Alan Shearer with the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Faryad Hussain, Councillor Phil Riley and other dignitaries at the opening of 'Alan Shearer Way'
Published Tuesday 15 December 2015 at 14:00
Blackburn Rovers hero Alan Shearer was welcomed back to Blackburn with Darwen this week to officially open the new road named after him.
Shearer, who scored 34 goals in Rovers’ charge to the Premier League title in 1995, met with Blackburn with Darwen Council dignitaries to unveil Alan Shearer Way – just across from Rovers’ Ewood Park ground.
The country’s press were out in force for the ceremony on Monday, December 14 after Blackburn with Darwen Council chose to recognise the key role Shearer played in bringing the league title to Blackburn and to acknowledge what a great advocate for the town he has been since.
The new stretch of road is part of the Pennine Reach regeneration project and now bears Shearer’s name. The Match of the Day pundit, who scored 130 goals in 171 appearances for the club, was delighted to receive the honour.
He said:
It’s a great day and I’m very honoured to have the road named after me. Never did I think in 1992 when I signed here when the Premier League started that one day I’d have a road named after me but it is here and I’m delighted.
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Phil Riley, made a speech at the unveiling.
He said:
Rovers’ title win was a great achievement and made people across the world take notice of the town. Personally, it was one of the highlights of my life!
The scale of the achievement cannot be understated. Only four others clubs – all big city teams – have lifted the Premier League trophy, so for a small town team in East Lancashire to win the title was a fantastic achievement.
Naming the road after Alan is a way of recognising him for being a key player in that team and reminding visitors to our Borough of our links to him.