Community Shield

Barry Illsley (right) receives the cheque from Rovers’ managing director Tom Finn,
accompanied by then RHB chairman John Shepherd (left),
and secretary of the LFA David Burgess.

Radio Hospitals Blackburn, the pioneering station that has broadcast Rovers matches for half-a-century,
tuned in to a £2,500 cash windfall from the Blackburn Rovers in 2005.
Rovers had teamed up with the Lancashire Football Association to donate a Community Shield grant
to RHB.

It was back in 1958 that Rovers became the first club in the country to establish a broadcasting link
with the local hospital service.
The station was the brainchild of two enterprising gentlemen, Eddie Ellis and Bill Cunliffe, who initially
decided to collect music requests from patients in three Blackburn hospitals before moving into
football reporting. And thanks to the efforts of sports team Stuart Wearden and Barry Illsley,
the service is still going strong today.

Longest-serving member Barry, who received the cheque from Rovers’ managing director Tom Finn
at the home game against Manchester United, is in his 45th season of reporting on games from
Ewood Park. He said: “I have worked with Radio Hospitals since 1962 and, at Rovers, since 1964.
I used to interview some of the players at training under Eddie Quigley’s management during the 60s
and it has all just developed over the years since then. “The donation was a very pleasant surprise
and I’m sure the money will be put to good use in terms of keeping our equipment up-to-date.”

John Shepherd, who had been chairman of RHB for four years at the time, said: “We are very happy
that Rovers have nominated us for this grant. Like all charities, we always need money in order to
survive and progress. “We can now fully upgrade our computer system and look to start broadcasting
on a 24-hour basis through the Myriad System.”
Incredibly, Radio Rovers, which was launched at Ewood Park on October 30th 1993, was also the UK’s
first football club radio station!

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