Skimmy Southworth – Rovers’ Musical Goal Machine
Posted by Roving Mick on October 1, 2015
Who was Blackburn Rovers’ greatest goalscorer? Was it Shearer, Sutton, Tommy Briggs, Simon Garner, or present day poacher, Jordan Rhodes?
Skimmy knew how to blow his own trumpet
Believe it or not, one former player, actually born and bred in Blackburn, is up there with the best of them when it comes to his record of scoring goals for Rovers. His strike rate is even higher than Alan Shearer’s!
Jack Southworth was born on Ainsworth Street in 1866 and baptised in what became Blackburn Cathedral. He came from a musical family and would go on to become a professional musician when his football career was ended by injury.
His brother Jim, also a musician, played alongside his sibling for Rovers. Both of them started playing with Rovers’ town rivals, Blackburn Olympic. But after earlier rejections, they were eventually lured across Corporation Park from Shear Brow to Leamington Road.
Jack quickly became a favourite with the Rovers fans, who nicknamed him ‘Skimmy’, due to his speed. He became a deadly striker, dubbed the ‘Prince of Dribblers’ and was popping them in at an important time in our history.
We become founder members of the Football League in 1888. Next came our move to Ewood Park. There was also a small matter of Rovers winning two FA Cups in 1890 & 1891. The first of these while still playing at Leamington Road and our next after the move to our current home. Jack scored in both victories. He also played three times for England, inevitably scoring in all three games.
Although we are taking about those early days of organised football, Southworth’s goals record is still incredible. He played 132 Football League and FA Cup matches for Rovers, scoring 121 goals. He scored Rovers’ first ever goal in the Football League and he still holds Blackburn Rovers’ record for the most individual hat-tricks in a season, with five in 1890–91, and the record for the aggregate individual hat-tricks with thirteen.
Sadly, Skimmy and the Rovers fell out over football’s perennial curse – money. Although Southworth had a good point in his argument about wishing to move to Everton to further his musical career. The Toffees had just moved into their new Goodison Park ground and were splashing the cash. They paid Rovers £400 and took away our first prolific goal scorer – no doubt some former fans of the then recently defunct ‘Lympic would have had a laugh at their fellow townsfolk’s loss.
The real reason for his transfer was Rovers’ developing financial problems due to the Ewood Park move and joining the Football League. But Jack was still pilloried by the local press and Rovers fans for jumping ship. At least he was given his say in a letter which they published. He explained his reasons candidly, for both financially and musically, wanting away. The latter was obviously his first love. Even at the height of his powers at Rovers, the 1891 census has him living in Inkerman Street and his occupation listed as a musician.
At Everton he was a sensation in his first season, scoring 27 goals in 22 games. It looked more of the same in his second season, with nine goals in as many games. But then he was struck by a leg injury which ended his football career. Fortunately, he had other strings to his bow in more ways than one and became a professional violinist with the Halle Orchestra. He went on to play different instruments in various famous orchestras across the north for several years.
Jack Southworth died in in Liverpool in 1956. He was nearly 90. He may not have been Rovers’ greatest striker, but he was certainly our most artistic.
Blackburn’s Beast of Bridge Street
Posted by Roving Mick on September 1, 2015
Along the right-hand side of Blackburn Railway Station runs Bridge. Street. Across from where it meets George Street is a tunnel, leading to the station’s rail yard. It is known as the Lion’s Cave and is said to be haunted by a ghostly lion.
Haunted by a ghostly lion
For many years, when the circus came to town, they used to arrive by train at Blackburn Railway Station. There would then be a procession from the station to whichever venue had been arranged for their event. This was a way of generating good publicity for them and it would attract large crowds of people who would line the route the circus took.
These colourful processions would give circus performers a chance to show off their acrobatic skills and comedy routine. This, hopefully, would encourage our townsfolk to come and watch their show at the Big Top. But the main attraction for most people was trying to catch a glimpse of their circus animals. Seeing elephants, zebras, bears and big cats was a rarity for most Blackburners, especially before TV was available to the masses. Apart from zoo visits, seeing wild jungle animals in the flesh only happened when a circus came to town.
Many years ago we had one of these occasions. A circus arrived at Blackburn Station, but management decided to give their animals and troupers a rest after their long train journey. They pitched their tents, secured their animals in their cages and then bedded down for the night on land nearby. They billeted themselves on ground behind Darwen Street, adjacent to George Street, where the River Blakewater flows to the original Darwen Street bridge.
