Jonathan Russell describes Blackburn Rovers' first kit as a white jersey with Maltese Cross on the wearers left breast, Trousers and a blue and white skull cap. The Maltese Cross notorious with the public schools in which the founders of the club were educated. In contrast an account from the Blackburn Standard on 6 January 1894 accounts the first kit as navy blue and white quartered jersey (quartered accounting for the shirts four panels front and back), white knickers and navy hose. This account is much more synonymous with the kit today. Photographic evidence from 1878 shows the team in Blue and white halved (quartered) jerseys, white shorts and blue socks, complete with blue and white cap and Maltese Cross.

## Badge
Through its history the club has adopted four badges as its crest; the Maltese Cross, the towns coat of arms, Lancashire Rose and the present day Blackburn Rovers Badge. From 1875 to approximately 1882 The Maltese Cross was present on the club's first ever home kit and was worn by both the Shrewsbury and Malvern school teams. Two former Malvernians and two former Salopians played in that first team, so there is a clear link with these public schools.
During FA Cup finals it is tradition for the club to adopt the town's coat of arms as their badge. This tradition has carried through all eight FA Cup finals the club has been a part of all the way to their last FA Cup final against Woverhampton Wanderers in 1960.
From roughly 1882 and excluding cup finals the club did not use a badge until 1974. In this year the club opted for an embroidered Lancashire Rose with the club's initials "B.R.F.C." below. This badge lasted unchanged for 15 years until it was 1989 due to visibility issues of the dark red rose on the dark blue of the shirt.
From 1989 to the present day the current Blackburn Rovers badge has been used. It has encompassed the previous badge in a newer design for the Lancashire Red Rose. Circling the rose is the team name "Blackburn Rovers F.C." and the date in which the club was founded "1875". At the base of the badge is the club motto, "Arte Et Labore" which translated means, "by skill and by labour". This motto has been taken from the town motto which was adopted in 1852.

## Grounds

### Oozehead Ground 1875–1877
Rovers first home ground was a field at Oozehead on Preston New Road to the north west of the town. This field was farmland and was owned by a local farmer; when Blackburn Rovers weren't using the field it was used to graze cows. In the centre of the field was a large watering hole, which on match days was covered with timber and turf.

### Pleasington Cricket Ground 1877
Due to the rough conditions at Oozehead, the committee felt an established sports ground would be best to play on. Therefore, during the 1877 season they acquired the use of Pleasington's cricket ground to the south west of the town. Play stopped on this ground after Henry Smith of Preston North End died of a heart attack whilst playing.

### Alexandra Meadows 1877–1881
Still adopting cricket grounds, the committee acquired the use of the East Lancashire Cricket Club's ground in the centre of the town, Alexandra Meadows. Sources differ as to the date of the first match played by Rovers at Alexandra Meadows. A programme from Clitheroe F.C. states that Clitheroe was the first team to beat Blackburn at Alexandra Meadows on 17 November 1877. Other sources indicate that the first match took place on 2 January 1878 with a Blackburn victory against Partick Thistle. It was on this ground Blackburn Rovers played for the first time under artificial light against Accrington on 4 November 1878.

### Leamington Road 1881–1890
Due to the increasing demand in football in the area and in particular for Blackburn Rovers the committee felt that a private ground was more fitting. Therefore, in 1881 the club moved to Leamington Road, Blackburn Rovers' first purpose built ground including a 700-person capacity seated grandstand, costing £500. The first game played at this ground was held on 8 October 1881 against Blackburn Olympic resulting in a 4–1 win for Rovers. Whilst at Leamington Road and under James Fielding the club won three FA Cups and was inaugurated into the Football League as a founding Member in 1888. Despite the club's success, they left Leamington Road due to an increase in lease costs.

### Ewood Park 1890–present
Built in April 1882 as Ewood Bridge. The ground was an all purpose sporting venue hosting football, athletics and dog racing. The Blackburn Rovers committee felt this was the ideal venue for the club after having already played numerous games there in 1882. The first game played at the new Ewood Park ground was on 13 September 1890 against Accrington, the 0–0 draw was viewed by 10,000 people and on 31 October 1892 artificial lights were installed. Ewood sits on the bank of the River Darwen in Blackburn, Lancashire.

#### 1913 terrorist incident
An attempt was made to destroy the ground in 1913. As part of the suffragette bombing and arson campaign, suffragettes carried out a series of bombings and arson attacks nationwide to publicise their campaign for women's suffrage. In November 1913, suffragettes attempted to burn down Ewood Park's grandstand but were foiled. In the same year, suffragettes succeeded in burning down Arsenal's then South London stadium, and also attempted to burn down Preston North End's ground. More traditionally male sports were targeted in order to protest against male dominance.

## Supporters and rivalries
Blackburn Rovers supporters have formed several support clubs related to the team, and almost all of them are partially focused on making trips to Ewood Park easier. Rovers home games were well attended as a percentage of the Blackburn population throughout the 2000s with average attendances of around 25,000, equal to roughly a quarter of Blackburn's population (approximately 100,000). The supporters' long-running fanzine is called 4,000 Holes.
Clement Charnock and his brother Harry were Blackburn Rovers fans who introduced football into Russia in the 1880s.
Blackburn's primary rivals are Burnley, with whom they contest the East Lancashire derby. Other rivalries for Rovers include Preston North End, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, all based in North-West England.

## Statistics and records

### Records
- Most League appearances:

Derek Fazackerley, 593+3 sub, 1970–71 to 1986–87
- Record goalscorer:

Simon Garner, 194 goals (168 league), 1978–79 to 1991–92
- Record attendance at Ewood Park:

62,255 v Bolton Wanderers, FA Cup 6th round, 2 March 1929
- Transfer fee paid:

£8m to Manchester United for Andy Cole in December 2001
£8m to Huddersfield Town for Jordan Rhodes in August 2012
- Transfer fee received:

Up to £22m from Crystal Palace for Adam Wharton in February 2024
- Record win:

11–0 v Rossendale United, Ewood Park, FA Cup 1st round 13 October 1884
- Record League win:

9–0 v Middlesbrough, Ewood Park, Division 2, 6 November 1954
- Record away win:

8–2 v West Ham United, Division 1, 26 December 1963
- Record League defeat:

0–8 v Arsenal, Division 1, 25 February 1933,
0–8 v Lincoln City, Division 2, 29 August 1953
- Record home League defeat:

0-7 v Fulham, 3 November 2021
- Record aggregate League score:

13: 5–8 v Derby County, 6 September 1890
- Most points gained in a season (2pts):

60 (1974–75)
- Most points gained in a season (3pts):

91 (2000–01)
- Fewest points gained in a season (2pts):

20 (1965–66)
- Fewest points gained in a season (3pts):

31 (2011–12)
- Most consecutive League appearances:

Walter Crook, 208 (1934–46)
- Most goals scored by a player in a season:

Ted Harper, 43, Division 1, 1925–26
- Most goals scored by a player in a match:

Tommy Briggs, 7 v Bristol Rovers, Ewood Park, Division 2, 5 February 1955
- Most hat-tricks in a season:

8, 1963–64
- Most individual hat-tricks:

13, Jack Southworth, 1887–1893
- Most FA Cup appearances:

Ronnie Clayton, 56, 1949–1969
- Most League Cup appearances:

Derek Fazackerley, 38, 1969–1987
- Youngest player to appear for Rovers:

Harry Dennison, aged 16 yrs and 155 days against Bristol City, Division 1, 8 April 1911
- Oldest player to appear for Rovers:

Bob Crompton, 40 yrs and 150 days against Bradford City, Division 1, 23 February 1920
- Longest undefeated FA Cup run:

24 games including 3 consecutive FA Cup wins, 1884–86. Still an FA Cup record
Reference for above facts

## Honours
Source:
League
- First Division / Premier League (level 1)
  - Champions: 1911–12, 1913–14, 1994–95
  - Runners-up: 1993–94
- Second Division / First Division / Championship (level 2)
  - Champions: 1938–39
  - Runners-up: 1957–58, 2000–01
  - Play-off winners: 1992
- Third Division / League One (level 3)
  - Champions: 1974–75
  - Runners-up: 1979–80, 2017–18

