Presume that's not the norm? It took me back to turning up for a school game. Is it normal for them to play in last year's kit too? My first cynical thought was we hadn't ordered enough or paid for a new kit. Do you think any of those are likely to make the step up to Under 21's regularly this season. I haven't seen a lot of the youth the last few years, only really number 6 and 7 impressed me, Bloxhall was OK, but I thought 7 began playing it safe too much when 1 on 1 with the full back. Clearly was a big physical and experience difference between the sides, so can't really judge.

Under 21s , currently 4-0 down to Nantwich, a couple of howlers gifting them a 2-0 lead.

He must have been worth a dozen points a season. Still criminally underrated, barely gets a mention in Premier League top keepers. There is only probably pre-injury Cech who I'd put in same World Class category during his era. Hands like bin lids too.

Pay as you play. A half fit Dack off the bench is better than Vale, Leonard, Markanday and more of a goal threat than Gallagher. Sure he can't press, but he knows how to score a tap in.

Been expecting us to get relegated probably last 3/4 seasons. We've defied that with bizarre seasons. The Championship being the steaming pile that it is, who knows. I'll be optimistic and say we'll finish mid table if we keep Sammie (how standards have fallen) , realistically if he goes I think the bottom 3 beckons. Might we end up getting a points deduction this season?

Jam or Cream on first ?

We were spoilt having Reid smash one in on the same day too.

Let's get Ethan Brierley in first

Have we signed Duncan Maguire yet?

Bought my boys first ever kit, a proud moment. Lovely kit to boot, hoping for a black and red striped away now too.

I understand that point, It's a reasonable point financially. It's probably never going to make money, but tbf neither does the mens team. We should want the women's team to be associated with Blackburn Rovers, it's good for all the girls in the local area to aspire to, which is what a club bearing the towns name should be. I think it's quite telling that a lot of other clubs are taking the women's side increasingly seriously, a lot of new ownership make it a priority probably because the optics look good and as they can see the direction of travel in that area and the growth of the women's game, including financially. Whereas we had a strong base and are regressing. A lot of the above is naive of me I understand that, what I find most galling is, the shoulder shrugs , the oh well it doesn't make money. If these owners never refuse a cheque and we have to tell them to calm down when it comes to spending as Mowbray and Steve W have said, this is a good avenue away from FFP rules we are constantly told they are hamstrung by, how often we hear "they want to invest but you know FFP". You and I both know they have no intention of doing so, never did, the club is not of interest to them, I just think this shows that in the negative light of national media, we have billionaires that don't want to improve the club even when they can and a chief executive who shows contempt for those who want more than the absolute minimum. I don't want this to be a rant at you, I do understand the logic financially , completely . Just feels like more downgrading , with no excuse this time to hide behind and bad publicity to boot. Dingles will overtake the women's side and that chasm was and still is huge, it's the attitudes closing the gap.

I like it, just hope we have option of no venkys logo like last year.

Hope they don't sell out on day 1, my little one has, unprompted, asked for one for his birthday. I might get one myself for first time in years if they are as nice looking as I hope they might be.

Think that kind of proves the point though doesn't it. Speculate to accumulate or invest to strive for better. Rather than cut back. Otherwise let's just say why can't Rovers get some lads from the soccerdome that will reduce our losses. It's the ownership mentality of the last 13 years om show.

Wait until you hear about the losses in the mens game...

I think most clubs, certainly outside the WSL top tier lose money. I think there are a few in the top flight that turn a profit and maybe 1 or 2 lower down. Absolutely outside of a few it's not sustainable and even less so with recent new media deal . A bit like the mens games rich get richer everyone else gets the crumbs. Whether people are bothered about it being the women's team is up to themselves. However , I think the point is the affirmation that those who never refuse a cheque, never actually send a cheque. Whether that be on cleaning the ground, buying a team coach or the women's team or being a 6 year old mascot. Anything associated with this club we, the fans want to be done to the best standard, those in charge don't. This is another public shaming of our proud football clubs name and another symbol that not only as a club are we dumbing down everywhere, but it's another branch of Blackburn Rovers that's worse now than when they took over. It's a disease.

