The title "champions of England" returned to Blackburn Rovers after 81 years, thanks to the seemingly limitless funds provided by owner Jack Walker, the managerial know-how of Kenny Dalglish, and the prolific striker partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton. It was a close-run race, although Blackburn were top of the league for most of the season their lead was threatened right up to the final day by Manchester United. In fact, the title would have gone to Old Trafford for the third year running had Alex Ferguson's men been able to score a winner against West Ham on the final day of the season. In the end, however, United's failure to beat the East Londoners meant that Blackburn were champions despite losing 2–1 to Dalglish's old club Liverpool.

When Jack Walker took over as owner in 1991, Blackburn were a struggling side in the old Second Division, who had been outside the top flight since 1966 and had not won a major trophy since 1928. They were playing within the antiquated surroundings of Ewood Park, with three of their four stands dating from before the First World War.

Four years on, they had broken the domestic transfer fee record twice (as well as buying England's first L2 million goalkeeper, Tim Flowers), were playing at an extensively rebuilt stadium capable of holding over 30,000 seated spectators, and boasted one of the finest squads in Europe.