TO Blackburn Rovers fans everywhere, Jack Walker will always be remembered as the steel magnate with the heart of gold.

A life-long supporter of his hometown club, Uncle Jack's association with Rovers first began as a fan on the Blackburn End, where he used to stand and cheer on his heroes like Ronnie Clayton, Bryan Douglas, Harry Leyland and Tommy Briggs.

But when he sold his Walker's steel empire for £330 million towards the end of the 1980s, he suddenly had the means to make his dreams come true.

Although still active in business, he found the time to take control at Ewood and map out a new and exciting future for the club he supported as a boy.

It's no exaggeration to say he changed the face of English football.

Indeed, a new football cliche was born in the 1990's with fans of clubs everywhere hoping their team could "find a Jack Walker".

But the original was Blackburn through and through.

He first got involved with Rovers in 1990-91 and became an instant hero on the terraces, funding the signings of Bobby Mimms, Steve Livingstone and Tony Dobson, which enabled the club to escape from the floor of the Second Division.

Though outsiders only started to take him seriously on October 12, 1991.

Walker and Rovers shocked the world of football by unveiling former Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish as the club's new manager.

That move heralded a new dawn and, backed by Walker's millions, the duo led Rovers on an exciting adventure which was to take them to the very summit of English soccer.

After promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs later that season, Dalglish and Harford made Rovers one of the most powerful clubs in England, thanks to Walker's unswerving support.

Big money signings like Alan Shearer arrived and Ewood was turned into one of the country's most impressive stadia - much to the delight of the club's long-suffering supporters.

Suddenly, the once unfashionable club from East Lancashire had become Manchester United's chief challengers - finishing runners up after just two years in the top-flight.

But it was the events of season 1994-95 which helped change the face of the town forever.

After a titanic scrap with United for the title, it all went down to the final day of the season. Those scenes at Anfield on a balmy May afternoon when Rovers were crowned the champions of England after a dramatic battle -- ending an 81-year wait -- will remain in fans' memories forever.

One of the lasting images of that triumph was that of an emotional Jack Walker shedding tears from his seat in the main stand.

Rovers had cracked the monopoly enjoyed by English football's 'big six' and conquering Europe seemed a formality.

But Dalglish stepped down as manager later that summer, and despite Walker's continued investment, the edifice began to crumble.

Ray Harford, Roy Hodgson and Brian Kidd all tried desperately to restore the magic.

But Walker's worst nightmares came true when Rovers were relegated from the Premier League the season before last.

Again, the tears flowed as Uncle Jack watched in agony as his beloved club slipped back into the relative wilderness of the First Division.

But that only served to strengthen his resolve to restore Rovers as one of the country's top clubs, and Dalglish's former Anfield team-mate, Graeme Souness, was installed as the man to do the job.

Walker wasn't just wrapped up in the first team, however.

His passion and commitment for Rovers went far deeper than that.

Acutely aware of his own mortality, he ensured the club's future was safeguarded for generations to come by splashing out £7million on a new state-of-the-art youth Academy. Specially designed to nurture the stars of tomorrow, that project was Jack's baby.

In typical Walker fashion, it's the envy of every other club in the land, and a fitting memorial to his passion and commitment.

The town of Blackburn will always be indebted to the Walker's.

Jack's father, Charles, had laid the early foundations for the dream by starting up a tiny sheet metal and car body repair business for just £80 in 1945.

Following his death, Jack and brother Fred continued to build up the business until they had a turnover of £80,000 by 1956.

In that year, the Walkers entered the steel stockholding business and that was to trigger their remarkable success story.

Earlier this year, Walker's personal fortune was estimated at £500 million.

Few businessmen of his generation could match his Midas touch when it came to making money.

But the town of Blackburn - and Rovers supporters in particular - will not remember Walker the shrewd businessman.

They will remember Uncle Jack the dream-maker - the man who put an old Lancashire mill town firmly back on the map.

The man who turned his beloved football club into the Kings of England.