Adam becomes a Rover

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longsidetrumpet
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Adam becomes a Rover

Post by longsidetrumpet » Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:16 pm

Fifty years ago today, goalkeeper Adam Blacklaw joined Blackburn Rovers from Burnley for a fee of £15,000 (ref: today's Lancashire Telegraph)

Lord Beamish
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Lord Beamish » Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:17 pm

And his journey to the Dark Side was complete.

Silkyskills1
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Silkyskills1 » Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:21 pm

Wonder if the fan that attacked him(foolishly) on New Year's Day at their place just 7 months earlier was pleased?
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Diesel
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Diesel » Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:41 pm

Why did this happen? Why was it allowed?

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Silkyskills1 » Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:51 pm

Went to collect the ball from the 'running track' down at the Darwen End to prepare for a goal kick and some numpty from behind that goal(which was the popular end for home fans) objected to him and tried to pick a fight. Fortunately for him it didn't get that far and he was hauled off by the police. Won the game 2-0 and also the game when Ralph Coates sat on the ball inviting the opposition to come and get it. Great start to a new year.
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ClaretTony
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by ClaretTony » Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:40 pm

Silkyskills1 wrote:Wonder if the fan that attacked him(foolishly) on New Year's Day at their place just 7 months earlier was pleased?
Has he regained consciousness from Adam smacking him yet?

That was the last transfer conducted between the two clubs. Since then we signed Peter Devine who they had released and we took Andy Todd & Jay McEvekey on loan. Adam had lost his place at Burnley but I still wish he'd gone somewhere else.
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Stalbansclaret
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Stalbansclaret » Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:15 pm

I know it seems ridiculous now but when I saw this thread title I genuinely feared Pune's finest chicken vendors had stumped up the dosh for the Barstewards to sign Stoke's rotund playmaker.

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by ClaretTony » Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:39 pm

Stalbansclaret wrote:I know it seems ridiculous now but when I saw this thread title I genuinely feared Pune's finest chicken vendors had stumped up the dosh for the Barstewards to sign Stoke's rotund playmaker.
I wondered what it was before opening the thread. Interestingly we were only talking about this transfer a couple of days ago.

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Bin Ont Turf » Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:44 pm

Ha Ha, attacking Blacklaw.
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Juan Tanamera
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Juan Tanamera » Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:01 pm

My eldest brother liked to tell a story of when we were playing Spurs in the early 60's.
Every time Spuds got a corner, Bobby Smith would barge Blacklaw into the net.
After about the 3rd attempt, Adam went up to punch clear and 'accidentally' punched Smith's nose half way round his face.
Smith didn't go near Blacklaw again. :twisted:

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Funkydrummer » Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:23 pm

The best incident with Blacklaw that I remember is when we played yoonightid and someone
launched a long high ball towards our goal and Denis Law gave chase and thought he would
intimidate Blacklaw by just keeping on running towards him.

Blacklaw never took his eye off the ball, and in one smooth action, caught the ball, turned
sideways on and Law ran straight into his shoulder at full pelt. Blacklaw never flinched and Law
fell backwards like a sack of spuds, splat into the muddy goalmouth. You could clearly hear the
SPLAT as he hit the deck flat out.

Oh the memories. ;)

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Quicknick » Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:31 am

Silkyskills1 wrote:Wonder if the fan that attacked him(foolishly) on New Year's Day at their place just 7 months earlier was pleased?
Adam dispatched him. No problem. I was there.

Quicknick
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Quicknick » Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:34 am

Stalbansclaret wrote:I know it seems ridiculous now but when I saw this thread title I genuinely feared Pune's finest chicken vendors had stumped up the dosh for the Barstewards to sign Stoke's rotund playmaker.
So did I!

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by boatshed bill » Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:03 am

As a young goalkeeper I absolutely idolised Adam Blacklaw.

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by ClaretTony » Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:53 am

Juan Tanamera wrote:My eldest brother liked to tell a story of when we were playing Spurs in the early 60's.
Every time Spuds got a corner, Bobby Smith would barge Blacklaw into the net.
After about the 3rd attempt, Adam went up to punch clear and 'accidentally' punched Smith's nose half way round his face.
Smith didn't go near Blacklaw again. :twisted:
He certainly did this with a West Brom forward who thought he was up to taking him on. A cross came in and Adam went to punch with both fists. One made full contact with the ball and the other with the West Brom player who was out cold.

His best one at Spurs was the FA Cup tie in 1963. He went down to smother a ball and Terry Dyson took a kick at him. Adam got up and chased him down the pitch and I think it was the other penalty box before he caught him.
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fatboy47
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by fatboy47 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:22 am

Peter Mellor did the double punch...one on the ball and one on George Best's beak....flattened him for a good 5 minutes...the nice thing being that he was about 3 yards outside the area as well.

League Cup tie in the p*ssing rain circa 71/2.

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Buxtonclaret » Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:37 am

Remember Dennis Law bouncing off Adam at Old Trafford in the 60s, chasing a through ball.

A whole new meaning to 'Flying Forwards'. :lol:

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Silkyskills1 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:22 pm

Adam just built very quickly a reputation in the game that he wasn't to be messed with. Occasionally an opposing player would confront him much to the delight of Clarets fans who knew what the outcome would be. CT's story of the incident v Spurs in 1963 involving Terry Dyson is the most memorable,I think but in an era when 'charging' the goalie was legitimate it surely became common knowledge to leave Adam alone. He could look after himself off the pitch too as a number of naive Italians found out in 1967 in Naples.

Rowls
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Rowls » Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:27 pm

Reading the obituaries for Blacklaw a few years ago most mentioned that he was a keen amateur boxer. The tie in Naples featured heavily and included reference to him defending Potts with his fists.

It's been fun reading all these memories. Thanks everybody.

RIP Adam Blacklaw

Stan Tastic
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Stan Tastic » Tue Jul 18, 2017 2:04 pm

I saw him knock Dave Merrington out in reserve game after he'd attempted to punch a cross away.

Dave Merrington was Burnley's centre-half and was carried off on a stretcher.

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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by Juan Tanamera » Tue Jul 18, 2017 2:50 pm

ClaretTony wrote:He certainly did this with a West Brom forward who thought he was up to taking him on. A cross came in and Adam went to punch with both fists. One made full contact with the ball and the other with the West Brom player who was out cold.

His best one at Spurs was the FA Cup tie in 1963. He went down to smother a ball and Terry Dyson took a kick at him. Adam got up and chased him down the pitch and I think it was the other penalty box before he caught him.
I'd love to have been there to witness that. :lol:

cally611
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by cally611 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:15 pm

when adam blacklaw were a lad he was my dads apprentice bricklayer and my dad always said good job he could keep goal cos he was shyte at laying bricks one mans loss is another teams gain :D utc
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Re: Adam becomes a Rover

Post by ClaretTony » Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:16 pm

Juan Tanamera wrote:I'd love to have been there to witness that. :lol:
Only a fool would have taken Adam on
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