What a season! Chelsea nearly won the Quadruple, Rovers nearly reached the first FA Cup Final at the New Wembley, Benni McCarthy nearly won the Golden Boot and Burnley nearly went down!

Rovers as a team however did succeed in giving themselves a chance of another season of UEFA Cup football by qualifying for the Intertoto Cup to cap what I think has to be classed as another successful year for Mark Hughes and his players.

Fans were devastated over the Summer with the departure of Craig Bellamy, the £6m transfer fee scant consolation for the loss of one of the most exciting players to be seen at Ewood for some time.

Sparky didn't allow too much time for mourning on the terraces however, by snapping up probably the Premiership steal of the season in Benni McCarthy who was to become only second to Drogba of Chelsea in the race to be the leagues top scorer, and all for the price two and a half million quid!

In the first half of the season Rovers league form was steady at best, but those elusive European wins from over the years finally came together, as Rovers qualified for and then won their UEFA Group stage without conceding defeat, only to be narrowly knocked out by Leverkusen in the round after.

A 3rd round Carling Cup defeat to eventual winners Chelsea was quickly forgotten as Rovers cup interest lay elsewhere this season.

January came and Lucas Neill went. After months of speculation "Lucash" as he came to be known, snubbed progression for paycheques and left Rovers for the "mighty" West Ham, who were to finish the season most controversially just above the drop zone, aided and abetted by Star Trek Extra Carlos Tevez.

Neill's return to Ewood saw the Hammers nick three points, courtesy of Tevez and some crazy refereeing which will stick in the memory for some time.

But it was the FA Cup where most of the excitement lay for Rovers in 2007.

A tricky 3rd round tie away to Everton was won with ease 4-1 before Luton were dispatched in similar fashion.

The defensive display of the year followed in a 5th round 0-0 draw against Arsenal as Rovers became the first domestic side to keep a clean sheet at the Emirates.

That man Benni McCarthy then came off the bench at Ewood to score a wonder goal in the replay that had the Blue and White faithful dreaming of Wembley.

A routine win at home against Man City in the quarter finals earned Rovers a date with destiny against the all powerful Chelsea.

20 odd thousand Rovers fans smashed the decibel record at Old Trafford and saw their team give the billionaire fantasy eleven their hardest game all year before being harshly dumped out in extra time. The FA at least had their dream final, if no-one else did.

Other high points of the season include the surprise form of budget transfer window signing Chris Samba, a nine foot six centre half who made the defensive slot alongside Ryan "The Admiral" Nelsen his own following a series of immense, towering displays.

Some of his performances against helpless opposition attackers this season left me unable to hide a smile as it reminded me of a Dad playing football with a child half his size.

Don't forget to stick him in your fantasy teams for next season as he is as much of a threat upfront as he is solid at the back with his unstoppable headers from set pieces.

David Bentley also thrust himself into contention to be the first Rovers player since David Dunn to represent the full England side, providing stunning displays, with only the cluelessness of boss Steve McClaren denying him so far. Watch this space.

The return of Dunny was also good to see and as always Brad Friedel continued to be the impassable, ever present, penalty saving demon he always has been, earning himself the keepers slot in the Opta Team of the Season.

Before I finish, a special mention has to go out to our very own Turkish Delight, Tugay. L eonardo DaVinci, Issac Newton, Albert Einstein, Tugay...all of them geniuses, but only one is capable of wondergoals and killer passes which defy his advancing years.

A one year extension is the least the Rovers Living Legend deserves and Ewood should consider itself honoured to see another season of his Galactico skills.

The Premiership won't see a player of his special abilities again. Enjoy him while you still can. (Season tickets only £299.00!).

Automatic European qualification hopes ended on the night Rovers drew 1-1 with Spurs, in what I believe was a straight battle between the contenders for the Premierships 5th best team, but an exciting 3-3 draw with Reading on the last day of the season confirmed another top half finish and at least one more trip to the Continent.