Cup
- FA Cup
  - Winners (6): 1883–84, 1884–85, 1885–86, 1889–90, 1890–91, 1927–28
  - Runners-up: 1881–82, 1959–60
- Football League Cup
  - Winners: 2001–02
- FA Charity Shield
  - Winners: 1912
  - Runners-up: 1928, 1994, 1995
- Full Members' Cup
  - Winners: 1986–87
- Football League War Cup
  - Runners-up: 1939–40

Regional
- Lancashire Cup[58][a]
  - Winners (20): 1881–82, 1882–83, 1883–84, 1884–85, 1895–96, 1900–01, 1901–02, 1903–04, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1944–45, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2018–19, 2020–21

wikiname: enwiki

title: Blackburn Rovers F.C.

in_language: en

wikitext:
{{Short description|Association football club in England}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{For-multi|the women's club|Blackburn Rovers W.F.C.|the defunct South African club|Blackburn Rovers F.C. (South Africa)}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox football club
| current = 2025–26 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season
| clubname = Blackburn Rovers
| image = Blackburn Rovers.svg
| image_size = 190px
| fullname = Blackburn Rovers Football Club
| nickname = {{ubl
|Rovers<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blackburn Rovers {{!}} Squad & Fixtures {{!}} Barclays Women's Championship {{!}} The FA |url=https://womensleagues.thefa.com/club/blackburn-rovers/ |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=Womens Leagues and Competitions |language=en-US }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Blackburn Rovers |title=Club History |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/club/history/club-history/ |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=Blackburn Rovers FC }}</ref>
| The Blue and Whites
|The Riversiders<ref name="The-Football-Club - Club Nicknames">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-football-club.com/football-nicknames.html |title=Nicknames |access-date=2 August 2009 |date=2 August 2009 |work=Club Nicknames |publisher=The-Football-Club.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907202058/http://www.the-football-club.com/football-nicknames.html |archive-date=7 September 2009 }}</ref>
}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=y|1875}}
| ground = [[Ewood Park]]
| capacity = 31,367<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/clubs-and-competitions/sky-bet-championship/clubs/blackburn-rovers/ |title=EFL Official Website – Blackburn Rovers |publisher=EFL |date=3 January 2019 |access-date=3 January 2019 }}</ref>
| owner = [[V H Group|Venkys London Ltd.]] <small>(99.9%)</small>
| chairman = Suhail Pasha
| chrtitle = COO
| manager = [[Valérien Ismaël]]
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| league = {{English football updater|BlackbuR}}
| season = {{English football updater|BlackbuR2}}
| position = {{English football updater|BlackbuR3}}
| website = {{URL|https://rovers.co.uk}}
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'''Blackburn Rovers Football Club''' is a professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Blackburn]], Lancashire, England, which competes in the {{English football updater|BlackbuR}}, the second level of the [[English football league system]]. They have played home matches at [[Ewood Park]] since 1890. The club's motto is "{{lang|la|Arte et Labore}}", meaning "By Skill and Hard Work" in Latin. They have a long-standing rivalry with nearby club [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], with whom they contest the [[East Lancashire derby]].

Blackburn Rovers was founded in 1875, becoming a founding member of [[English Football League|The Football League]] in 1888. They won five [[FA Cup]] finals in the 19th century: [[1884 FA Cup Final|1884]], [[1885 FA Cup Final|1885]], [[1886 FA Cup Final|1886]], [[1890 FA Cup Final|1890]] and [[1891 FA Cup Final|1891]]. The team was crowned [[List of English football champions|English League champions]] in 1911–12 and 1913–14, then won a sixth FA Cup in [[1928 FA Cup Final|1928]]. They were relegated for the first time in 1936, but returned to the top-flight as [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] champions in 1938–39. Relegated in 1948, Rovers secured promotion again in 1957–58, but were relegated in 1966 and again in 1971. Blackburn won the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] title in 1974–75, and were again promoted in 1979–80 after suffering relegation the previous year. They won the [[Full Members' Cup]] in [[1987 Full Members' Cup Final|1987]].

In 1992, Rovers gained promotion to the new [[Premier League]] via the [[1992 Football League Second Division play-off Final|play-offs]], a year after being taken over by local entrepreneur [[Jack Walker]], who installed [[Kenny Dalglish]] as manager. In [[1994–95 FA Premier League|1994–95]], Rovers became Premier League champions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2013/oct/23/blackburn-premier-league-title-earned-1995 |title=Blackburn didn't buy the Premier League title in 1995 – they earned it |first=Jimmy |last=Pierce |date=23 October 2013 |work=The Guardian |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616061928/https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2013/oct/23/blackburn-premier-league-title-earned-1995 |archive-date=16 June 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Relegated four seasons after being crowned champions, they secured promotion at the end of the 2000–01 season, and won the [[2002 Football League Cup Final]] the following year. They spent eleven successive seasons in the Premier League, but were relegated in 2012 and again into the third tier in 2017. Blackburn secured promotion out of [[2017–18 EFL League One|League One]] at the end of the 2017–18 season.

==History==

===Early years===
[[File:Leaflet advert for blackburn rovers match-1887.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Leaflet advertising a Blackburn Rovers match on 12 September 1887 against '[[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]]' at [[Olive Grove]].]]
[[File:BlackburnRovers FA Cup 1883-84.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Blackburn Rovers cup winners in 1883–84. The first FA Cup win for the team. The photograph includes the East Lancashire Charity Cup; the FA Cup and the Lancashire Cup. Back row (left to right): J. M. Lofthouse, H. McIntrye, J. Beverly, Kurt Edwards, [[Fergus Suter|F. Suter]], J. Forrest, R. Birtwistle (umpire) Front row (left to right): J. Douglas, J. E. Sowerbutts, J. Brown, G. Avery, J. Hargreaves.]]
[[File:Blackburn Rovers FA-cup 1890-91.jpg|thumb|250px|right|FA Cup winning side of the 1890–91 season]]

The club was founded following a meeting, at the Leger Hotel, Blackburn, on 5 November 1875. The meeting was organised by two young men, namely [[John Lewis (referee)|John Lewis]] and Arthur Constantine, two old-boys of [[Shrewsbury School]]. The purpose of the meeting was "to discuss the possibility of forming a football club to play under Association rules".<ref name="1875-1884">{{Cite news |title=1875–1884: The early years |url=http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/ThroughTheYears/0,,10303~78737,00.html |publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C. |date=2 July 2007 |access-date=1 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309030206/http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/ThroughTheYears/0%2C%2C10303~78737%2C00.html |archive-date=9 March 2009 }}</ref> The first match played by Blackburn Rovers took place in [[Church, Lancashire]] on 18 December 1875 and was a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spartacus-educational.com/Fblackburn.htm |title=Blackburn Rovers 1875 – 1914 |access-date=21 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704035022/http://spartacus-educational.com/Fblackburn.htm |archive-date=4 July 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 28 September 1878, Blackburn Rovers became one of 23 clubs to form the Lancashire Football Association.<ref name="History of Blackburn Rovers">{{cite web |title=History of Blackburn Rovers |url=http://ewoodpark.jimdo.com/blackburn-rovers-club-history-and-english-football-history/ |publisher=Ewoodpark |access-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105174718/http://ewoodpark.jimdo.com/blackburn-rovers-club-history-and-english-football-history/ |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 November 1879 the club played in the FA Cup for the first time, beating the Tyne Association Football Club 5–1.<ref name="History of Blackburn Rovers" /> Rovers were eventually put out of the competition in the third round after suffering a heavy 6–0 defeat by [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Forest 6 Rovers 0 |url=http://www.sportsdatabase.biz/3329.html |work=Sportsdatabase |access-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105173941/http://www.sportsdatabase.biz/3329.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 25 March 1882 the club won through to the final of the FA Cup against the [[Old Etonians F.C.|Old Etonians]]. Blackburn Rovers was the first provincial team to reach the final,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Encyclopedia of British Football Football Association Challenge Cup |url=http://spartacus-educational.com/Ffacup.htm |publisher=Spartacus |access-date=6 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514215947/http://spartacus-educational.com/Ffacup.htm |archive-date=14 May 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> but the result was a 1–0 defeat by the Old Etonians.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oldest-known FA Cup final programme expected to fetch £25,000 at auction |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/05/fa-cup-final-first-programme |work=The Guardian |access-date=6 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203125717/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/05/fa-cup-final-first-programme |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Rovers finally won the FA Cup on 29 March 1884 with a 2–1 victory over the Scottish team [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]].<ref name="ewoodpark.jimdo.com">{{cite web |title=Blackburn Rovers: Pre Football League FA Cup; The Football League; Past Season's History |url=http://ewoodpark.jimdo.com/blackburn-rovers-pre-football-league-fa-cup-football-league-past-season-s-history/ |publisher=Ewood park |access-date=6 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105183804/http://ewoodpark.jimdo.com/blackburn-rovers-pre-football-league-fa-cup-football-league-past-season-s-history/ |archive-date=5 November 2013 }}</ref> The same teams played the FA Cup final again the next season, with Blackburn Rovers again emerging victorious, with a 2–0 score.<ref name="ewoodpark.jimdo.com"/> Rovers repeated this success yet again the next season, winning the final replay 2–0 against [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]. For this three-in-a-row of FA Cup victories, the club was awarded a specially commissioned silver shield.<ref name="ewoodpark.jimdo.com"/>

