Blackburn Are Alright, Jack
1994-95 Premier League title
Blackburn hadn't been champions of England since World War I. Now, backed by Jack Walker's millions, Kenny Dalglish's team mounted a genuine challenge to Manchester United. But the battle for the title was destined to go to the wire.
In the most dramatic climax of the Premier League era, Blackburn were crowned champions despite losing to a last-minute goal to Liverpool at Anfield. United needed to beat West Ham at Upton Park to overhaul them but, despite pounding the Hammers' defence for most of the game, they could only manage a 1-1 draw.
Key Games
Blackburn 2-4 Manchester United (Premier League, October 23, 1994)
United earned a precious win over their title rivals in a heated encounter at Ewood Park. Blackburn were leading 1-0 before a controversial decision at the end of the first half saw Henning Berg sent off for a foul on Lee Sharpe in the box. Eric Cantona converted the penalty, but replays showed the defender had played the ball first. Reduced to 10 men, Blackburn couldn't hold Ferguson's men at bay in the second half as United ran out comfortable winners.
Blackburn 1-0 Newcastle (Premier League, May 8, 1995)
It looked as though nerves had begun to set in at Ewood Park as Blackburn closed in on the title. Defeats to Manchester City and West Ham had prompted Alex Ferguson to question their mental strength, but a resilient performance against Newcastle proved Rovers were made of the right stuff. Not surprisingly, Alan Shearer scored Blackburn's goal, but it was Tim Flowers who was the real hero, pulling off a string of magnificent saves.
Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn (Premier League, May 14, 1995)
Blackburn lost this match to the last kick of the game, but seconds later, their fans were celebrating. The news that Manchester United had only managed a draw had filtered through to Anfield, and despite Jamie Redknapp's last-minute free-kick, Rovers were champions. Blackburn had taken the lead in the first half through Shearer, before John Barnes ensured a nervous finale with an equaliser on 64 minutes. But United failed to take their chances against West Ham, handing the title to Blackburn. The man who had made it all possible, Jack Walker, shed a tear as captain Tim Sherwood raised the Premier League trophy aloft.
Key Off-field Moments
The Signing Of Chris Sutton
Blackburn smashed the British transfer record in July 1994 when they signed Chris Sutton from Norwich for £5million. His partnership with Alan Shearer, dubbed 'the SAS', provided the firepower for Blackburn's title bid. Between them, they plundered 49 Premier League goals, Sutton netting 15 of them.
Jack Walker Falls To 18th In The Rich List
In January 1995, the Sunday Times reported that Jack Walker had slipped from 16th to 18th in their Rich List of Britain's wealthiest people, after sinking £60m into Blackburn Rovers.
Fergie's Devon Loch Remark
Following their goalless draw against Leeds in April, Alex Ferguson claimed that Blackburn would have to finish "like Devon Loch" for United to stand a chance of winning the title. The remark did the trick, as Rovers stuttered with defeats to Manchester City and West Ham. But when Fergie suggested they might not have the bottle to become champions, it sparked a furious response from Tim Flowers in a TV interview after the Newcastle game.
Key Figures
Tim Sherwood
The Blackburn skipper was one of Kenny Dalglish's first signings for the club, arriving from Norwich in February 1992, and the influential midfielder played a leading role in their Premier League victory. One apocryphal story says that when Dalglish tried to sign Zinedine Zidane, Jack Walker asked him, "Why do you want Zidane when we've got Tim Sherwood?"
Alan Shearer
The Geordie centre-forward said he was going to celebrate winning the Premier League by "creosoting the fence". Shearer had scored 34 goals that season after striking up a profitable understanding with new recruit Chris Sutton.
Colin Hendry
Hendry had missed most of the previous season through injury, but he was a tower of strength at the back for Rovers throughout their title challenge. For the rugged Scottish defender, success must have tasted all the sweeter, having been a Blackburn player in the dark days of the old Second Division during his first spell at the club.
What Happened Next
Dalglish stepped aside at the end of season to become director of football and his right-hand man Ray Harford took over as manager. But under Harford, Blackburn couldn't retain their title as United regained their crown.
Their Champions League campaign, meanwhile, was a total disaster. They finished bottom of their group, with Graeme Le Saux and David Batty even coming to blows on the pitch during a 3-0 defeat at Spartak Moscow. Shearer missed much of the season with injury, and left for Newcastle at the end of it.
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