The Rovers Return

Tommy Briggs heads a goal against Charlton, December 14th 1957.

In my mind, there is probably no better name for a northern footballer than Tommy Briggs.

A true Rovers great and yet one that few Rovers fans will have heard of.

Briggs holds the record for the most amount of goals scored in one game, when he scored seven for Rovers in an 8-2 victory over Bristol Rovers 55 years ago today in the 1954/55  season…

From givemefootball.com:

Blackburn Rovers’ Tommy Briggs scores seven goals – six in a row in 57 minutes – in an 8-3 thrashing of Bristol Rovers, who lead twice in the game! 

Blackburn’s penalty-taker Bobby Langton gave Tommy a hand to become the best-ever Second Division individual scorer when he steps aside to let him take a spot-kick when he is on six. 

Formerly with Grimsby Town, Birmingham City and Coventry City, Bobby played 194 games and scored 140 goals for Rovers before returning to Grimsby Town in 1958.

He finished his career at Glentoran as player-manager and died on 10th February 1984. 

During his career he achieved numerous records such as the being First Division top scorer in 1950 (35 goals for Grimsby Town) and 1955 (35 goals for Blackburn Rovers). 

After retiring from the game he lived in Grimsby and worked as a butcher. The record score by one man in a match remains that of Joe Payne of Luton Town in a 1936 12-0 hammering of – Bristol Rovers.

One-hundred-and-forty goals in 194 games. That is an amazing return! Let’s put that into context. Scoring at that rate, Simon Garner, the club’s record scorer and absolute hero, would have hit just under 350 goals in his 484 appearances!

As well as a Rovers legend and record-holder, Briggs, whose Dad was a First World War veteran, is a real unsung hero.

Tommy Briggs, we salute you.

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