National Hunt Racing, Triathlete, Blackburn fan, Owners Group

Joined May 2011
488 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
18 year Old @CobdenHarry winning his first Grade 1 on my Dad’s (@billrover) horse Irving in the Fighting Fifth for @PFNicholls at @NewcastleRaces, what a racing memory, what a horse!
Thriller! Irving denies Apple’s Jade at @NewcastleRaces and wins his second Fighting Fifth, on this day in 2016 for @PFNicholls. The 18-year-old jockey riding his first Grade 1 winner? @CobdenHarry! 💪
1
11
5,653
Have @Rovers silenced Ismaël this week @_ElliottJackson? #rovers
1
2,654
Dave Whittaker retweeted
Dear @Rovers. Banning the local paper is never a good look. I don’t know what’s led to this but I do know it makes you look small-minded, scared of constructive criticism, and disinterested in your fanbase - the lifeblood of the club. Fans rely heavily on the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for news, match coverage and a (good) podcast. Banning the local paper is embarrassing for your staff who live locally and who have to try to explain your decision to family, friends and neighbours. Banning the local paper is unlikely to go down well with sponsors. Banning the local paper also loses you all the support you deservedly acquired this week across the country because of the EFL’s unfair decision to order a full replay of your abandoned Ipswich game. I followed the LET coverage and they fought hard for Rovers over this injustice. So please think again. Work with the local paper. And good luck against Ipswich. #Rovers.
103
235
1,440
334,105
R.I.P. Michael O’Sullivan, such awful news 😢
1
465
Dave Whittaker retweeted
The situation at Blackburn Rovers is heart-breaking for their fans specifically but it’s also a story that carries deep concerns for many in English football. It is a story about issues with ownership, spending, recruitment and communication. It's a story about a famous, historic English club, a founding member of the Football League, which should be celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Premier League title and 150th anniversary of its foundation. But instead finds itself drifting, given brief hope by a good manager, and then crushing disappointment when he quits. There could be a myriad reasons behind John Eustace’s departure from Rovers to Derby County: whether he couldn’t work with the Venky’s structure; the owners were too distant in every sense; signings were insufficient quality to replace the quality sold; he wanted to return to Derby, the club where he finished his playing career in 2015; and/or family reasons. Whatever the reasons, it’s an indictment of the situation that Eustace would rather be at a club fighting relegation from the Championship than a club in the play-off position. It’s fact that Venky’s have lost another capable head coach (after Jon Dahl Tomasson). And the fans lose out. It’s also fact that Venky’s, a combination of naïve and inept, have lost a lot of money on Rovers (between £150m and £200m according to reports). Maybe they are simply holding on to the dream of returning to the Premier League. At the very least, Rovers supporters deserve proper explanation of the situation by the board and also clarification of the owners’ ambitions, if any. There have been previous protests against the Venky’s, whose main business in India is poultry. A chicken was released on the Ewood pitch during a crunch game with Wigan Athletic in 2012 and again versus Burnley in 2014 (it’s not known whether it was the same chicken). At the very least, there are bound to be critical chants heard at The Hawthorns where Rovers play tomorrow, and particularly at Ewood against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday. “We’re not a protest group,” says Katie Hull of @RoversTrust affiliated to the @WeAreTheFSA. “But from looking at social media, I wouldn't be surprised if there were protests on Saturday, even banners. We’ve had 14 years of this. We just can't sit back and allow things to get any worse.” She has a message for the Venky’s. “You haven’t been to the club in 10 years now. Why do you still have us? You are causing more heartache to us. Do the right thing and sell the club. Think about the fans, they want change, they can’t cope with it any more. Think of Jack (Walker, fan and owner who passed away in 2000). Jack would be absolutely heartbroken if he’d seen what’s happened to the club he loved.” Only 15,141 turned up for Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Wolves, who brought their sold-out allocation of 4,200. “We get a lot of stick about attendance,” Hull adds. “That is primarily down to 14 years that people don't want to attend because of the ownership. “We are