GRAHAM Hawkins, one of the stars of the Blackburn Rovers side which won the Third Division title in 1975, has passed away. He was aged 70.

Hawkins joined Rovers from Preston North End in June 1974 in a summer of massive change overseen by manager Gordon Lee.

The centre-back went on to be a virtual ever present as the club won its first piece of major silverware since its Second Division title success in 1939.

Hawkins, along with team-mates Roger Jones and Andy Burgin, was named in the 1974-75 PFA Team of the Year.

He went on to make 121 appearances for Rovers, scoring four goals, including one on his home debut, before signing for Port Vale, his final club of a professional career which started with Wolverhampton Wanderers, in 1978.

Hawkins went on to manage his beloved Wolves, leading his boyhood club back to the First Division at the first attempt in 1983.

But he always held a special place for Rovers in his heart and that much was clear when he returned to Ewood Park in May 2015 to celebrate the championship-winning teams from 1975 and 1995.

Hawkins, who appeared on stage alongside Lee, said: “I remember when we were coming toward the end of the season I thought, ‘we’ve got one hell of a chance’.

“And of course the famous game was when we won 2-0 at home to Chesterfield to seal promotion.

“We then drew 0-0 with Wrexham, but as it ended up, it was enough for us to win the championship and the rest is history.

“When you win the title and win promotion, after all the trials and tribulations that have gone before it, and the fans join in and come on the pitch, that’s what it’s all about.”

Hawkins had bravely fought against low grade Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

After being diagnosed in August 2009 he raised funds for the cancer unit at Shrewsbury’s Royal Hospital, where he had undergone his chemotherapy treatment, and Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital.  

He is survived by wife Jane, sons Ian and Richard, and grandchildren Lauren, Amy, Holly and Louisa.