IT takes an ardent fan to travel to away games -- especially when they are more than 3,000 miles away.

But Stephen Buckley was determined not to miss out on the Rovers promotion party and is back in his home town of Blackburn this week on holiday from his new base in Connecticut.

Stephen left for America 12 years ago but makes flying visits to East Lancashire to watch his beloved Rovers. This season he notched up some 14 matches.

He said: "Most times I just come for the weekend but this time I planned to see all three of their last games. I would even have come back to see them in the play-offs."

The father-of-two travelled about 3,380 miles from his American home to take his seat at Ewood Park last Sunday and was at Deepdale on Wednesday to see them clinch promotion with a 1-0 win over local rivals Preston North End.

Stephen, 46, who has his own company selling motors, set off on his epic journey last Thursday, travelling from John F Kennedy Airport, in New York State, to Manchester, then to Darwen to stay with his family.

Blackburn born and bred, the life-long Rovers fan will head off back to America next week. And although he said he loves his new lifestyle there are still parts of rainy Lancashire he yearns for.

He said: "The thing I miss most is still the Rovers. I miss my friends and until recently the beer, which has got better here, but above all I miss Rovers. I'm happy here but in a few years I would be tempted to come back, especially when I buy the Rovers. I think it is awesome they have gone up and can't wait for next season."

Stephen, who checks out Rovers results on the internet, was not the only 'foreign contingent' celebrating this week.

Jeff Jones is a fan who travels from Bridgend, Wales. He makes a weekend of his trips staying at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, in Clayton-le-Moors and is so well known staff let him leave his clothes there.

After the promotion, Jeff, who was also in Blackburn for the duration of the final games, said: "I am made up. Absolutely over the moon, it's brilliant."

Neil Anderson may still be in this country but his journey is one undertaken only by the most fanatical of fans.

He started his love affair with Rovers when he lived in Loveclough, working for Rossendale Council.

The housing officer is now based in Taunton, Somerset and makes the pilgrimage to Ewood Park most home matches.

He said: "I went to see them play with a mate when Sutton and Shearer were up front against Liverpool. Sutton scored a hat trick and I have been hooked since."

He makes it for most of the home games, staying with his mother-in-law, in Whitworth.

Unfortunately work commitments kept Neil away from Deepdale on Wednesday, although he was glued to the TV and watched the drama unfold.

"It was fantastic," he said.