A ROVERS fan who has supported the club for more than 80 years celebrated his 94th birthday by meeting two of the club's all time greats.

Edward Flatt, of Hereford Road, Blackburn, met Ronnie Clayton and Bryan Douglas in the directors' lounge at Ewood before Saturday's 2-0 victory over Walsall.

And today he has named his all-time favourite Ewood eleven.

Nobody from the 1995 championship winning side makes it into his side.

Nor do any of the stars of the 1970s or 80s - although Mr Flatt did say it was a tough choice whether to pick Alan Shearer at centre forward or one of his 1950s favourites.

Mr Flatt sits in the Walkersteel stand with his 61-year-old son Derek and has watched on in awe at the transformation of the ground in recent years.

Derek wrote to the club to tell them of his father's many years supporting his favourite team.

And Rovers responded by inviting Mr Flatt to the directors' lounge and giving him to free tickets to the match.

Derek said: "It was great for my dad to meet two of his all-time favourites and have his picture taken with them. He also met the chairman Robert Coar.

"He has supported the club since he was 14 years old and has seen everything. We went together to the cup final in 1960 at Wembley. "To meet Ronnie Clayton and Bryan Douglas was a great treat for us."

Mr Flatt delved deep into both the history of the club and the recesses of his mind to come up with the following names:

Goalkeeper Fred Else (1961-66), full back Bill Eckersley (1948-61), full back Fred Duckworth (1910-22), half back Jack Campbell (1945-56), centre half Bob Pryde (1933-49), right half Ronnie Clayton (1950-69), outside left Bobby Langton (1937-49 and 1953-56), inside left Roy Vernon (1954-60), centre forward Tommy Briggs (1952-58), inside forward Andy McEvoy (1956-67), outside right Bryan Douglas (1952-69).

WHAT'S YOUR ROVERS TEAM OF THE CENTURY?

Do you agree with Edward Platt's selection, or do the Rovers stars of recent years deserve more credit? Write to Rovers Memories, Newsdesk, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, High Street, Blackburn, BB1 1HT or e-mail us at: let_editorial@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk

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