Had the phone signal not been as strong, Blackburn Rovers could've missed out on one of their greatest-ever signings.

Rovers are a club steeped in history; Premier League winners. For many, they are 'Peak Barclays', having been a huge staple in the early 2000s.

That era for the club was a golden one. A full Ewood Park and some of the best talent that fans have seen on display. 

Morten Gamst Pedersen falls right into that bracket.

The Norwegian needs little introduction; a cult hero and a legend in these parts of Lancashire. The number 12 shirt has been worn by few as popular.

His mercurial talents were a sight to behold and a nine-year association with Rovers only endeared him more to the supporters.

In today's world of transfers, very few slip through the net without a leak or a journalist's scoop. Back in 2004, Rovers' latest addition hinged on phone reception, with Pedersen entrenched in a cave when he discovered he was moving to Ewood Park.

"Back in the day, there were lots of clubs that were interested," Pedersen tells The Lancashire Telegraph in an exclusive interview.

"I was doing very well in Norway, got my debut for the national team, scored on my debut. 

"There were other clubs watching me but when I decided to make that first step, I wanted to go to a club that would give me the platform to play. 

"Damien Duff left, Javier De Pedro signed instead of me at one stage but that didn't work out. There was a spot available to grab so that was a big reason. They had lots of Norwegians there.

"It was a known club for me. The Premier League was always a target, it is for every youngster, you want to play in England. It was the same for me, I watched the Premier League on TV.

"I actually found out on a team-building trip to Svalbard, an island north of Norway and the North Pole. I was there on a team-building trip with the team.

"I got a message and it was like: "Morten, you're sold!" That was that. I flew from there to home and then to Manchester. It was a mining trip so we were working around mountains and in caves. Then I was told I'd been sold and it was time to leave. I was in a cave!"

Speaking to Ryan Nelsen last year, he concluded that what made this era of Rovers so special, was the group they had. Everyone played their best football at Ewood Park.

Pedersen concurs. There are too many highlights to detail but the European nights stood out and the near-misses in the cup competitions.

What made Rovers unique was their fearlessness. There was a competitive arrogance. Surrounded, often dwarfed, in the North-West of England, this team thrived on being the underdog. Nobody had an easy ride at Ewood Park; nobody enjoyed playing Blackburn Rovers.

"We had a very strong dressing room, a strong squad, some great personalities. We had all different kinds of personalities," he reflects.

"People respected each other but, on the other side, it was very competitive. We didn't have Zidane, Ronaldinho but we had very good players. The best thing was the team, we stuck together on and off the pitch.

"If anything happened on the pitch, people stuck up for each other. Nobody was left behind, that was our strength. Nobody liked playing against us.

"We trained very hard, we were one of the fittest teams. We had good personalities and we had some strong managers who could handle it, it was a great time.

"People pushed each other, they wanted to get better. The team was brilliant, we had some great seasons. We nearly got in the Champions League, got into Europe, missed out on the cups a few times in the semi-finals.

"It showed that Blackburn might be a smaller club than Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal but they didn't like playing us. We didn't fear anything at home or away. Ewood Park was a place teams didn't want to come.

"We had some really good memories with international players. I think most of them played their best football there and then went on for their country too. I think I played 66 games in one season with everything."

Pedersen could draft up a five-a-side of ex-team-mates that would rival most. He played with some incredible strikers that all benefitted from his wand-like left foot.

The best of all? "Tugay was my favourite player, it was so easy to play with him," is the instant reply. He is an icon at Rovers for a reason.

"I was on the wing, he was in the middle and he didn't even have to look at you. You knew the ball was coming.

"He could've played for anyone. You could've put him in at Barcelona and he would've done so well. The way he understands football, he was phenomenal.

"As a person, he was outstanding. We were good friends, I still talk to him. We were probably opposites but you need that in the dressing room and you still work well together. 

"It was certainly a good laugh, if you could have filmed the dressing room and training I think people would've enjoyed it."

What made Rovers so successful was the continued stability at the club. Mark Hughes' era spanned four very successful years and, with a brief six-month interlude with Paul Ince, bled straight into more strong leadership with Sam Allardyce.

"It was a big change, I was very close to Mark Hughes and I still talk to him," Pederson admits with Hughes joining Manchester City in 2008. 

"He was at Ewood when I came over the last time, we had a long chat about the good old days, it's good memories for everyone.

"It would be nice to see him back again on the big stage. I hope he can get a club again and manage somewhere, I really enjoyed playing under him.