Rovers used to have one of the leading women's teams in the North West, 2nd only Everton at the time Venkys took over, playing in the top flight. When the WSL came in, all the backroom staff and volunteers were being told by the club, they would be applying. At the very last minute the Venkys ownership pulled the plug and refused to fund the team and application (classic move) . Leaving many people scrambling around. This was one sign early on of the many that have followed that Venkys have never been serious about putting money in unless absolutely essential to avoid a loss of control of the club. Investing, developing the club etc, not on the radar. Over a decade later nothing is different, these little refusuals , obvious signs of their total lack of interest haven't been hard to spot, such a shame it's not obvious to large swathes of the fan base what's happening here. I feel for the women as I know they used to be treated pretty well down at Brockhall.

Terrible news, someone so young and talented. He looked a decent keeper at Ewood, very sad.

I was in a pub in deepest darkest frankfurt, where English wasn't spoken where I found a Football League v Irish League teamsheet/ cigarette cards with a very prominent Bill Eckersley (Blackburn Rovers) card bang next to the bar. Made me smile.

It was Covid that finally killed me off, 5 of us used to go you could trace continuous family attendance back to the 1880s, used to love hearing stories of the history that had been passed down and never thought I'd ever not be ar Ewood to continue the tradition. Then came two things, the refusal to refund people, mainly the OAP fans who couldn't or didn't want to watch on a stream. Then the kicker for me, upping prices when Blackburn was in top tier restrictions and people were out of the habit and when everyone knew we wouldn't get to attend Ewood lunacy, upping prices for ifollow. To top it off, we need to help Venkys and are we loyal ? I will admit, I snapped, that was the moment I felt the people in charge at Ewood really didn't give a stuff about the fansbase, the people of the town or the club. I never felt so spat on , probably since Kean got a contract extension. I haven't paid for a ticket since, I'll go if I'm given one, but my line was crossed. I refuse to be treated as a gullible cash cow and have my loyalty towards the club I've watched since I was 6 years old questioned and exploited. Does it hurt yes, but these lot go and ill be back in a shot.

You can tell where the priority lies if you go on the website , it's all about eventing, corporate stuff, cricket seems secondary in priorities.

I hope we have some clause for an England call up. One thing that struck me is he's looking far better at being goal side on a deeper position and reading interceptions, which must make him desirable for someone like City, its very Rodri esque, which is best compliment I can pay him. I sat near to the Newcastle and Spurs scouts at the Watford home game, they must be kicking themselves now. Peanuts for Raya, now worth £40 million, relative peanuts for Adam now worth £40 million and rising. Tom Cairney for £3 million later he's captaining a Premier League side and worth £20 million all because we have captives who flog to pay their tab.

This baffles me too, its pretty much been the same reported losses for about 10 years, no matter what. I am sure someone more accounts savvy will be able to explain, but it feels to the cynic in me this is golden figure for losses for some some of tax benefit/ relief on the books somewhere within the conglomerate and why it's beneficial to have Venkys London Ltd as an accounts tool. Anyway, I don't think we will spend much if anything because it's going to service the running costs, despite it probably being the healthiest chunk of incoming transfer fees in years, with Wharton, Raya and likely Szmodics perhaps ever? Not heard a peep on Maguire have we since the shambles. We need at least 6 or 7 first teamers and a giant red button and a huge clock/alarm on the PC so we can't "forget" to complete the signings we do convince to come. Starts with a new keeper, I'd want a new RB and LB, although I don't think Pickering is as bad as is made out. A Winger who goes to the byline, 2 new strikers just to start.

Some of their fans I know were saying about big chunks of loans to be repaid upon relegation. Could we about to see Pace make a run for it?

This is what success looks like in 2024 Blackburn Rovers. A group of players who've cried about the fans, celebrating like we've won something, because our 3rd win in 18 stopped us dropping into the third tier. Please we've stayed up obviously, it was a cracking result and the fans should be having a few, I know I have out of relief. Only Sammie should be on the ale the rest should be sloping off and taking a hard look.in the mirror and not just at each others abs.