IT was 24 years ago today when Blackburn Rovers won promotion to the inaugural Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Leicester City in the Second Division play-off final.

More than 30,000 Rovers fans made the trip to a boiling hot Wembley to see their club end its 26-year exile from the top flight of English football.

On the stroke of half-time David Speedie went down in the box under a challenge from Steve Walsh and referee George Courtney, who three years earlier had awarded Crystal Palace a controversial penalty in their play-off final second-leg victory over Rovers, pointed to the spot.

Former Foxes striker Mike Newell did the rest, keeping his cool in the blistering heat to send Carl Muggleton the wrong way from 12 yards.

Newell missed another penalty late on, but it mattered little, with Kenny Dalglish’s side swapping their yellow changed shirts for the famous blue and white halves before receiving the trophy.