I lived in inner City Sheffield for 14 years in an area that was 35% Asian. My son went to a school that was 48% Asian. Since moving to Blackburn I have been amazed how completely separate the two communities are compared to where I lived in Sheffield and I do think it's unhealthy.

I suggest that it can only be something to do with guidance, policies and qualities of the respective councils down the years then.

Debs & Theno

The most objective explanation of how this crap situation came to be that I have read can be found at www.cottontown.org. My favourite quote is that of a newly arrived immigrant in the 60's who saw the terraced houses and thought they were goods warehouses!

I suggest bodyweight, fitness and mental conditioning are priority.

Mental conditioning? Very apt Theno......Just as well they're training at Brockhall???

PARKING

Free at the Golden Cup provided you call in (free parking is almost unheard of in the Premier League). A dead cert for fastest return to the M65 (Jnc 4).

PUBS

The White Bull (Livesey Branch Road) should be added to the above list.

Five Darwen pubs run buses to every home game usually advertised in the window. Depart 1hr prior to kick off. Cost £2 return.

Borough

Bowling Green

George

Britannia

Craven Heifer

where  were you all before big jack?

15,000 at n'castle now 50,000,

Newcastle were pulling in less than 8,000 during McFaul's reign in the 80's. No t many called them the Toon Army then.

If Eckersley fails to win this, never mind the Asian vote, Rovers should actively target the over 55's, a rapidly growing market, in order to redress the balance.

Best away support since the lemmings went over the cliff...blah..blah..blah....

This is not linked to the Asian support but Rovers have missed a great opportunity with the forthcoming England U21 match.

With a potential 30k crowd I bet at least 15k are non Rovers attending fans, many being kids. A simple leaflet showing next few home games and prices or a £5 off a Rovers ticket/ club shop would have got a few neutrals coming down to Ewood again and a habit maybe formed.

Why is this opportunity missed when the crowd hasn't arrived yet?

Maybe we should show Bollywood Movies prior to the kick-off?

Or have an Asian fashion show at h/t?

Or maybe turn Ewood into an Asian ghetto?

Or perhaps make the players wear turbans?

Or maybe even treat them the same as the rest of the market? Nah!

Steady on Bryan - we've already got Balti pies!

I live near and work in one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world - Toronto - where nearly half of the population are visible minorities, and you will see that diversity reflected in both the players and the crowds for Baseball and Football. Even in hockey, where there are hardly any non-white players at any of the teams, the crowd at the Toronto Maple Leafs is surprisingly diverse.

I think the big difference is that multi-culturalism is accepted and largely embraced here,

Surely in Toronto you have a common link? You are ALL immigrants together.

E in T I dont want to offend you but you are beginning to sound like an Aussie!

The reality in Blackburn is that there is not really a multiplicity of cultures, But ROUGHLY 35% Asian 65% non-Asian. This has created an 'us and them' situation where the two communities mix like oil and water. If you want to see where the local Asian sporting loyalty lies then visit Old Trafford next time England entertain Pakistan.

McClarky,

Were you one of the two Edinburgh (well Falkirk I seem to remember) based Rovers fans that kindly gave me a lift from Edinburgh (were I was on a staff <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=Christmas&v=56">Christmas</a> do) back to Ewood for the Man Utd game a couple of seasons ago ?

Whoever it was I lost their <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=contact&v=56">contact</a> details and never had the chance to say Thanks properly.

Glenn,

No that wasn't me. I think I know who you mean though. There were 2 brothers from falkirk but I can't remember what they were called.

Which McClarky are you?

Im so glad I have moved away from Accrington and to the bright lights of University.

Its good being educated

I can certainly bet that the majority who have posted here are not.

I have never heard more self obsessed (us whites we have it so bad ) and uneducated tripe in all of my life.

Your naivety and poor judgement screams from your mails. Unfortunately common sense cannot be obtained from a university. You would do well to meet some of those you correspond with on this MB Accringtonian.

I can hear it on RR now: And for some odd reason, all of the fans here at Ewood are reading something while the match is going on...

Yes and prog sales will be at an all time low!

One quick question - I can't catch the Hughes army song. It sounds like Sparky Hughesy Blue and White army but I get the impression there's something else in there as well?

Glad the light helped bob and Sox.

Its plain old 'Mark Hugheses Blue And White Army' etc etc

PS After yout tip , I downloaded the bike light instructions and I will be taking them to every match in future.

PPS MGP has a good touch , good turn & abundent confidence - soon he will be the first name on the teamsheet.