"He ran a tight ship in training, he made us train hard. Sam Allardyce and Mark Hughes were similar, they trained hard and they liked technology, they wanted to think forward and embrace new things.

"Both wanted to push the club forward. I really enjoyed Sam, those two were the best managers I've ever had."

When you're punching above your weight, season on season, it doesn't take much complacency before the effects are felt on the pitch. 

Allardyce's departure after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers would have sizable consequences. Rovers were 13th at the time, five points above the relegation zone, but had they beaten the Trotters that day, they would have been sixth, such was how tight the table was.

Fine margins.

Pedersen insists the group were looking forward; the trajectory was upwards, with Europe in their sights.

"Some strange things happened around that time. The whole thing, I think if Sam stayed, we'd have been in Europe that year.

"We lost 2-1 at Bolton but we were so good that season. I think we'd have pushed up and got into Europe. We wanted to build something with the squad that we had.

"If you try to change things too much and there are people you don't trust as much, you know how it works. It didn't work, people started talking, there were too many changes and the wrong people were in charge at that time.

"I'm glad things have changed now and the club is more stable, they can build again. I want to see Blackburn back in the Premier League. They have such a strong history and that's how people see them.

"You see how small things can affect it. It's a house of cards, if you take the bottom card out, it all falls down."

18 months after dismissing Big Sam and Rovers were heading for the Championship. They haven't been back to the big time since, with a season in League One a brutal reminder of how cutthroat the top is.

Pedersen stared relegation in the face, like a captain going down with his ship. Over the following years, bits of that imperious group were chipped away at but he for a season in the second tier.

The Norwegian would've hoped to help Rovers back into the Premier League but a promising start petered out and the club turned through three more managers, further instability which led them to this point. 

Gary Bowyer was in interim charge when the decision was made for Pedersen to move on at the end of his deal, aged 31.

"That's when the tears started to come, you think of all the good memories," he said.

"I didn't want to leave but that's how it was. I never lost my love for the club and I always go back every year, there are still people who work there who did when I was there.

"It's so important the fundaments around the club are solid. The owners now put money in every year to keep it going in tough times. 

"I hope that in the future, Rovers can build a solid squad and go back to the place they belong."

Pedersen always get a rousing reception when he's welcomed back to Ewood Park. That was evident in April when he watched the 0-0 draw with Southampton, with his appearance perhaps earning the biggest cheer of the afternoon.

In modern football, seeing a player so connected with a football club is rare. Pedersen gave nine years and the best of his career, to Blackburn Rovers.

There were opportunities, perhaps more lucrative, to leave. But he was desperate to repay the loyalty they showed in him as an emerging talent.

"The club really believed in me when Graeme Souness left, Mark Hughes, Sam Allardyce. It was like a new team again when Hughes went to City and Sam came in," he replies.

"I think the change of manager was good for me. I had a lot of offers from England and abroad, I could have left. 

"I think my love for the club, the belief they showed in me, I wanted to give something back. Some might say I should've left but I'm really proud I was there for so long.

"I was there on the way up and the way down. I didn't hide or run away when bad things happened, I was standing there.

"It's great to stay in touch. It's a good feeling to be remembered I always think about those good nights at Ewood. It's amazing when you go back, I get goosebumps.

"I would give a lot to have one more game, I always want to get my boots on. You might not get that reception every time so it's always a good feeling."

Pedersen's desire to lace up his boots has not waned. In the background of our conversation is the recognisable sound of studs on concrete; he's squeezing this interview in before training.

Aged 42, he's gearing up for another season but the destination is still unknown, having left second-division Norway side Ranheim at the end of the season.

"I haven't signed anywhere yet. I've had options from Senegal to lower divisions in Norway. Nothing has felt quite right yet," he laughs.

"Maybe I'm a bit spoiled! I don't know. I really enjoyed last season and the one before.

"I have done a full pre-season so we will see what happens, I train every day and I wouldn't if I didn't want to play. I am training with the local team to stay in shape.

"I have always said I want to play as long as I can. I still love the game, that's why I'm doing it. If I didn't feel it was right, I wouldn't.

"I'm not forced to play, I am lucky in that sense. It's just nice to play football! We will wait to see, there is no rush."

Lucky is how Blackburn Rovers fans felt, watching their beloved Norwegian bomb down the left for nine years. 

Football is cyclical and whilst it feels a long road back, Rovers will return to the top flight of English football again.

When they do, Morten will be cheering them on like any other fan inside Ewood Park.