Next morning came a sad discovery. One of their lions had died during the night. Despite this setback to their plans, this circus followed that old showbiz tradition of ‘The show must go on’. Their poor deceased lion was hurriedly buried under their temporary camp site and their procession went ahead – and so did the circus, albeit minus one of its star performers.
This would seem to be the end of the matter. But strange noises have been heard from Bridge Street railway tunnel over the years. These have been likened to a lion’s growl. And when the sun shines through this tunnel at a certain time, it forms shadows which seem to take the shape of a lion (look at the photo carefully). Could this tunnel be haunted by the one who died in Blackburn and is buried nearby? Or maybe these reports came from a time when Matthew Brown’s Lion Ales were still on sale? We may never know.
Crossing The Todmorden Curve
Posted by Roving Mick on August 1, 2015
Blackburn now has another railway route into Manchester. You can now travel via Burnley and Rochdale. This follows the Todmorden Curve re-opening after years of campaigning by railway enthusiasts, local councils and the RMT trade union.
Direct trains to Todmorden
It is unfortunate how restoring only 500 metres of railway line over Todmorden’s viaduct has taken so many years to complete. During my own time working on the railway, I had the experience of walking over the curve and viaduct. This was over 25 years ago and even then my workmates said it wasn’t a big job to bring the track back in service. Sadly, as we have seen with our other railway route to Manchester, getting different organisations to talk to each other and agree a plan of action is no easy process. At least the Todmorden Curve was completed before a start was made on double tracking the railway line around Darwen.
Most of us travelling to Manchester will still continue to use this existing route via Bolton. But having an extra service could prove very handy. It also opens up other areas to visit which straddle the route along the Yorkshire border and East Lancashire. This saves time changing at Hebden Bridge, though I would still recommend visiting this enjoyable place, just over the border, by using our direct service to York.
Not far from Hebden Bridge, but on our new railway route, is Todmorden itself. It only takes 40 minutes by rail from Blackburn. Straight across the road from its station is the Queens Hotel. Very nice in here, more of an eating pub, but it still serves real ale. A bit further down the road is Todmorden’s Wetherspoon’s pub. It is called the White Hart and its size can be rather misleading. You can descend to another bar downstairs, without realising how much space this pub has available.
On this occasion I was in with Sylvia, my girlfriend and my mate, Parky. A young couple were eating a mixed grill, when they suddenly had a bust-up and both stormed off, leaving their unfinished meals. Parky and I noticed they ate the rest of their meat, but both left their gammon, so we snaffled it for them. Neither of us like seeing food wasted, this distant memory of my schooldays flashed through my mind. Where we used to say it stopped the pigs from turning cannibal when eating their swill.
Our next pub was the hilariously named Polished Knob. No doubt all the jokes have already been cracked about this pub’s handle. It was a good friendly place with decent real ale too. Our last watering hole, before catching the Blackburn train home, was the Wellington. Another good pint of real ale in here and a good yap with the locals about their new train service. Hopefully their pub and others over there should benefit from this new service. Maybe we might even get a bit of traffic coming over in the opposite direction. Though we have a long way to go in Blackburn before the crowds come flocking over to enjoy our nightlife.
Blackburn’s Outer Circle Real Ale Trail
Posted by Roving Mick on July 1, 2015
A circular tour of Blackburn
If you fancy a scenic tour of some of Blackburn’s pubs, jump aboard the Outer Circle bus and buy a £4.20 all day ticket. This will take you not only on multiple journeys around town, but also round Darwen and Hyndburn.
This service started around 30 years ago. It differs from other Blackburn buses by traversing the suburbs and not going into the town centre. It is mainly used by workers, school and college students and Rovers fans on match days.
My journeys usually start and finish on Revidge Road. The Quarryman’s and Alexandra are just down the road from here. At the other end of Revidge, it’s a short walk to the Hare and Hounds down Lammack Road. A similar length of walk down Pleckgate Road takes you to the Royal Oak.
Unfortunately you have to travel a long way before you come across another pub which sells real ale. This pub is Whitebirk’s O’Marley’s Red Lion – arguably Blackburn’s oldest continuously used pub. JW Lees is served in here and occasionally they brew their own ale.