The [[1885–86 in English football|1885–86]] season was the birth of the legal professional footballer, and Blackburn Rovers spent £615 on player wages for the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blackburn Rovers Football Club History |url=http://www.footballdictionary.net/BlackburnRovers/History.asp |publisher=Football dictionary |access-date=6 November 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018014255/http://www.footballdictionary.net/BlackburnRovers/History.asp |archive-date=18 October 2015 }}</ref>

===Football League commences===
Blackburn Rovers were founder members of the [[Football League]] in 1888.<ref>{{Cite news |title=History of the Football League |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/History/HistoryDetail/0,,10794~1357277,00.html |publisher=The Football League |date=22 September 2010 |access-date=1 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209043226/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/History/HistoryDetail/0%2C%2C10794~1357277%2C00.html |archive-date=9 February 2009 }}</ref>

Blackburn Rovers again reached the [[1890 FA Cup Final|FA Cup final]] on 29 March 1890 at the [[Kennington Oval]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1890 FA Cup final |url=http://www.friendsreunited.com/soccer-fa-cup-final-blackburn-rovers-v-sheffield-wednesday/Memory/8093da79-e4c2-45c3-8543-a00b010e492b |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131106131155/http://www.friendsreunited.com/soccer-fa-cup-final-blackburn-rovers-v-sheffield-wednesday/Memory/8093da79-e4c2-45c3-8543-a00b010e492b |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 November 2013 |work=Friends reunited |access-date=6 November 2013 }}</ref> The club claimed the trophy for the fourth time, by beating [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] a hefty 6–1 with left forward [[William Townley]] scoring three goals and becoming the first player to achieve a [[hat-trick]] in the FA Cup final.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pGOIfz0H_1wC&q=%22hat+trick%22+%22fa+cup+final%221890&pg=PA66 |title=The Premiership 2008-2009 }}</ref>

The 1890–91 season saw Blackburn Rovers win the FA Cup for the fifth time against [[Notts County]] with a 3–1 victory.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners of FA Cup |url=http://facup.co/1891-fa-cup-final-result/ |publisher=FA Cup |access-date=6 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131106131154/http://facup.co/1891-fa-cup-final-result/ |archive-date=6 November 2013 }}</ref> During the 1897–98 season the club were relegated but were elected back into the first division at the Football League's AGM along with [[Newcastle United]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Arsenal's 1919 Election – Tottenham's Final Argument Mythbusted |url=http://www.thearsenalhistory.com/?p=13431 |work=The Arsenal History |date=4 August 2016 |access-date=4 August 2016 }}</ref> The season marked the beginning of [[Bob Crompton]]'s 45-year association with the club, as a player and later an FA Cup-winning manager.

===Early 20th century===
Blackburn Rovers continued to struggle during the early years of the 20th century, but the results began a gradual improvement. Major renovations were made to Ewood Park: in 1905 the Darwen End was covered at a cost of £1680 and the new Nuttall Stand was opened on New Year's Day 1907. During the first three decades of the 20th century, Blackburn Rovers were still considered a top side in the English league. They were First Division champions in 1911–12 and 1913–14, and F.A Cup winners in [[1927–28 FA Cup|1927–28]] with a 3–1 victory against [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]], but the F.A Cup win was their last major trophy for nearly 70 years.

===Mid 20th century===
[[File:Blackburn Rovers FC League Performance.svg|thumb|250px|Chart showing the progress of Blackburn Rovers F.C. through the [[English football league system]] from the inaugural season in [[The Football League 1888–89|1888–89]] to present]]
Blackburn Rovers maintained a respectable mid-table position in the First Division until they were finally relegated (along with Aston Villa) from the top flight (for the first time since the foundation of the league) in the 1935–36 season.

When the league resumed after the war, Blackburn Rovers were relegated in their second season (1947–48). At this time the tradition of [[Burial of the Coffin|burying a coffin]] began. The club remained in the second division for the following ten years. After promotion in 1958, they again returned to the mid-table position they had occupied in the earlier part of the century. During this time, they seldom made a serious challenge for a major trophy – although they did reach the [[1960 FA Cup Final]] when managed by Scot [[Dally Duncan]]. Rovers lost this game 3–0 to [[Wolverhampton Wanderers]] after playing most of the game with only 10 men on the field following an injury to [[Dave Whelan]], who broke a leg.

There were brief hopes of a return to glory in the [[1963–64 in English football|1963–64 season]], when a remarkable 8–2 away win over [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] in east London on [[Boxing Day]] took them to the top of the league. Their lead of the league was short-lived, and they finished the season some way down the table, as the title was seized by a [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] side who would record a further 12 league titles over the next 26 years, while Blackburn's fortunes took a very different route. They were relegated from the First Division in 1966 and began a 26-year exile from the top division.

===1970s and 1980s===
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, and fell back into the Third Division in 1979. They went up as runners-up in the Third Division in 1980 and, save for one season in League One in [[2017–18 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2017–18]], have remained in the upper two tiers of the English league ever since. A second successive promotion was nearly achieved the following year, but the club missed out on [[goal difference]], and promotion-winning manager [[Howard Kendall]] moved to Everton that summer. Kendall's successor, [[Bobby Saxton]] only managed mid-table finishes for the next three seasons, then nearly achieved promotion in the 1984–85 season, but a poor finish the following year (just one place above relegation) followed by an abysmal start to the 1986–87 season cost Saxton his job.

Saxton was replaced by [[Don Mackay]], who steered them to a decent finish that season and also victory in the [[Full Members Cup]]. In the following three seasons Mackay re-established Rovers as promotion contenders, but they fell just short of promotion each time; the closest they came was in 1988–89 reached the Second Division play-off final in its last season of the home-away two-legged format – but lost to Crystal Palace. A defeat in the 1989–90 Second Division playoff semi-finals brought more frustration to Ewood Park, but the following season saw the club taken over by local steelworks owner and lifelong supporter [[Jack Walker]] (1929–2000).<ref>{{Cite news |title=History of Jack Walker |work=The Guardian |date=19 August 2000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/aug/19/guardianobituaries.football |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305005555/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/aug/19/guardianobituaries.football |archive-date=5 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===1990s===
Following the Walker takeover Rovers finished 19th in the Second Division at the end of the [[1990–91 in English football|1990–91]] season, but the new owner had made millions of pounds available to spend on new players and appointed [[Kenny Dalglish]] as manager in October 1991.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kenny Dalglish at Blackburn |work=The Independent |date=23 August 1996 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/kenny-dalglish-at-blackburn-1311105.html |access-date=19 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621073731/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/kenny-dalglish-at-blackburn-1311105.html |archive-date=21 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Rovers secured promotion to the new [[FA Premier League]] at the end of [[1991–92 in English football|1991–92 season]] as play-off winners, ending 26 years outside the top flight.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17640251 |title=How Kenny Dalglish turned a six-game losing run into glory |first=Ian Singleton BBC |last=Sport |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024055244/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17640251 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |url-status=live |work=BBC Sport |date=9 April 2012 }}</ref>

