BLACKBURN Rovers great Bob Crompton has been inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

Crompton, who led his hometown club to glory both as a player and as a manager, passed away on March 15, 1941, at the age of 61, just hours after his Rovers side had beaten Burnley 3-2 at Ewood Park.

So at Wednesday’s special ceremony, held at the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in Manchester, his grandson Bob and Rovers club president Keith Lee represented him.

Lee said: “It is a great honour for the club and his family to be here to receive his award.”

Blackburn-born Crompton made 576 appearances for Rovers between 1897 and 1920, during which time he captained the club to its maiden First Division title successes in 1912 and 1914.

After the Great War effectively ended his playing career, the full-back, whose 41 caps for England were a record until surpassed by Billy Wright in 1952, accepted the job as the club’s honorary manager in December 1926.

In his first full season in charge Crompton inspired Rovers to a shock FA Cup final victory over Huddersfield Town at Wembley, in April 1928.

He stepped down from his position in February 1931, but with the club heading for a second relegation in three seasons, he returned in the closing weeks of the 1937/38 campaign.

Crompton assisted secretary-manager Reg Taylor in steering Rovers to safety before he took sole control of the Ewood reins.

And, just as in his previous spell in charge, his full season ended triumphantly as the club won the Second Division championship.

Other inductees – which are chosen by a panel of some of the biggest names in football, including PFA chief executive and former Rovers winger Gordon Taylor – on Wednesday included Manchester United legends Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.