Just a hundred yards up Whitebirk Road is where this bus lives. A bit higher up the hill is The Forester’s. I had some really good Theakston’s Lightfoot in here. I wasn’t so light on my feet after a few of these.
At the top of the hill our bus turns into the hospital grounds. But if you get off and turn left, a five minute walk brings you to a couple of pubs in Blackburn’s wonderfully named suburb of Guide. The Willows is a modern pub with a booming restaurant service, but a good choice of real ale is also available. Good ale is also served in the more traditional King Edward VII further up the road.
Back on the bus, you have to travel almost halfway across town for another pint of real ale. But the journey is worth it as you hit real ale country in Blackburn’s Ewood and Livesey districts. At the bottom of Livesey Branch Road, on Ewood itself is the Fox and Hounds. Derek the landlord has been in the game for years and keeps a good pint of Thwaites.
Further up the Branch Road, you have three pubs selling real ale very close to each other. The Brown Cow, White Bull and Moorgate receive many visits from me during the football season. There is also the Lord Raglan a little further up the hill, just off the Branch Road, on Kings Road.
From Livesey, the Outer Circle travels down Green Lane. At the bottom of here is a ginnel above Cherry Tree Station which brings you out at the Station pub. It is a good choice of Thwaites in here, including some of their craft beer. Across the road in the Beehive is another good choice of real ale.
The Outer Circle travels down Brothers Street from Green Lane. A short walk along the canal from here is the Navigation. This pub is one of Blackburn’s success stories, having shut down at one point. Now it serves a good pint of cask and is the perfect break for a stroll along the cut.
The last leg of my journey home brings me to Witton Stocks. Near the crossroads is the Witton Inn. This is a nice pub, selling nice cask from Three Bees. What could be better? It all makes for a nice cheap tour of Blackburn’s suburban hostelries – apart from what you spend on your real ale tipple of course. So why not invest £4.20 in a bus ticket and go on a real ale tour of your own.
Blackburn’s Own Ground Zero
Posted by Roving Mick on June 3, 2015
Building work on Blackburn’s new bus station has ground to a halt again. The site has been likened to the aftermath of a nuclear explosion. Many people say it certainly looks like a bomb has hit it.
Dummy’s guide to Blackburn Bus Station
People may unwittingly be half right, but they haven’t realised our new bus station is actually being used in a top secret international experiment. This has been set up to find out if cockroaches really could survive a nuclear holocaust.
This was the result of a recent international summit to try and ease growing tension between the world’s nuclear nations. A deal was brokered between Presidents Obama and Putin, Chairman Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, by Indian multinational food and pharmaceutical company – Venky’s.
Unfortunately for Venky’s, experiments on animals are not seen as conducive to marketing trends in their native country. So it was suggested they invest their research finance, on this occasion, in one of their foreign offshoots. Their expert knowledge of Blackburn made them suggest the bus station development because of its proximity to the town centre. This building site also has an underground river and used to have two breweries nearby. Cockroaches are known to like beer and paved flooring, which also used to adorn the site.
It was suggested to leaders of the nuclear nations how a nuclear war would cost a lot of money and lead to destruction of not only the human race, but every other life form on this planet. Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un countered this by saying he believed cockroaches were the only species of life which could survive nuclear oblivion. This was lambasted by other world leaders as an unsubstantiated myth. So Mr Kim challenged the rest of the world to disprove his theory. This led to an agreement to conduct a scientific experiment.
Unfortunately for Blackburn’s bus users, world peace must come before work on their new bus station can be resumed.
Due to the top secret nature of this experiment, reporting restrictions cannot be lifted and the Official Secrets Act remains in place. So don’t expect any statements from the council or building contractors over building progress until the research has been concluded.
Daisyfield Mill’s Wartime Secrets Surface
Posted by Roving Mick on May 1, 2015
Recently released Ministry of Defence files reveal surprising information about the role Daisyfield Mill played during the Second World War.
Daisyfield Mill’s part in Hitler’s downfall
It appears the former Granada TV studio and base of LE Training – codenamed ‘Plantation’ – was used as a secret torpedo manufacturing plant. This was under its guise as a flour mill.
The decision to manufacture torpedoes in Blackburn came about for a number of reasons. Seaports such as Liverpool and Glasgow were far too dangerous places to base munitions factories, due to heavy German bombing. Blackburn remained relatively free of air attacks throughout the duration of hostilities. Even the building of a dummy ROF, near the real plant, hardly tempted Germany’s Luftwaffe.
