Arthur Blackburn (footballer) Arthur Blackburn (footballer) Arthur Blackburn (1877 – after 1901) was an English footballer who played as a full-back with Blackburn Rovers and Southampton around the turn of the 20th century. He was the elder brother of England international footballer, Fred Blackburn. Blackburn was born in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire and first joined his home-town club, Blackburn Rovers, in March 1895. After three years of reserve-team football, he spent the 1898–99 season with Northamptonshire club Wellingborough playing in the Midland League. He returned to Blackburn in the summer of 1899; by now his brother Fred had become established at outside-left.
History of Blackburn Rovers F.C. to the position of Director of Football at the end of the championship season, and handed over the reins to his assistant Ray Harford (1945–2003). Alan Shearer was sold to hometown club Newcastle United for a then world record fee of £15million in the summer of 1996. Rovers failed to win in their opening 10 games of the 1996–97 Premiership and Harford resigned. They were relegated in 1998-99. They were promoted back to the Premier League in 2000–01. In 2001–02 they won their first-ever League Cup by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. In 2004–05 they