'Thank you for the memories, Tony'

[Clive Lawrence] It's been an emotional week for Blackburn Rovers - a week that seemed to hold both relief and heartbreak in the same breath. In the club's 150th season, when relegation had hovered like a shadow for so long, Wednesday night finally brought the points needed to stay in the Championship. And then, only hours later, came the news that broke so many hearts: the passing of one of Rovers' most beloved sons, Tony Parkes.

Losing Tony has hit me hard, both personally and professionally. He wasn't just a club legend to me - he was a friend. We lived in the same village, and our daily routines often crossed on long walks.

We'd stop, talk football, set the world right for a few minutes, and if we bumped into each other the next day, we'd happily do it all again. Tony would join me on BBC Radio Lancashire for match commentaries, preferring the touchline to the press box, but always bringing insight that fans valued. When Tony spoke, people listened.

Players and managers come and go. Some leave as heroes, others less so. But few stay the course - steady, loyal, unshakeable.