Ininix Blackburn Rovers Supporters - There is only one Jack Walker

There is only one Jack Walker

Whenever supporters remember the glorious days of lifting the premiership trophy. The contributions of one man - Jack Walker will never leave our memories.

Jack worked as a sheet metal worker and a conscript craftsman in his early days. He took over his father's steelworks with his brother Fred Walker in 1950, and expanded the business. In 1990, he made his fortune by selling the business to British Steel for £360m.

Jack Walker
(19 May 1929 - 17 August 2000)

"No tribute from us, no matter how long or how detailed, could ever do justice to Mr Walker's achievements here at Ewood Park."

"Jack Walker did more than any other individual in the last century to enhance the self-confidence and the prosperity of his home town."

"He was probably the best benefactor football has ever had. It was an honour to know him. He was good company and very generous and he has certainly left his mark."

Robert Coar,
Club Chairman

Jack Straw,
Blackburn's Member of Parliment

Gordon Taylor,
Chief Executive of the Professional Football Association

"He was a fantastic servant of the game and the achievements of Blackburn over the 90s are testament to the man. Without Jack Walker the club would not have reached the heights it did."

"He will be remembered as Mr Blackburn, and rightly so....There will never be another Jack Walker in football."

"His contribution to the life of the town in which he grew up and where, through his hard work, he found prosperity, has been tremendous... many others have cause to be grateful for his generosity towards their projects."

Steve Double ,
FA spokesman

Gramme Souness,
Club Manager

Rev Alan Chesters,
Bishop of Blackburn

"He followed Rovers all his life and was a bread and butter fan who luckily had a lot of money. But to the fans, that didn't matter much. They loved Jack because he loved the club."

"It's a massive blow. You can't put into words what he's done for the club, not just from a financial point of view but his personality and the enthusiasm he brought to the place."

"The word benefactor could have been invented for Jack Walker - he gave pride to the town of Blackburn... Football has lost a true friend."

Simon Garner,
Rovers Legend

Derek Fazackerley,
Former Rovers Player & Coach

Alan Shearer,
Former Rovers Striker

"You cannot help but admire the man. If ever one person lifted a football club up by its bootlaces it was him. Kenny Dalglish might have been the manager at the time Blackburn won the league but it was Jack Walker more than anyone else who won it."

"Blackburn Rovers was his life and athough they are great rivals of ours whenever something like this happens it put things into perspective."

"He was a great benefactor to football and Rovers would not be where they are today without Jack's kindness. He loved the game. He had a great belief and faith in football which was why he injected so much of his personal worth."

Alex Ferguson,
Manchester United Manager

Stan Ternett,
Burnley Manager

Bobby Robson,
Newcastle United

"I remember seeing him drive to the training ground once in a 1.1 Fiesta Popular. At first I thought it was the groundsman. Then, when I realised who it was, I thought 'What is a guy with all that money doing driving something like that?'"

"He knew everyone right down to the bag man. Everyone interested him and Jack was known to everyone. He transformed the place into what it is today."

"He was like a father figure to me and all the other players. I've played under some of the best managers in the world, alongside some of the best players this country has ever seen, and that was all down to Jack."

Tim Sherwood,
Rovers Captain

Tony Gale,
Former Rovers Defender

Jason Wilcox,
Former Rovers Winger

"When I suffered a head injury at Crystal Palace and was stretchered off, my wife Denise was at home listening to the game on the radio.
"Within 10 minutes Jack rang Denise to tell her I was going to be all right. That was typical of him."

"Without him Rovers would not have been able to develop one of the most advanced stadiums in the country and enjoy the heady success that brought the first Premiership title ever to Blackburn."

"As previous sponsors of the football club, CIS would like to express its sadness at the loss of such a kind-hearted and generous man"

Colin Hendry ,
Fomer Rovers Defender

Gearald mac Griogair,
Club Sponsor - Time Computers
Public Relation Manager

Former Club Sponsor - CIS

"There is only one Jack Walker"

	In 1991, Jack bought over the club Blackburn Rovers, and convinced former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish to join him. The Scotsman, being given Jack's backing, broke the Bristish player transfer record twice, signing Alan Shearer from Southampton for £3.3m and Chris Sutton from Norwich for £5m. Jack's money were also well-spent on bringing in Chelsea defender Graeme Le Saux, QPR striker Roy Wegerle and Norwich midfielder Tim Sherwood. In the season 1994/95, Jack Walker lifted the prestigous Premiership Trophy with his stars. Jack has not only rebuilt Ewood Park into a 31,000 capacity stadium, but also transformed the youth academy and training facilities at Brockhall into one of the finest in the country.
			On 17 April 2000, a news report broke the hearts of the Blackburn Rovers faithful. Jack Walker who had been suffering from cancer, died at the age of 71 in Jersey. Even when he died, Jack Walker ensured Blackburn had a future. He set up a trust fund which diverts all profits from his offshore business into his beloved club. Jack Walker gave his 1,400 airline staff a share in the company, which they would be able to receive when it floats on the stock market. He also made a series of cash donations to a charity Sargent Cancer Care for Children dedicated to helping people under 21 fight cancer, leukaemia or Hodgkin's Disease. We recommend a book titled "The Club that Jack built", well-researched with interviews from players, fans and people in football. The book captures the feelings of the supporters and will serve as a lasting tribute to a great man.

	Tribute to Jack Walker