actively trying to get the club sold. People have enquired. It's not going to be an easy process. First of all they’ve got to agree to sell it.” The Trust even fears their club could die if the Venky’s don’t sell. “There is that real possibility," Hull says. "They are living on transfer sales (Adam Wharton and Sammie Szmodics for £27m last year). Look at other clubs in our league (with ownership issues), even Derby went through it in the past. Sheffield Wednesday are currently going through it. “We’ve had so many years of doom and gloom and this year marks a massive year for Rovers: 30 years from the Premier League title, 150 years since we were founded, and we are continually watching our club going on a downward spiral. Sammie Szmodics kept us up last year.” And yet Eustace’s good management kept them challenging for promotion this season. Rovers Trust also has a message to Eustace. “Be open to the fans,” Hull pleads. “I’m not expecting him to tell everything, because he won’t be able to for legal reasons. The fans deserve something even if it's a statement. It's hit people like a ton of bricks. The fans have supported him from day one. Fans are frustrated because when he came to the club, fans had that bit of hope. We felt he was a really good appointment. He talked about togetherness. We tried to come together and support the lads through thick and thin, and he’s simply departed with no explanation. It’s turned very sour.” Yet Hull understands that internal club issues must have made life difficult for Eustace. “100% understand. It’s not a nice environment to be at.” Blackburn’s board points to “significant investment” in the squad but they’ve not replaced quality with quality. The Trust also has a message for the EFL. “Do something about it. Don’t sit back and make no statement. Get someone involved. How can the EFL allow families or ownership to exist and ruin football clubs. Because it has ruined us.” Rovers aren’t ruined but clearly the ownership model and structure is failing the club. It’s another reason why so many fans are supportive of the Independent Regulator arriving later this year. “The Football (Governance) Bill is going to be amazing, a great thing when it comes in. But for us that will be too late.” It depends who Blackburn bring in to succeed Eustace. The sadness is they have lost a good head coach – again. And a famous club continues to drift. “Supporting Rovers comes with a health hazard,” Hull sighs. #Rovers
171
439
1,591
507,429
Have @Rovers messed up another January transfer window? 🙈
1
117
Dave Whittaker retweeted
I went to Blackburn Rovers, because I wanted to write about diminishing expectations, repeated cycles and empty spaces. Oh, and 14 years of the Venky's. inews.co.uk/sport/football/b…
20
58
245
138,933
I bet #HuwEdwards will be trying to watch the Villa match tonight
82
Dave Whittaker retweeted
14 Jul 2024
The moment it died… After our 73rd min equaliser, we had started to play it around for a period of sustained possession. Then for some reason, Walker throws the ball way back to Stones, who passes it back to Pickford, who long balls it out for a goal kick to Spain. #EURO2024
847
1,310
16,956
4,258,909
Dave Whittaker retweeted
HE'S DONE IT!!!! MARK CAVENDISH TAKES A RECORD BREAKING 35TH TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE VICTORY 🇮🇲🚀 #TDF2024
281
1,844
11,769
995,404
World Class well done @MarkCavendish 🚴🏻‍♂️
HE'S DONE IT!!!! MARK CAVENDISH TAKES A RECORD BREAKING 35TH TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE VICTORY 🇮🇲🚀 #TDF2024
1
84
I mean this is what happens when you don’t player Wharton #england #EURO2024 #southgateout
2
76
Dave Whittaker retweeted
"We don't have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips" - Gareth Southgate 🗣️ "I don't believe that. I believe Adam Wharton can play that" - @IanWright0#Euro2024 | #DENENG
91
123
1,239
767,985
GET ADAM WHARTON ON @England #EURo2024
112
Why is @SkyBet the only ones not paying out??
116
Great interview with the man of the moment @SamSzmodics youtu.be/Uj_8hRTS5E0?si=82ec… on @NoTippyTappyPod 🫡💙🤍

1
54
Dave Whittaker retweeted
I can't believe we've gone from having Kaminski in goal to this rotten fruit 🍐 Some of the mistakes he's made this season 👇🏻 and that's only some of it.
74
42
526
985,770
Dave Whittaker retweeted
⏱️ Full-time: ⚪️ #LUFC 0-1 #Rovers 🌹 A MASSIVE WIN!!! #LEEvROV 🔵⚪️
140
211
1,597
230,424
What a start to #grandnational day! What a win for @Rovers!! Absolutely class! Super Sammie @SamSzmodics does it again! 💙🤍
3
157
16/34 (47%) runners of the #National are trained by @WillieMullinsNH and @gelliott_racing! Wonder when @BHAHorseracing changes some of the rules for this? #GrandNational2024 @itvracing @RacingTV 🇮🇪
57