Rovers made headlines in the summer of 1992 by paying an English record fee of £3.5million for the 22-year-old Southampton and England centre forward [[Alan Shearer]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Shearer set to sign for Blackburn |work=The Independent |date=27 July 1992 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-shearer-set-to-sign-for-blackburn-1535887.html |access-date=19 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205080840/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-shearer-set-to-sign-for-blackburn-1535887.html |archive-date=5 February 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> After finishing fourth in [[1992-93 FA Premier League|1992–93]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=League standings at the end of 1992/93 season |publisher=Premier League |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/league-table.html?season=1992-1993&month=MAY&timelineView=date&toDate=736210800000&tableView=CURRENT_STANDINGS |access-date=18 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602170305/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/league-table.html?season=1992-1993&month=MAY&timelineView=date&toDate=736210800000&tableView=CURRENT_STANDINGS |archive-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> and runners-up in [[1993-94 FA Premier League|1993–94]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=League standings at the end of 1993/94 season |publisher=Premier League |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/league-table.html?season=1993-1994&month=MAY&timelineView=date&toDate=767746800000&tableView=CURRENT_STANDINGS |access-date=18 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602165520/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/league-table.html?season=1993-1994&month=MAY&timelineView=date&toDate=767746800000&tableView=CURRENT_STANDINGS |archive-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> they went on to win the Premier League title in [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Blackburn honours and picture of the Premier league winners team |publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C. |url=http://www.rovers.co.uk/club/history/honours.aspx |access-date=18 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103102420/http://www.rovers.co.uk/club/history/honours.aspx |archive-date=3 November 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The title chase went down to the last game of the season, but despite Rovers losing to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] they edged out rivals [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] to win the championship.

Kenny Dalglish moved upstairs to the position of Director of Football at the end of the Premier League winning season, and handed over the reins to his assistant [[Ray Harford]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dalglish and Blackburn part company |work=The Independent |date=22 August 1996 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/dalglish-and-blackburn-part-company-1310953.html |access-date=19 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621074405/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/dalglish-and-blackburn-part-company-1310953.html |archive-date=21 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Blackburn Rovers made a poor start to the [[1995–96 in English football|1995–96]] season, and found themselves in the bottom half for most of the first half of the season. Rovers also struggled in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] and finished bottom of their group with just four points.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Champions League group standings 1995/96 |publisher=UEFA |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1995/standings/round=70/group=12/index.html |access-date=18 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925023033/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1995/standings/round=70/group=12/index.html |archive-date=25 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A poor start to the [[1996–97 in English football|1996–97]] Premier League campaign saw Harford resign in late October with the club bottom of the division, having failed to win any of their first ten games. Relegation looked a real possibility, just two seasons after winning the league. After an abortive attempt to bring in [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]] as manager, long-serving coach [[Tony Parkes]] took over as manager for the rest of the campaign, narrowly steering the side to survival. That summer, the manager's job was taken by [[Roy Hodgson]], who joined the club from [[Internazionale]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Roy Hodgson had big stars at Inter Milan but he handled everything thrown at him |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 May 2012 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/9242220/England-manager-Roy-Hodgson-had-big-stars-at-Inter-Milan-but-he-handled-everything-thrown-at-him.html |access-date=3 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722214545/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/9242220/England-manager-Roy-Hodgson-had-big-stars-at-Inter-Milan-but-he-handled-everything-thrown-at-him.html |archive-date=22 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[UEFA Cup]] football was secured with a 6th-place finish. Rovers made a poor start to the 1998–99 campaign and Hodgson was sacked in December less than an hour after a 2–0 home defeat by bottom side [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], a result that locked Rovers in the relegation zone.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hodgson out as Rovers hit bottom |work=The Guardian |date=21 November 1998 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1998/nov/21/newsstory.sport25 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927194739/https://www.theguardian.com/football/1998/nov/21/newsstory.sport25 |archive-date=27 September 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was replaced as manager by [[Brian Kidd]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=A nice guy who came last |work=The Guardian |date=4 November 1999 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/nov/04/newsstory.sport9 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927194746/https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/nov/04/newsstory.sport9 |archive-date=27 September 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kidd failed to save Rovers from relegation.

===2000s===
[[File:Ewood Jack Walker Stand.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Jack Walker Stand during a match on 2 September 2007 (Blackburn 1-0 [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]])]]
In [[1999–00 in English football|1999–2000]] Rovers began the season as promotion favourites, but with the club hovering just above the Division One relegation zone Brian Kidd was sacked in October<ref>{{Cite news |title=Blackburn sack Kidd as pounds 30m investment fails |work=The Independent |date=4 November 1999 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-blackburn-sack-kidd-as-pounds-30m-investment-fails-1123416.html |access-date=19 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621064634/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-blackburn-sack-kidd-as-pounds-30m-investment-fails-1123416.html |archive-date=21 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and replaced in March by [[Graeme Souness]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Souness takes the reins at Blackburn |work=The Guardian |date=14 March 2000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/mar/14/newsstory.sport3 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927191446/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/mar/14/newsstory.sport3 |archive-date=27 September 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jack Walker]] died just after the start of the [[2000–01 in English football|2000–01 season]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Blackburn Rovers owner dies |work=BBC Sport |date=18 August 2000 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/885534.stm |access-date=19 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126202001/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/885534.stm |archive-date=26 January 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the club dedicated its promotion challenge in memory of their benefactor. Fittingly, they returned to the Premier League after a much improved season, finishing second behind [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]].

In [[2001–02 in English football|2001–02]], record signing [[Andy Cole]] was bought in for £8million,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Blackburn sign Cole for 8 million pounds |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=29 December 2001 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/blackburn-rovers/3019509/Blackburn-sign-Cole-for-8m.html |access-date=3 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722185918/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/blackburn-rovers/3019509/Blackburn-sign-Cole-for-8m.html |archive-date=22 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Rovers won their first-ever [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] by beating [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] 2–1 at the [[Millennium Stadium]] in [[Cardiff]], Cole scoring the winner in the 69th minute.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cole strike stuns Spurs – Blackburn won the League Cup |work=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/worthington_cup/1834988.stm |access-date=16 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207045502/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/worthington_cup/1834988.stm |archive-date=7 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> The following season Rovers finished sixth to qualify for the UEFA Cup for the second season running. Souness left just after the start of [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]] to take charge at [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Souness takes Newcastle job |work=BBC Sport |date=6 September 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3630952.stm |access-date=16 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024180938/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3630952.stm |archive-date=24 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and he was replaced by Welsh national coach [[Mark Hughes]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Blackburn appoint Hughes |work=BBC Sport |date=16 September 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/3655384.stm |access-date=16 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205030339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/3655384.stm |archive-date=5 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hughes secured Rovers' Premier League survival for the 2004–05 season as well as an [[FA Cup]] semi-final against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], with Rovers finishing 15th once again. He led the team to sixth the following season and Rovers's third European qualification in five years.

Rovers reached the semi-final of the [[2006–07 FA Cup]], but lost to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in extra time, and finished that season's league in tenth, qualifying for the [[Intertoto Cup]], which led to a short run in the [[2007–08 UEFA Cup]]. In May 2008, Mark Hughes left Blackburn Rovers for the vacancy at [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. He was replaced by [[Paul Ince]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=Paul Ince Rovers New Manager |publisher=Rovers official website |date=22 June 2008 |url=http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~1332318,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927142320/http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10303~1332318%2C00.html |archive-date=27 September 2008 }}</ref> whose first job was to persuade some of the wantaway players to stay.<ref>{{cite news |title=Exciting times to come – Warnock |work=BBC Sport |date=23 June 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7469927.stm |archive-date=13 January 2016 |access-date=23 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113003339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7469927.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> with [[Archie Knox]] coming in as his assistant.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7493343.stm |title=Ince appoints Knox at Blackburn |date=7 July 2008 |access-date=23 August 2008 |work=BBC Sport |archive-date=13 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113003340/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7493343.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Ince's time in charge started well, but following a run of eleven games without a win he was sacked in December 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Club Statement |publisher=Blackburn Rovers FC |date=16 December 2008 |url=http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~1489931,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217091739/http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10303~1489931%2C00.html |archive-date=17 December 2008 }}</ref> [[Sam Allardyce]] was appointed as Ince's replacement<ref name="Allardyce named Blackburn manager">{{cite news |title=Allardyce named Blackburn manager |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7787940.st |work=BBC Sport |date=17 December 2008 |access-date=17 December 2008}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic }}</ref> and in 2009–10 he led the team to a tenth-place finish and a League Cup semi-final.

