Blackburn Rovers fans are planning a moving tribute to West Ham legend Ludek Miklosko as 7,000 Hammers head north to Ewood Park in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

When West Ham lost their big Czech hero Ludek Miklosko to cancer in September, his passing was mourned at Blackburn Rovers too.

Miklosko may have been a West Ham legend but he also earned cult hero status at Blackburn by virtue of his heroics against Man United which helped Rovers seal the Premier League title back in 1995.

West Ham’s ‘big boy from near Moscow’ was like a man possessed when Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United came to Upton Park needing to win to take the title from Blackburn.

Blackburn fans plan moving tribute to West Ham legend Miklosko

The Hammers had only pride to play for while Manchester United, meanwhile, knew victory, combined with a Blackburn Rovers draw or defeat at Anfield, would secure their third consecutive title.

Rovers took an early lead at Liverpool through Alan Shearer, and when Michael Hughes put West Ham ahead against Manchester United on 31 minutes, Ferguson’s side needed a Liverpool equaliser and two goals of their own to turn things around.

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They got one when Brian McClair levelled seven minutes after half-time and were further boosted when John Barnes pegged Blackburn back midway through the second half.

All Manchester United required was a goal and the title would be theirs, only for the towering Czech in West Ham’s goal to produce a career-defining performance as he thwarted Andrew Cole and his teammates time and again.

When the final whistle went, West Ham manager Harry Redknapp’s son Jamie had scored a late Liverpool winner at Anfield, but Blackburn were crowned champions thanks to Ludo’s heroics.

Miklosko endeared himself to Rovers fans further when he regularly exclaimed he “never gets tired of talking about it”.

West Ham paid special tribute to one of their greatest in home games after his passing.

But now Blackburn fans plan a moving tribute to Miklosko as 7,000 West Ham fans head north on Saturday.

“Ludo appreciated at Ewood” says Blackburn fan planning chant

A Blackburn fan has been contacting West Ham supporter groups to inform them of plans he has suggested to sing the Ludo chant in in the first minute to honour what he meant to their club as well as West Ham.

“Blackburn Rovers fan here in peace,” David Stainton said in an email to a number of Hammers supporter groups.

“I’m sure I speak for most, if not all, Rovers fans who were there at Anfield on 14th May 1995 in saying how terribly sad we are to hear of the tragic death of Ludo, 64 is absolutely no age.

“I know how revered he was at Upton Park, and after his heroics that day, when he more or less single-handedly kept Man United out and allowed US to win the league (despite our best efforts to blow it), I can tell you he was appreciated at Ewood Park and his name was chanted at the trophy presentation at our ground on the Monday after.

“I’ve suggested on the Blackburn official supporters club Facebook group that it would be great to show our appreciation for your old keeper with a minute’s applause and chant of his name say in the first minute. I’m sure you guys would need no invitation to join in with us.

“I’m contacting all the WHUFC Supporters Groups and hopefully we can get Ludek’s name ringing out all around the ground.

“Look forward to welcoming you to East Lancashire again on 7th November, it’s been too long.

“All the best, and Up The Irons!”

Proof yet again, if it was needed, that football really still can be the beautiful game – especially in the Championship where fans seem more down to earth and genuine than many of those following Premier League football nowadays.

Seeing both sets of fans chant Ludo’s song in unison will be a sight to behold – and another memory to treasure for his family.