Nathan Blake will always have a special place in the hearts of some disabled Rovers fans.

For it was the Welsh international who scored the winning goal in an FA Cup third round tie at Anfield on January 10th 2000 - the day the new Blackburn Rovers Disabled Supporters minibus made its maiden journey.

Since then, the bus has undertaken 287 trips, from Dundee to Portsmouth and Blackpool to Hull, and covered some 45,525 miles!

It now also travels to home Reserve games at Leigh Sports Village.

Rovers purchased the multi-purpose minibus after receiving a £20,000 fans' fair play award, which was given to the club through an FA Premier League scheme. Rovers received the cash prize on the proviso that it would be used for a community-based initiative.

The bus is named 'Colin', in memory of the late Colin Barcley, whose efforts helped the dream of having a bus become a reality. Sadly, Colin died just days before the inaugural trip.

Terry Kennedy, a long-time volunteer driver, recalls: "There was sometimes the added bonus of seeing places en route that were unplanned - such as Windsor Castle and parking up outside Harrods trying to find our way out of London!"

Rovers' Disability Liaison Officer, Christine Peacock, said: "We are grateful to all our drivers over the years, who have given their time voluntarily.

"Thanks also to the drivers' assistants, the Disabled Supporters Club for arranging the Away Travel, our fans who continue to support it and the club for helping to purchase and maintain it."

If you are interested in travelling to away matches, please contact the club's new Away Travel co-ordinator Eric Riach on 01254 607241.

Here's to the next 10 years…

Pictured - the keys for the minibus were presented by Rovers' managing director Tom Finn to the Disabled Supporters Club ahead of a game against Swindon Town at Ewood Park in February 2000.