Daisyfield Mill was chosen due to its ideal location in between the railway and Leeds-Liverpool canal. Materials would be delivered here by train and then finished torpedoes would be floated down the canal to Liverpool, disguised as barges.
Due to the top secret nature of activities in the mill, very few signs remain of the role ‘Operation Plantation’ played in this country’s defence and subsequent victory. There are four stone pillars at the entrances to the mill. These are reputed to be four torpedoes encased in concrete which went missing during the war.
But the sharp-eyed historian only has to cross the canal to find tell-tale signs of what really happened in those troubled times. Woolwich Street, appropriately named, can still be found. But Ordnance Street and Artillery Street are well hidden – like the wartime secrets of Daisyfield Mill.
The Bureau of Blackburn
Posted by Roving Mick on April 5, 2015
Blackburn Town Centre’s oldest building is the Grade 2 listed church of St John the Evangelist. Built in 1788, you can see a potted history of Blackburn’s 19th century movers and shakers by looking around its graveyard. But those people who welded Blackburn’s culture from the past are about to be wedded to our culture of the present and future.
A new arts centre is gradually taking shape in the old church. To be known as ‘The Bureau, Centre For The Arts’. It was the brainchild of Claire Tymon from ‘Blackburn Is Open’, the town’s regenerative agency, set up to put unused space in the town centre back into use. This followed the Citizen’s Advice Bureau moving from St John’s across to the library. It was CAB’s connection with St John’s church which brought about this idea for the arts centre’s new name. St John’s itself is a fascinating concept of Blackburn’s past and present. You are immediately reminded this was a church when your attention is captured by sun shining through its beautiful stained glass windows. Another legacy of former ecclesiastical days is its excellent acoustic quality.
The Bureau is setting up as a Community Interest Company, and Alex Martindale is one of the directors. He said the Bureau will be split up into rooms. These will be hired out to artists, exhibitions will be held and a corridor gallery will be created. The centre is allowed to hold twelve events a year where alcohol can be consumed on the premises. This will mean one-off monthly events will be organised. Plans are also afoot to host a beer festival in the building. This will showcase local brewers, including Three B’s and Hopstar.
Alex expects funding for the arts centre to come from the Arts Council of England, Council and Lottery grants. There has also been interest from commercial organisations to pay to use space and equipment. The building is also available for hire. Work on the centre is progressing slowly, due to it being a new venture. But Alex says its board of directors want everything planned properly and carried out correctly.
Activities are already taking place on a regular basis. Blackburn Printfest will be holding a two day celebration of exhibitions, workshops, performances and print fairs. This takes place on 15th & 16th May. Art Space is a monthly meet up for creatives, held every third Thursday. Drink & Draw hold classes every second Thursday. They have a full screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with live models in costume, to sketch alongside. There is a dress code for this event – Drag! This takes place on Thursday 9th April between 6:30-9:30pm and costs £5.
Alex says he wants the Bureau to become a fully-fledged arts centre, with studios and regular events taking place. Information can be found by emailing them: info@bureaublackburn.co.uk or by visiting their website: http://bureaublackburn.co.uk
You’re a Bast**d Referee!
Posted by Roving Mick on March 1, 2015
Blackburn Rovers hold a few football records, but here is one of their funniest.
Rovers may hold the unique distinction of hosting England international matches on three different home grounds in the 19th century. These were at East Lancs Cricket Club’s Alexandra Meadows, Leamington Road, round the corner and of course our beloved current home ground of Ewood Park.
But the international match which causes most merriment was the first one at the Meadows. On the 26th of February 1881 a crowd of 4,200 gathered at Alexandra Meadows, temporary home of Blackburn Rovers, to watch England play Wales in a friendly international. Both Hargreaves brothers and James Brown from Rovers were in the England team.
The ground was covered in snow and slush, a factor which was the main reason blamed for the Welsh gaining an unexpected 1-0 victory. No doubt many disappointed England supporters would have vented their ire at the match officials, keeping up a tradition we see all the time these days.
But the match referee would have been used to the usual insult shouted in his direction. His was the wonderfully named Segar Richard Bastard, who hailed from Bow in London.
