ROVERS supporters descended on a town centre to celebrate their team's promotion-winning season.

Hundreds of Blackburn Rovers fans headed to Blackburn Cathedral Square, on the hottest bank holiday in 40 years, to toast the team's League One triumph after achieving promotion to the Championship.

Despite winning their final match of the season against Oxford at Ewood Park on Saturday, Rovers have finished the season in second place on 96 points, just two points behind league champions Wigan Athletic.

Fans cheered and applauded the first team squad, along with manager Tony Mowbray and his staff, when they appeared on the balcony of One Cathedral Square just after 4.30pm today.

The event was opened by Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Cllr Colin Rigby, who said: "The council is delighted to host this event and invite Rovers fans from far and wide to make it an occasion to remember."

Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, who was the first member of the club to speak to fans on the balcony and was greeted with loud chants of his name from the crowd, said he was 'in debt' to the fans for supporting the team throughout the course of he season.

He said: "In my eyes football is all about the supporters. A huge thank you to everyone who has put the hand in their pocket and helped the team get over the line this year."

The whole squad then emerged onto the balcony and each of the players thanked the fans for the support, at times they did so when they were being drenched with champagne by other members of the squad. 

Following the balcony celebrations, the squad and manager headed out of the building down onto Cathedral Square to sign autographs, speak to fans and take selfies with them.

Friends Mark Taylor, Carl Lightbown and Liam McLoughlin, who are all 22 and live in Darwen, described the 'fantastic' season as 'unreal'.

Mr Taylor said: "It started off slowly but the run we have been on since then has been fantastic and has brought the fans back together."

Andy Parkinson, 33, from Accrington, said: "It's great to be happy again. There is a togetherness about us - not the bitterness and anger from last year.
"The last game of the season was just a party atmosphere."

Grandmother Linda Cooper, 66, who lives in Bolton but has supported Rovers since 1964, said: "The season as a whole was disappointing after the first two matches.

"At the time my son, who has been brought up as a Rovers fan since he was 18 months old, said 'do not worry, we will get there'.
"He was right. It has been absolutely fantastic. I'm so pleased."

Her son Liam, 44, from Darwen added: "I'm chuffed to bits. Just over the moon."

Knuzden father Noel Creamer, 47, and son Adam described Rovers' promotion campaign as 'phenomenal'.

The 15-year-old son said: "Obviously we wanted to try and win the league but to get promoted in the first attempt is phenomenal."

Brothers Lewis, 15, and Rob Heyn, 24, also from Knuzden, said Bradley Dack was the best player for Rovers this season.

Rob said: "It has been a long, tough season and happy to get it finished.
"The real test for Tony Mowbray will be next season in the Championship."

John Macphee, 49, and his daughter Iona, 14, who live near Chorley, said the year has been 'brilliant'.

Iona said: "It's brilliant we are back in the Championship, just a shame we did not get the title."