===2010 onwards===
In November 2010, the Indian company [[V H Group]] bought Blackburn Rovers under the name of Venky's London Limited for £23 million.<ref name="Sale of Blackburn Rovers by the Trustees of the Jack Walker Settlement">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/9210221.stm |title=Rao family buy Blackburn Rovers from Jack Walker Trust |access-date=19 August 2016 |date=19 November 2010 |work=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305023641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/9210221.stm |archive-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new owners immediately sacked manager Sam Allardyce and replaced him with first-team coach [[Steve Kean]], initially on a temporary basis, but by January 2011 he had been awarded a full-time contract until June 2013.<ref name="Blackburn Rovers sack manager Sam Allardyce">{{cite news |title=Blackburn Rovers sack manager Sam Allardyce |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/9283395.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=13 December 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112211747/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/9283395.stm |archive-date=12 January 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Kean to land long-term deal">{{Cite news |title=Steve Kean signs new Blackburn Rovers contract |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/9368705.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=19 August 2016 }}</ref> Kean's appointment was shrouded in controversy since his agent [[Jerome Anderson (football agent)|Jerome Anderson]] had earlier played a major role in advising Venky's during the takeover of the club in the preceding months.<ref name="How an agent came to hold so much power at Blackburn Rovers">Conn, David. [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2010/dec/21/blackburn-rovers-venkys-jerome-anderson "How an agent came to hold so much power at Blackburn Rovers"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225082852/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2010/dec/21/blackburn-rovers-venkys-jerome-anderson |date=25 December 2016 }}, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 21 December 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2016.</ref><ref name="Steve Kean finds value of friends in high places at Blackburn Rovers">Hytner, David. [https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2010/dec/16/steve-kean-blackburn-rovers "Steve Kean finds value of friends in high places at Blackburn Rovers"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927190227/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2010/dec/16/steve-kean-blackburn-rovers |date=27 September 2016 }}, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 16 December 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2016.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jan/15/blackburn-rovers-board-dismay-venkys |title=Blackburn Rovers board's dismay at Venky's conduct revealed in letter |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 January 2012 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202091925/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jan/15/blackburn-rovers-board-dismay-venkys |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2011, Blackburn Rovers posted an annual pre-tax loss of £18.6m for the year ending 30 June 2011. Despite this, the owners of Blackburn Rovers provided assurances over the continued funding of the club, even if they were relegated.<ref>{{cite news |title=Venky's stress commitment to Blackburn despite £18.6m pre-tax loss |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/28/venkys-blackburn-owners-loss |newspaper=The Guardian (UK) |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=28 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219071551/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/28/venkys-blackburn-owners-loss |archive-date=19 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 7 May 2012, Blackburn were relegated to the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] after being defeated at home by [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] in the penultimate game of the season, ending eleven years in the Premier League.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/17987285 |title=Blackburn Rovers relegated after defeat by Wigan – CBBC Newsround |access-date=16 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510011254/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/17987285 |archive-date=10 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the start of the 2012–2013 season, Kean was given a chance by the owners to win promotion and kept his job as the manager. Ultimately though, pressure from the supporters who had been calling for the manager's removal for months resulted in his resignation as manager on 29 September 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19766783 |title=Steve Kean 'forced to resign' as Blackburn Rovers manager |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016092610/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19766783 |archive-date=16 October 2018 |url-status=live |work=BBC Sport |date=29 September 2012 }}</ref>

On 7 May 2017, Blackburn were relegated to League One. On 24 April 2018, the club were promoted back to the second tier with a 1–0 win at [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43792160 |title=Doncaster Rovers 0–1 Blackburn Rovers |date=24 April 2018 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025013158/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43792160 |archive-date=25 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In recent years, they have finished 15th (2018–2019), 11th (2019–2020), 15th (2020–2021), 8th (2021–2022),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fbref.com/en/comps/10/history/Championship-Seasons |work=fbref.com |date=10 August 2020 |title=EFL Championship Seasons |access-date=8 August 2022 }}</ref> and 7th (2022–2023) in the Championship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65445638 |title=Blackburn comeback denies Millwall play-off spot |work=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2023 }}</ref>

In the 2023–2024 season, Blackburn narrowly avoided relegation on the final matchday, finishing in 19th place after a 2–0 win against title winners [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]], their lowest finish since their promotion back to the Championship in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=EFL |title=Homepage |url=https://efl.com/ |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=EFL |language=en |archive-date=12 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212021017/https://www.efl.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Players==

===Current squad===
{{updated|4 August 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=First Team |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/teams/first-team/ |publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C. |access-date=17 June 2021 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710034837/https://www.rovers.co.uk/teams/first-team/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Fs start|nat=|pos=|Name=|other=|no=}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Aynsley Pears]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Ryan Alebiosu]]}}
{{fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Harry Pickering (footballer)|Harry Pickering]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=POR|pos=DF|name=[[Yuri Ribeiro]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Dominic Hyam]]}}
{{fs player|no=6|nat=NOR|pos=MF|name=[[Sondre Tronstad]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=SLE|pos=FW|name=[[Augustus Kargbo]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=CPV|pos=MF|name=[[Sidnei Tavares]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=SEN|pos=FW|name=[[Makhtar Gueye]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Todd Cantwell]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=[[Lewis Miller (soccer)|Lewis Miller]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Dion De Neve]]}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Sean McLoughlin (footballer)|Sean McLoughlin]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Scott Wharton]]}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Hayden Carter]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=SWE|pos=MF|name=[[Axel Henriksson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=WAL|pos=FW|name=[[Ryan Hedges]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Harry Leonard (footballer, born 2003)|Harry Leonard]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[John Buckley (footballer, born 1999)|John Buckley]]}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=HUN|pos=GK|name=[[Balázs Tóth (footballer, born 1997)|Balázs Tóth]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=JPN|pos=FW|name=[[Yūki Ōhashi]]}}
{{fs player|no=27|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Lewis Travis]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Adam Forshaw]]}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Jake Garrett]]}}
{{Fs player|no=31|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Kristi Montgomery]]}}
{{Fs player|no=32|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Igor Tyjon]]}}
{{fs player|no=33|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jake Batty]]}}
{{Fs player|no=34|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Jack Barrett (footballer, born 2002)|Jack Barrett]]}}
{{Fs player|no=35|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Nicholas Michalski}}
{{Fs player|no=36|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[James Edmondson (footballer)|James Edmondson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=37|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Felix Goddard]]}}
{{Fs player|no=38|nat=NIR|pos=DF|name=Tom Atcheson}}
{{Fs player|no=40|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Matty Litherland}}
{{Fs player|no=41|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Lorenze Mullarkey-Matthews}}
{{Fs player|no=43|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=George Pratt}}
{{fs end}}

====Out on loan====
{{fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Connor O'Riordan]]|other=on loan at [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]}}
{{Fs player|no=—|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Charlie Olson|other=on loan at [[Oldham Athletic]]}}
{{fs mid}}

{{fs end}}

''For recent transfers, see [[2025–26 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season]].''

===Development/Academy squad===
{{Further|topic=the development and academy squads|Blackburn Rovers F.C. Under-23s and Academy}}

===Notable players===
''For a list of notable Blackburn Rovers players in sortable-table format see [[List of Blackburn Rovers F.C. players]].''

