IT'S been a rapid rise to riches for striker Matty Derbyshire and no one is more proud than his former chairman Bill Holden.

When Holden was at Great Harwood Town, they took over Darwen's youth players and Derbyshire came as part of the package as a gangly 16-year-old.

Four years later and he has just scored his first goal in the Premiership for Blackburn Rovers against Wigan and followed it up with an FA Cup goal against Everton last Sunday.

"It is absolutely brilliant for the lad," said Holden, who unfortunately could not stop the North West Counties Division Two club going out of business last year.

"When you think where he was just three years ago - playing in front of 29 people at the Showground - it is just incredible where he has come.

"I always thought someone would take a chance on him as Everton, Manchester United and Burnley were looking at him.

"But he was a Blackburn lad and Blackburn is his club and he had that little bit of luck of being in the right place at the right time.

"He has though made the most of it. It was not like he was playing for Blackburn or any other professional club as a young player.

"He had just played football at school and we picked him up from Darwen and our boss John Hughes gave him his debut at 16. He hasn't looked back and I am sure he will go on and continue to progress. He certainly has the potential and has proved that now."

Derbyshire signed for Blackburn Rovers in a £20,000 deal in November 2003 after taking the North West Counties League by storm, scoring around 20 goals in a season and winning a number of the Player of the Month awards.

His lightening speed and eye for goal brought the scouts flocking to Harwood - and a personal call from Everton boss David Moyes to Holden - but Derbyshire did just take everything in his stride.

At Harwood, aged 17, he admitted: "It would be a dream to play full-time football, it would mean the world to me."

And his dream did come true as he moved to Blackburn, playing in the reserves and doing well, before going to Plymouth and Wrexham - where he scored ten goals - on loan and returning to Ewood to make his debut against Fulham in December.

Holden admits Derbyshire, who worked at Blackburn Rovers Community Office before he switched to playing for the club, deserves it.

"It couldn't have happened to a nicer lad. He was brilliant to get on with and was always level-headed and I am sure he has remained the same. He deserves everything he gets.

"I went to watch him make his full debut for Blackburn against Nancy in the UEFA Cup and it was weird watching him run out in front of all those people in the European Cup after seeing him run out so many times for Harwood.

"It is unbelievable but he has proved it does happen in football."