AN AMERICAN who became a Blackburn Rovers fans after discovering his children shared their names with Jack Walker has said his family is grieving -- despite being thousands of miles away from Ewood Park.

Jim Ray and his two boys, Jack and Walker, became supporters after they stumbled across a Blackburn Rovers website which revealed the coincidence.

Since then, they have followed Rovers week in, week out via the internet and last year travelled from their Portland, Oregan, home to Ewood at the invitation of Jack Walker.

The trio were due to meet Jack before the Rovers' game but his plane was delayed, meaning they missed each other by minutes.

Ray said: "That day provided us with so many memories. Jack Walker, in many ways, has touched their lives. "It was his generosity and kindness that put smiles on my boys' faces and created a day we will never forget.

"It is Jack Walker's heart which held the club together and made it what it is now.

"While we are not from Blackburn and don't have the same deep tradition to draw on, Jack, Walker and I feel the same sense of elation when Rovers win and the same sense of sadness when they lose, as does anyone with blue and white blood in Blackburn.

"We also feel the same sorrow."

The family of a Rovers fan in Australia have yet to tell him the news of Jack Walker's death because his daughter is seriously ill in hospital.

Andrew Hall's uncle, James Johnson, of Blackburn, contacted his far-flung family on Friday when he heard about Jack's death.

But the family have yet to pass on the message to Andrew, who lives in Queensland, because he is currently holding a beside vigil for his daughter, Alison, who is very ill.