==Club staff==
{{updated|22 May 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Staff |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/club/staff/ |publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C. |access-date=22 May 2025 }}</ref>
===Senior Management===
{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Chief Operating Officer |s= Suhail Pasha Shaikh}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Chief Financial Officer |s= Matt Wright }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Director |s= Gandhi Babu }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Director |s= Mr. M Sreenivasa Rao }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Non-Executive Director |s= Robert Coar }}
|}

===Senior Football===
{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Football Operations |s= {{flagicon|Benin}} [[Rudy Gestede]] }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Technical Development |s= {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Adam Owen]] }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head Coach |s= {{flagicon|France}} [[Valérien Ismaël]] }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant Head Coach |s= {{flagicon|England}} [[Dean Whitehead]] }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=First-Team Coach |s= {{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Lowe (footballer)|David Lowe]] }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Goalkeeping Coach |s= {{flagicon|ENG}} Ben Benson }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=First-Team Technical Coach & Head of Player Development |s= {{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} [[Damien Johnson]] }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Lead Sports Scientist |s= Karl Hodges }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Consultant |s= Dr. Chris Dalton }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Medical Services |s= [[Andrew Procter]] }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Performance Analysis |s= Adam Collins }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Kit Manager |s= Paul Schofield }}
|}

===Academy Football===
{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Academy Manager |s= Paul Gray  }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Under-21s Lead Coach |s= [[Mike Sheron]] }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Under-21s Assistant Coach |s= [[Paul Butler (football coach)|Paul Butler]] }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Under-18s Lead Coach |s= Darragh Tuffy }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Academy Sports Science and Medical |s= Rob Pulling }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Academy Recruitment |s= Michael Cribley }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Academy Secretary |s= Dawn Dunn }}
|}

===Club Operations===
{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Football Administration |s= Brett Baker }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Operations |s= Lynsey Talbot }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of HR & Safeguarding |s= Faye Billington }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of IT |s= Kieran Shellard }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Media & Communications |s= Rob Gill }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Commercial & Partnerships |s= Yasir Sufi }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Marketing |s= Anna Melia }}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Community Trust/CEO |s= Gary Robinson }}
|}

==Awards==

===Player of the season===
{|
|width="1"|
|valign="top"|
{| class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Year!! style="background:silver;"|Winner
|-
|1980–81||{{flagicon|England}} [[Mick Speight]]
|-
|1981–82||{{flagicon|England}} [[Mick Rathbone]]
|-
|1982–83||{{flagicon|England}} [[Derek Fazackerley]]
|-
|1983–84||{{flagicon|England}} [[Simon Garner]]
|-
|1984–85||{{flagicon|England}} [[Terry Gennoe]]
|-
|1985–86||{{flagicon|England}} [[Simon Barker]]
|-
|1986–87||{{flagicon|England}} [[David Mail]]
|-
|1987–88||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Colin Hendry]]
|-
|1988–89||{{flagicon|England}} [[Howard Gayle]]
|-
|1989–90||{{flagicon|England}} [[Scott Sellars]]
|}
|width="1"|
|valign="top"|
{| class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Year!! style="background:silver;"|Winner
|-
|1990–91||{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Kevin Moran (footballer)|Kevin Moran]]
|-
|1991–92||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[David Speedie]]
|-
|1992–93||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Colin Hendry]]
|-
|1993–94||{{flagicon|England}} [[David Batty]]
|-
|1994–95||{{flagicon|England}} [[Alan Shearer]]
|-
|1995–96||{{flagicon|England}} [[Alan Shearer]]
|-
|1996–97||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Colin Hendry]]
|-
|1997–98||{{flagicon|England}} [[Chris Sutton]]
|-
|1998–99||{{flagicon|Australia}} [[John Filan]]
|-
|1999–2000||{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Damien Duff]]
|}
|width="1"|
|valign="top"|
{| class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Year!! style="background:silver;"|Winner
|-
|2000–01||{{flagicon|England}} [[Matt Jansen]]
|-
|2001–02||{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Damien Duff]]
|-
|2002–03||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Brad Friedel]]
|-
|2003–04||{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Tugay Kerimoğlu]]
|-
|2004–05||{{flagicon|England}} [[Andy Todd (footballer, born 1974)|Andy Todd]]
|-
|2005–06||{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Craig Bellamy]]
|-
|2006–07||{{flagicon|England}} [[David Bentley]]
|-
|2007–08||{{flagicon|Paraguay}} [[Roque Santa Cruz]]
|-
|2008–09||{{flagicon|England}} [[Stephen Warnock]]
|-
|2009–10||{{flagicon|France}} [[Steven Nzonzi]]
|}
|width="1"|
|valign="top"|
{| class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Year!! style="background:silver;"|Winner
|-
|2010–11||{{flagicon|England}} [[Paul Robinson (footballer born 1979)|Paul Robinson]]
|-
|2011–12||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Yakubu (footballer)|Yakubu]]
|-
|2012–13||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Jordan Rhodes]]
|-
|2013–14||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Tom Cairney]]
|-
|2014–15||{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Marcus Olsson]]
|-
|2015–16||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Grant Hanley]]
|-
|2016–17||{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Derrick Williams (footballer)|Derrick Williams]]
|-
|2017–18||{{flagicon|England}} [[Bradley Dack]]
|-
|2018–19||{{flagicon|England}} [[Danny Graham (footballer)|Danny Graham]]
|-
|2019–20||{{flagicon|England}} [[Adam Armstrong (footballer)|Adam Armstrong]]
|}
|width="1"|
|valign="top"|
{| class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Year!! style="background:silver;"|Winner
|-
|2020–21||{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Thomas Kaminski]]
|-
|2021–22||{{flagicon|Holland}} [[Jan Paul van Hecke]]
|-
|2022–23||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Dominic Hyam]]
|-
|2023–24||{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Sammie Szmodics]]
|-
|2024-25||{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Sondre Tronstad]]
|}
|}
{{Clear}}

===Season-by-season record===
{{Main|Blackburn Rovers F.C. seasons}}

===European football===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="9"|Blackburn Rovers in Europe
|-
! Season
! Competition
! Round
! Country
! Club
! Home
! Away
! Aggregate
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1994–95 UEFA Cup|1994–95]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]
| First round
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Sweden}}
| [[Trelleborgs FF|Trelleborg]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 0–1
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 2–2
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|'''2–3'''
|-
| rowspan=3; style="text-align:center;"|[[1995–96 UEFA Champions League|1995–96]]
| rowspan=3; style="text-align:center;"|[[UEFA Champions League]]
| rowspan=3|Group B
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Russia}}
| [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 0–1
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 0–3
| rowspan=3; style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|'''4th'''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Poland}}
| [[Legia Warsaw]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 0–0
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 0–1
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Norway}}
| [[Rosenborg BK|Rosenborg]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 4–1
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 1–2
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1998–99 UEFA Cup|1998–99]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]
| First round
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|France}}
| [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 0–1
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 2–2
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|'''2–3'''
|-
| rowspan=2; style="text-align:center;"|[[2002–03 UEFA Cup|2002–03]]
| rowspan=2; style="text-align:center;"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]
| First round
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Bulgaria}}
| [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 1–1
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 3–3
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"|'''4–4''' ([[Away goals rule|a]])
|-
| Second round
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Scotland}}
| [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 0–2
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 0–1
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| '''0–3'''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2003–04 UEFA Cup|2003–04]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]
| First round
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Turkey}}
| [[Gençlerbirliği]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 1–1
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 1–3
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|'''2–4'''
|-
| rowspan=6; style="text-align:center;"|[[2006–07 UEFA Cup|2006–07]]
| rowspan=6; style="text-align:center;"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]
| First round
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Austria}}
| [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 2–0
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 2–2
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"|'''4–2'''
|-
| rowspan=4|Group E
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|France}}
| [[AS Nancy|Nancy]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 1–0
| style="text-align:center;" {{n/a}}
| rowspan=4; style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| '''1st'''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Netherlands}}
| [[Feyenoord]]
| style="text-align:center;" {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 0–0
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Poland}}
| [[Wisła Kraków]]
| style="text-align:center;" {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 2–1
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Switzerland}}
| [[FC Basel|Basel]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 3–0
| style="text-align:center;" {{n/a}}
|-
| Round of 32
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Germany}}
| [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 0–0
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 2–3
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|'''2–3'''
|-
| rowspan=3; style="text-align:center;"|[[2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup|2007]] [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|–08]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]
| Third round
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Lithuania}}
| [[FK Vėtra|Vėtra]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 4–0
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 2–0
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"|'''6–0'''
|-
| rowspan=2; style="text-align:center;"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]
| Second qualifying round
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Finland}}
| [[Myllykosken Pallo −47|MyPa]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 2–0
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 1–0
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"|'''3–0'''
|-
| First round
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Greece}}
| [[Larissa F.C.|Larissa]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 2–1
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 0–2
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|'''2–3'''
|}

==Managerial history==
{{Main|List of Blackburn Rovers F.C. managers}}

==Colours==
{{more citations needed|section|date=August 2022}}

{{Commons|Blackburn Rovers F.C. kits}}
Unlike most teams, Blackburn Rovers have only ever had one design to their home kit. The distinctive blue and white halved jersey is widely acknowledged as the "town colour". Although the design has remained the same, the side in which the colours fall has often changed. Blue has resided on the wearers left since 1946; prior to this, the blue and white often switched order almost yearly.