The drummers must be first out - no contest. Freedom for the BBE choir!!!

STANLEY BEAT BOURNEMOUTH LAST SEASON!

Nissa - name like a girl

- hair like a girl

- plays like a girl

- no - thats HARD on girls

Short and Amo - injury prone - never play a full season

McEVELEY FOR CENTRE HALF!!!!!!!!!!!

Why don't the club provide buses from the outlying towns like Chorley ?

The club are aware of issues like this and are continually trying to address them. I believe they have consulted with the police on several occassions regarding bus services to Ewood and the biggest problem is with arranging somewhere suitable for the buses to drop people off, park during the match, then collect people afterwards. I know in the past buses have stopped on Bolton Road (close to the Ewood Arms), but obvioulsy the space there is limited.

Paul is correct that the club have tried and will continue to try a variety of marketing ideas. The ideas have been very wide ranging and innovative, but have continually met with a frustrating lack of response.

Sorry! Bus park created on the Triangle last season. Well used by approx 15 - 20 Rovers services every game.

Burnley and Preston have also seen attendances fall in the last couple of seasons .....any 'regional' coincidence here?

And even Stanley!

Television will eventually kill football in my opinion.

Correct. We have probably recahed saturation now. I only bother to watch if it's Rovers.

True - see my message on number of Prem games being shown in local pubs!

Agreed.

But there are many positives - for instance not many fans ever will have experienced a rise in stature of their club like we did from, say, 1980.

Settling down more like!

Talking to 'local' fans last season who I have met over the last 25 years, the two recurring gripes are season ticket cost and Sky TV. Many Ewood/Darwen pubs now show up to 8 Prem games each weekend inc a choice of two at 3pm on Sat. £28 goes a long way behind the bar.

Rovers are a victim of their own successes.

Firstly when we were promoted in the days of 1991 we had King Kenny and the club was on a massive upper, we win promotion spend a few bob and hey presto 4th, 2nd then the Championship. It was the following season that set the trend we now find ourselves in.

Rovers failed to build on that championship team which ultimately resulted in the break up of the squad.

after short forays into Europe we ended up with relegation, all the time our crowd dwindling, at the same time add the fact that the cost of watching football soared and unemployment figures increased.

A short stay in the first division helped win some fans back but, as clearly stated previously, after the Worthy Cup win we have been served at Ewood with a mixture of dross, crap and utter sh**e.

Some of us fans are fortunate to get to away games, and I for one can say that our away form is 100% better or was over the past 2 seasons.

That is the simple reasoning behind it all.

No matter what John Williams has promised, no matter what efforts he has put into bringing fans back to Ewood, the fairweather fans (and I am being very diplomatic) have seen fit to still remain away from Ewood due to the performances.

You can add more reasons from the following:

a. becoming a selling club (I dont mean Dunn and Duff)

b. limited budgets resulting in players with limited amounts of skill

c. no commercialism skills whatsoever in respect of merchandising

d. the continued spiralling costs

e. a complete dislike of sourness and his merry men

f. no directiveness on or off the field football wise

g. too many excuses

h. a poor behind the scenes coaching set up

i. a refusal to blood the youth prospects (please dont mention Stead)

j. media reports of the problems within the club

k. continual beratement of referees rather than addressing our on the pitch problems

l. excuses excuses but no responsiblity

m. gross mismanagement of club transfer funds

and finally

a serious lack of communication with the fans and public.

there are probably many more which I have failed to mention and I am sure that other members will add them.

FFS If it's that bad, why don't you go to Turf Moor!

I think this game has come at perfect timing for us.

It gives Mark Hughes and his team abit more time to get there ideas across and also to try new things out as the opposition isnt in the same class as we are used to each week.

I would like to see gally and Jay Bothroyd both given a run out.

I would also like to see him try Nissa and Amo in the centre and also possibly look at letting Jay McEveley have a go at left back.

I doubt that McEveley will play because he is playing in the reserve match tonight.

Would like to see McEveley tried at centre half. Could be the new Ian Pearce. Gray to stay at left back.

Good to see the result, good to read someof the encouraging reports on some enthusism from the team. Best of all is the read about Matt. I was one of the ones who had him written off, I hope that can be shoved right down my throat. I know he scored, I saw the goal really quickly and one time only, it looked like a good goal. That aside, how was Matty's overall play, did he do well or was the goal the only ting, more info please.

He was effin excellent and proved by the incredible noise made by the crowd when he came on and when he scored. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Hope he starts on Wednesday.

I'll be there - can't wait.