UNCLE Jack would have been proud of you -- that was the message to Graeme Souness' ecstatic team from the Walker family.

A number of the millionaire benefactor's family were at the Millennium Stadium to see Rovers' victory, the second major success for the club since his death from cancer in August 2000.

Children Ross, Howard, Linda and Michaela were at the match.

Afterwards Ross said: "The main reason for us all going was we felt it was the right thing to do for our dad.

"He would have been the happiest bloke in the world today, but unfortunately he wasn't there to see it." Ross added: "It was a great effort by all the team, and we're all pleased they won."

Carole Walker, Jack's widow, spoke exclusively to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph from her holiday in Thailand. She said: "I was devastated that I could not be there but I watched the game on television in a bar in Bangkok. I am sure that the boys were all thinking of Jack. It would have been his dream to see the club bring back home a major cup. He would have been proud.

Jack transformed Rovers and Ewood Park after ploughing millions made from his steel empire into the club in the early 1990s.

More than 1,000 people gathered in Blackburn Cathedral to pay tribute to the man who gave so much back to the town after his death

And a 10ft statue of Jack, arms aloft celebrating winning the Premier League at Anfield in 1995 is now outside the Blackburn End at Ewood Park.

Manager Graeme Souness dedicated Rovers' promotion from Division One to Uncle Jack last summer.