Blackburn Rovers' first kit is uncertain. The 1905 book; Book of Football by Jonathan Russell describes Blackburn Rovers' first kit as a white jersey with Maltese Cross on the wearers left breast, Trousers and a blue and white skull cap. The Maltese Cross notorious with the public schools in which the founders of the club were educated. In contrast an account from the ''Blackburn Standard'' on 6 January 1894 accounts the first kit as navy blue and white quartered jersey (quartered accounting for the shirts four panels front and back), white knickers and navy hose. This account is much more synonymous with the kit today. Photographic evidence from 1878 shows the team in Blue and white halved (quartered) jerseys, white shorts and blue socks, complete with blue and white cap and Maltese Cross.

==Badge==

Through its history the club has adopted four badges as its crest; the Maltese Cross, the towns coat of arms, Lancashire Rose and the present day Blackburn Rovers Badge. From 1875 to approximately 1882 The Maltese Cross was present on the club's first ever home kit and was worn by both the Shrewsbury and Malvern school teams. Two former Malvernians and two former Salopians played in that first team, so there is a clear link with these public schools.

During FA Cup finals it is tradition for the club to adopt the town's coat of arms as their badge. This tradition has carried through all eight FA Cup finals the club has been a part of all the way to their last FA Cup final against Woverhampton Wanderers in 1960.

From roughly 1882 and excluding cup finals the club did not use a badge until 1974. In this year the club opted for an embroidered Lancashire Rose with the club's initials "B.R.F.C." below. This badge lasted unchanged for 15 years until it was 1989 due to visibility issues of the dark red rose on the dark blue of the shirt.

From 1989 to the present day the current Blackburn Rovers badge has been used. It has encompassed the previous badge in a newer design for the Lancashire Red Rose. Circling the rose is the team name "Blackburn Rovers F.C." and the date in which the club was founded "1875". At the base of the badge is the club motto, "Arte Et Labore" which translated means, "by skill and by labour". This motto has been taken from the town motto which was adopted in 1852.

==Grounds==
{{Main|Leamington Road|Ewood Park}}

===Oozehead Ground 1875–1877===
Rovers first home ground was a field at Oozehead on Preston New Road to the north west of the town. This field was farmland and was owned by a local farmer; when Blackburn Rovers weren't using the field it was used to graze cows. In the centre of the field was a large watering hole, which on match days was covered with timber and turf.<ref name="test">Mike Jackman, 2009, Blackburn Rovers The Complete Record, The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited, Derby.</ref>

===Pleasington Cricket Ground 1877===
Due to the rough conditions at Oozehead, the committee felt an established sports ground would be best to play on. Therefore, during the 1877 season they acquired the use of Pleasington's cricket ground to the south west of the town. Play stopped on this ground after Henry Smith of Preston North End died of a heart attack whilst playing.<ref name="test"/>

===Alexandra Meadows 1877–1881===
Still adopting cricket grounds, the committee acquired the use of the East Lancashire Cricket Club's ground in the centre of the town, Alexandra Meadows. Sources differ as to the date of the first match played by Rovers at Alexandra Meadows. A programme from [[Clitheroe F.C.]] states that Clitheroe was the first team to beat Blackburn at Alexandra Meadows on 17 November 1877.<ref name="clitheroe">{{cite journal |title=The Blues Review: Did You Know That ... ? |journal=Clitheroe F.C. Programme |date=2000–2001 }}</ref> Other sources indicate that the first match took place on 2 January 1878 with a Blackburn victory against [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamStadia/England/EngAlex.html |title=Alexandra Meadows Ground Profile |publisher=England Football Online |access-date=12 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929071601/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamStadia/England/EngAlex.html |archive-date=29 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/1875-1884-the-early-years-223575.aspx?pageView=full#anchored |title=1875 – 1884: The early years |publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C. |date=31 January 2012 |access-date=12 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215100447/http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/1875-1884-the-early-years-223575.aspx?pageView=full#anchored |archive-date=15 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was on this ground Blackburn Rovers played for the first time under artificial light against Accrington on 4 November 1878.<ref name="test"/>

===Leamington Road 1881–1890===
Due to the increasing demand in football in the area and in particular for Blackburn Rovers the committee felt that a private ground was more fitting. Therefore, in 1881 the club moved to Leamington Road, Blackburn Rovers' first purpose built ground including a 700-person capacity seated grandstand, costing £500. The first game played at this ground was held on 8 October 1881 against Blackburn Olympic resulting in a 4–1 win for Rovers. Whilst at Leamington Road and under James Fielding<ref name=TMitchell>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thearsenalhistory.com/?p=14829 |title=ARSENAL MANAGER HASN'T WON AS MANY FA CUPS AS BELIEVED |last=Kelly |first=Andy |date=4 October 2017 |website=The Arsenal History |access-date=4 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004190701/http://www.thearsenalhistory.com/?p=14829 |archive-date=4 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> the club won three FA Cups and was inaugurated into the Football League as a founding Member in 1888. Despite the club's success, they left Leamington Road due to an increase in lease costs.<ref name="test"/>

===Ewood Park 1890–present===
Built in April 1882 as Ewood Bridge. The ground was an all purpose sporting venue hosting football, athletics and dog racing. The Blackburn Rovers committee felt this was the ideal venue for the club after having already played numerous games there in 1882. The first game played at the new Ewood Park ground was on 13 September 1890 against Accrington, the 0–0 draw was viewed by 10,000 people and on 31 October 1892 artificial lights were installed.<ref name="test"/> Ewood sits on the bank of the [[River Darwen]] in [[Blackburn, Lancashire]].

====1913 terrorist incident====
{{See also|Suffragette bombing and arson campaign}}
An attempt was made to destroy the ground in 1913. As part of the [[suffragette bombing and arson campaign]], [[suffragettes]] carried out a series of bombings and arson attacks nationwide to publicise their campaign for women's suffrage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Suffragettes, violence and militancy |url=https://www.bl.uk/votes-for-women/articles/suffragettes-violence-and-militancy |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=British Library |archive-date=10 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910203912/https://www.bl.uk/votes-for-women/articles/suffragettes-violence-and-militancy |url-status=dead }}</ref> In November 1913, suffragettes attempted to burn down Ewood Park's grandstand but were foiled.<ref name="Kay">{{Cite journal |last=Kay |first=Joyce |year=2008 |title=It Wasn't Just Emily Davison! Sport, Suffrage and Society in Edwardian Britain |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09523360802212271 |journal=The International Journal of the History of Sport |volume=25 |issue=10 |page=1343 |doi=10.1080/09523360802212271 |hdl=1893/765 |s2cid=154063364 |issn=0952-3367 |hdl-access=free |url-access=subscription |archive-date=17 September 2023 |access-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917130504/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09523360802212271 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same year, suffragettes [[Arsenal F.C.#Stadium destruction and move to North London|succeeded in burning down]] [[Arsenal FC|Arsenal]]'s then South London stadium, and also attempted to burn down [[Preston North End]]'s ground.<ref name="Kay"/> More traditionally male sports were targeted in order to protest against [[patriarchy|male dominance]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kay |first=Joyce |year=2008 |title=It Wasn't Just Emily Davison! Sport, Suffrage and Society in Edwardian Britain |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09523360802212271 |journal=The International Journal of the History of Sport |volume=25 |issue=10 |pages=1345–1346 |doi=10.1080/09523360802212271 |hdl=1893/765 |s2cid=154063364 |issn=0952-3367 |hdl-access=free |url-access=subscription |archive-date=17 September 2023 |access-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917130504/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09523360802212271 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Supporters and rivalries==
Blackburn Rovers supporters have formed several support clubs related to the team, and almost all of them are partially focused on making trips to Ewood Park easier. Rovers home games were well attended as a percentage of the Blackburn population throughout the 2000s with average attendances of around 25,000, equal to roughly a quarter of Blackburn's population (approximately 100,000).{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} The supporters' long-running fanzine is called ''[[A Day in the Life|4,000 Holes]]''.

