1958: Born Luton, December 21.

1985: Starts his playing career at non-league Barnet.

1986: Joins Scarborough on November 1. Helped the club reach the Football League that season under manager Neil Warnock. Makes a total of 61 appearances in three seasons.

1989: Moves on to Notts County and is signed by Warnock for £15,000, although fails to make a first-team appearance in just over three seasons at Meadow Lane.

1993: In January, joins Torquay United on a free transfer and spends seven months with the Gulls, making 20 appearances.

1993: Again signed by Warnock and on a free as he joins Huddersfield, but makes just 10 appearances in two seasons. Four of those, however, were in the 1994-95 campaign when Town were promoted to Division One via the play-offs. Under Warnock, embarks on the coaching road by taking charge of the youths.

1995: Joins Plymouth on a free transfer in August, following Warnock to Home Park, making 27 appearances in three seasons. Blackwell played 20 matches in Argyle's 1995-96 promotion to the Second Division via the play-offs. Again is allowed to coach the youths.

1998: Moves on to Bury, and again works under Warnock, but is unable to prevent the club being relegated to the Second Division. Blackwell leaves in the summer of 1999.

2000: Links up with Warnock for one final time, on this occasion at Sheffield United where he eventually becomes first-team coach.

2003: Tastes disappointment on three fronts as United are beaten in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the Worthington Cup, as well as the First Division play-off final. But his reputation precedes him for in June, and despite never having met then Leeds manager Peter Reid, is appointed head coach at Elland Road.

2004: In May, takes caretaker charge of Leeds for the final game of their Premiership relegation season at Chelsea following Eddie Gray's departure a few days earlier.

May 26:Becomes Leeds' fourth managerial appointment in two years and signs a two-year contract.