It probably wasn’t a good idea to question Segar’s parentage, he was a practising solicitor when not playing football and other sports. He also played the beautiful game at international level himself – just once for England – before refereeing. He was also in appropriate surroundings at the East Lancs ground, having played for Essex at county cricket level. Segar also liked a flutter and would be in good company with today’s footballers as he was one of the first to have owned a racehorse.
At least we can dispel the popular myth of Segar being the inspiration behind some of the chants directed towards referees. These didn’t start until well after his death in 1921. But we can say the referee of the first ever England international home match, held outside London, really was a Bastard.
Ollie’s Ender Bender
Posted by Roving Mick on February 1, 2015
Ollie’s last stand
During a recent holiday in Malta, Sylvia my girlfriend and I visited its capital, Valletta.
We had a look around the harbour and climbed a steep gradient to pass the Carmelite church with its famous dome. But continuing up the same road leads you to a non-religious building which has become a place of pilgrimage in its own right. It was Sylvia who spotted this place, after various attempts were made to find a suitable watering hole. I wasn’t even sure about going in at first, but she was up for a beer.
Simply called ‘The Pub’, it is where the great British actor and hell-raiser, Oliver Reed, finished off life’s last great session. Perhaps the most fitting name for his demise, at least Ollie can say he died in ‘The Pub’ – exactly where he, and many more of us, would have wanted to draw our last breath.
Ollie was only 61 when he died in The Pub on May 2nd 1999. He called in during a break from filming ‘Gladiator’. This multi Oscar winning epic ended up being dedicated to him following his death. Ollie bumped into the Royal Navy crew, from HMS Cumberland, who were on shore leave, and had a great time. The landlord of The Pub said the last round he bought was eight beers, 12 double rums and half a bottle of whisky.
Sylvia and I were much more sedate during our visit to this hostelry. First person we bumped into was Steve; a Malta based Hells Angel, from Preston. He used to frequent Blackburn’s much missed Vulcan Hotel. He rode off into the sunset and few more came in. We had a collection of people from both sides of the Irish border, a German who spoke really good English and a Scouser called Phil.
Like Blackburn’s Quarryman’s, The Pub is only a small hostelry, which creates a good atmosphere when only a few punters are inside. There were only a dozen in when we had our afternoon session here. Prices are a little on the steep side at over €3 for a pint of Malta’s local beer. But with the euro at its low point, it wasn’t bad value at the time.
We enjoyed our afternoon in this appropriately named Valletta building. No doubt its reputation will grow and it will become one of the top attractions to visit in Malta. As Oliver Reed famously said: “You meet a better class of people in pubs”.
What the Dickens: Blackburn’s old Cotton Exchange?
Posted by Roving Mick on January 6, 2015
So many happy days of my childhood were spent watching films in the old cinema on King William Street. I even remember the last film I saw there before it closed as a picture place in 2005. For the record it was ‘Lord of the Rings’. Sadly there has been no wizard round the corner to save this magnificent Grade 2 listed building from growing dereliction.
The Cotton Exchange and Newsroom opened in 1865. As its name suggests, it was built to serve the town’s cotton traders and manufacturers. It was meant to be two wings and a central tower, but only one wing and the tower was completed. On the bright side, in 1869 one of Britain’s greatest writers, Charles Dickens, gave his last public reading performance in the Exchange.
In 1918 it became a full-time cinema, known as the Exchange Picture Hall. At one point it had a seating capacity of 1,500. But various alterations, changes of owners and names of the venue, more than halved this capacity. By the time it closed, due to the opening of the new Vue multiplex cinema, it had been split into five screen rooms, the largest seating less than 300.
Since the closure, a restaurant, dodgy bar and now a barber’s has used the lower part of the building. Sadly it has remained empty upstairs. Unfortunately it is coming up to ten years of idleness for the majority of this building. So it’s about time some use was found to bring it back to life and stop the onset of further dereliction.
Blackburn town centre has many empty premises, so retail use can be ruled out. So can office use, due to the scale of development required. But the building has been used for leisure purposes for over 100 years and this looks the likeliest future outcome. All sorts of rumours have been banded around about it becoming a nightclub or a scaled down theatre. But one of the larger pub chains taking over is probably the most realistic venture. But not in Blackburn in the current economic climate.
At the moment the best we can do is keep the discussions going about the old Cotton Exchange, not letting people forget about it. It has been ten years since the curtain went down on the silver screen. Hopefully this beautiful building may still one day resume its place as one of Blackburn’s most visited venues.
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