[[Clement Charnock]] and his brother [[Harry Charnock|Harry]] were Blackburn Rovers fans who introduced football into [[Imperial Russia|Russia]] in the 1880s.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Blackburn's primary rivals are [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], with whom they contest the [[East Lancashire derby]]. Other rivalries for Rovers include Preston North End, [[Bolton Wanderers]] and [[Wigan Athletic]], all based in North-West England.

==Statistics and records==

===Records===

* '''Most League appearances''':
[[Derek Fazackerley]], 593+3 sub, 1970–71 to 1986–87

* '''Record goalscorer''':
[[Simon Garner]], 194 goals (168 league), 1978–79 to 1991–92

* '''Record attendance at Ewood Park''':
62,255 v [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]], FA Cup 6th round, 2 March 1929

* '''Transfer fee paid''':
£8m to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] for [[Andy Cole]] in December 2001<br/>£8m to [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] for [[Jordan Rhodes]] in August 2012

* '''Transfer fee received''':
Up to £22m from [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] for [[Adam Wharton]] in February 2024

* '''Record win''':
11–0 v [[Rossendale United]], [[Ewood Park]], [[FA Cup]] 1st round 13 October 1884

* '''Record League win''':
9–0 v [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], [[Ewood Park]], Division 2, 6 November 1954

* '''Record away win''':
8–2 v [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], Division 1, 26 December 1963

* '''Record League defeat''':
0–8 v [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], Division 1, 25 February 1933,
0–8 v [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]], Division 2, 29 August 1953<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/blackburn-rovers/records |title=Blackburn Rovers scoring and sequence records |first=Statto Organisation |last=Ltd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113114702/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/blackburn-rovers/records |archive-date=13 November 2010 }}</ref>

* '''Record home League defeat''':
0-7 v [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], 3 November 2021

* '''Record aggregate League score''':
13: 5–8 v [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]], 6 September 1890

* '''Most points gained in a season (2pts)''':
60 (1974–75)

* '''Most points gained in a season (3pts)''':
91 (2000–01)

* '''Fewest points gained in a season (2pts)''':
20 (1965–66)

* '''Fewest points gained in a season (3pts)''':
31 (2011–12)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2011-2012 |title=English Premier League 2011–2012 Table |publisher=statto.com |access-date=16 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217023314/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2011-2012 |archive-date=17 December 2013 }}</ref>

* '''Most consecutive League appearances''':
[[Walter Crook]], 208 (1934–46)

* '''Most goals scored by a player in a season''':
[[Ted Harper]], 43, Division 1, 1925–26

* '''Most goals scored by a player in a match''':
[[Tommy Briggs]], 7 v Bristol Rovers, Ewood Park, Division 2, 5 February 1955

* '''Most hat-tricks in a season''':
8, 1963–64

* '''Most individual hat-tricks''':
13, [[Jack Southworth]], 1887–1893

* '''Most FA Cup appearances''':
[[Ronnie Clayton (footballer, born 1934)|Ronnie Clayton]], 56, 1949–1969

* '''Most League Cup appearances''':
[[Derek Fazackerley]], 38, 1969–1987

* '''Youngest player to appear for Rovers''':
[[Harry Dennison]], aged 16 yrs and 155 days against [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]], Division 1, 8 April 1911

* '''Oldest player to appear for Rovers''':
[[Bob Crompton]], 40 yrs and 150 days against [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]], Division 1, 23 February 1920

* '''Longest undefeated FA Cup run''':
24 games including 3 consecutive FA Cup wins, 1884–86. Still an FA Cup record

''Reference for above facts''<ref>[http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/HistoryRecords Blackburn Rovers Official – club Records] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911091641/http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/HistoryRecords |date=11 September 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://premiersoccerstats.com/PlayerbyTeambyYearBasic.cfm?Teamname=Blackburn&DOrderby=Apps&DYearby=All%20Seasons |work=PremierSoccerStats |date=25 October 2008 |access-date=25 October 2008 |title=Player by Team by Year Overall |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207050905/http://premiersoccerstats.com/PlayerbyTeambyYearBasic.cfm?Teamname=Blackburn&DOrderby=Apps&DYearby=All%20Seasons |archive-date=7 December 2008 }}</ref>

==Honours==
Source:<ref name="premier_league">Upon its formation in 1992, the [[Premier League]] became the top tier of [[Football in England|English football]]; the [[Football League First Division|First]] and [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]s then became the second and third tiers, respectively. The First Division is now known as the [[Football League Championship]] and the Second Division is now known as [[Football League One]].</ref><ref>The trophy was known as the Charity Shield until 2002, and as the Community Shield ever since.</ref><ref name="test"/>

'''League'''
* [[Football League First Division|First Division]] / [[Premier League]] (level 1)
** Champions: [[1911–12 Football League|1911–12]], [[1913–14 Football League|1913–14]], [[1994–95 FA Premier League|1994–95]]
** Runners-up: [[1993–94 FA Premier League|1993–94]]
* [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] / First Division / [[Football League Championship|Championship]] (level 2)
** Champions: [[1938–39 Football League#Second Division|1938–39]]
** Runners-up: [[1957–58 Football League#Second Division|1957–58]], [[2000–01 Football League#First Division|2000–01]]
** Play-off winners: [[1992 Football League Second Division play-off final|1992]]
* [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] / [[Football League One|League One]] (level 3)
** Champions: [[1974–75 Football League#Third Division|1974–75]]
** Runners-up: [[1979–80 Football League#Third Division|1979–80]], [[2017–18 EFL League One|2017–18]]

'''Cup'''
* [[FA Cup]]
** Winners (6): [[1883–84 FA Cup|1883–84]], [[1884–85 FA Cup|1884–85]], [[1885–86 FA Cup|1885–86]], [[1889–90 FA Cup|1889–90]], [[1890–91 FA Cup|1890–91]], [[1927–28 FA Cup|1927–28]]
** Runners-up: [[1881–82 FA Cup|1881–82]], [[1959–60 FA Cup|1959–60]]
* [[Football League Cup]]
** Winners: [[2001–02 Football League Cup|2001–02]]
* [[FA Charity Shield]]
** Winners: [[1912 FA Charity Shield|1912]]
** Runners-up: [[1928 FA Charity Shield|1928]], [[1994 FA Charity Shield|1994]], [[1995 FA Charity Shield|1995]]
* [[Full Members' Cup]]
** Winners: [[1986–87 Full Members Cup|1986–87]]
* [[Football League War Cup]]
** Runners-up: [[Football League War Cup#1939–40|1939–40]]

'''Regional'''
* [[Lancashire Senior Cup|Lancashire Cup]]<ref name="test"/>{{efn|The club has fielded its [[reserve team]] in the competition since the mid-1990s<ref name="test"/>}}
** Winners (20): 1881–82, 1882–83, 1883–84, 1884–85, 1895–96, 1900–01, 1901–02, 1903–04, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1944–45, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2018–19, 2020–21

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

===Independent websites===
* {{BBC Football Info|blackburn-rovers}}
* [https://www.skysports.com/blackburn-rovers Blackburn Rovers] at Sky Sports
* [https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/3/Blackburn-Rovers/overview Blackburm Rovers FC] at Premier League
* [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/53344--blackburn/ Blackburn Rovers FC] at [[UEFA]]

{{Coord|53|43|43|N|2|29|21|W|type:landmark|display=title}}

{{Blackburn Rovers F.C.}}
{{Blackburn Rovers F.C. seasons}}
{{Original Football League clubs}}
{{Football League Championship}}
{{Football League One}}
{{FA Premier League}}
{{Blackburn with Darwen culture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C.| ]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1875]]
[[Category:Sport in Blackburn]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:The Football League founder members]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Premier League clubs]]
[[Category:FA Cup winners]]
[[Category:EFL Cup winners]]

title: Blackburn Rovers

Full name: Blackburn Rovers Football Club

Nickname(s): - Rovers - The Blue and Whites - The Riversiders

Ground: Ewood Park

Owner: Venkys London Ltd. (99.9%)

COO: Suhail Pasha

Head coach: Valérien Ismaël

League: EFL Championship

EFL Championship, 7th of 24

Home colours: Third colours