In his final season at Ewood Park, he helped fulfil chairman Jack Walker's dream as Blackburn were promoted in time for the inaugural Premier League season, although he played fewer games that campaign following the arrival of new signings including David Speedie and Mike Newell, and then came the summer signing of Alan Shearer. Garner had scored a total of 168 goals in the league and a total of 192 in all competitions - which remains a club record more than quarter of a century later.