Derek Fazackerley, Rovers’ record appearance holder, says a full Ewood Park on the final day of last season was ‘great to see’ - even though he was on the opposition side.

More than 27,000 fans packed into Ewood last May as Rovers signed off their League One campaign with victory over Oxford, where Fazackerley is now assistant manager.

He made a record 674 appearances for Rovers between 1971 and 1987, which saw him inducted into the club’s inaugural hall of fame.

The 67-year-old said: “It was great to see a full house. To be in the position they were in, and to be here when they won promotion, was special and it being in front of a full house made it a bit more special. As a Blackburn supporter, and someone who has been closely linked with the club over the years, you want to see them return to the Premier League.

“They have certainly done well over the last two seasons, getting promotion and then establishing themselves in the Championship this season. If they can kick on again then who knows.

“It’s a tough competitive league the Championship, with some big teams in it, and the teams that come out of the Premier League every year have a huge advantage over the other teams because of the parachute money they collect.”

Fazackerley’s senior Rovers debut came in February 23, 1971, in unusual circumstances.

He added: “You always remember your debut. Mine was against Hull City who were top of the league at the time and there were 30,000 people there.

“The first game was abandoned at half-time for fog. I didn’t play in the first game but was picked for the second one. We were 2-0 down in the first game and I went as 13th man. The game was rearranged for 10 days later and we managed to get a 0-0 draw. It’s something I will always remember.

“You then remember the cup ties against the likes of Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester United, teams like that, and the promotion years.”

A back four of Branagan-Keeley-Fazackerley-Rathbone was a near constant for Rovers during the early 1980s.

On the record he holds, Fazackerley added: “The way football is these days, you’d find it difficult to think it would be beaten.

“The way agents work, it’s not profitable for them to keep players at one club for too long so players generally do move on at a faster rate.

“But who’s to say there’s not someone who will play more games eventually? There’s more football played now with all the competitions.

“Whether it will happen or not, it probably won’t be in my lifetime.”

Also inducted into the hall of fame was Bryan Douglas, whose name is synonymous with his hometown club.

An England international, and veteran of 503 Rovers appearances, the 84-year-old said of his induction: “It was a great honour and I was a bit surprised to be honest.

“Looking at the other people who were there, they have all contributed so much to the club and I was just honoured to be there.

“It was a great night and what pleased me most is that my grandchildren and sons were there and I was made up that they could come.

“I have told them stories about my career but I think it was nice for them to enjoy the evening.

“The welcome I got was fantastic, I was brought up in Blackburn and born a golf shot from the ground so to play for my local team and then be in the Hall of Fame is a great honour.

“I think it is a great idea by the club and I am pleased they will be doing it every year from now on.”