Ended up being a great game today. Rovers were missing a couple of important players but managed to score a couple of great goals early on and then hang on for the win on a sunny day at Ewood in front of a record crowd.

That win means they have broken their record for most points scored in a Championship season and there are still four games to go against teams either below or level with them.

Next home game is against Reading on Sunday, April 14th at Ewood.

So Rovers Women are playing at Ewood tomorrow v Southampton, kick off at 2pm. 

They are aiming for a record crowd and seeing as the previous record was about 1,100, ticket sales suggest it will easily be beaten tomorrow as per the Rovers WFC Insta. So if you want to support the Women and be a part of what is likely to be a record-breaking crowd, come on down.

As part of the work towards a record attendance, the hospitality is at a lower price than normal in case you fancy giving that a go as an alternative.

Rovers recently won 2-1 at Ewood in a recent Monday night game v Lewes. Currently unbeaten in 3 games and comfortably mid-table, they face a Southampton side currently in the promotion race (Southampton currently sit third and the top four only have one point between them).  

1 hour ago, magicalmortensleftpeg said:

Went to the Lewes game last week (despite clashing with the Leicester match on Sky). Great day out and much healthier atmosphere than the men’s game. Ideal for families with young kids. Definitely recommend to those that haven’t been to a women’s game before.

I committed to going to the first game Rovers Women had in this division a few seasons ago and it ended up being away v Lewes. We made a weekend of it, the sun was out and it's a great little ground with lots of character (The Dripping Pan) as it's got beach huts you can watch the game from and the club are very strong on their community values. I mean we got whooped in the game but beyond that, it was a fun day.

2 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

In what way are they too cheap if only 800-1000 or so are attending at those prices? A fair market value, no?

It's a fair question. A starting point is that the women's game in the past has tried free tickets but that didn't work because people didn't value them so there was no consequence to having the tickets then not turning up (sell outs in big stadiums announced but then the crowds on the day end up being much lower).

There is then a fair argument that once there is a cost to a ticket that demand then drives the cost.

Now I am just  layman when it comes to marketing but there is also the idea that the value of the ticket suggests the quality of the product and so if people only think they're only going to get £8 of football, they won't bother going. That's kind of where I'm coming from.

I think the club see it as demand drives the cost and here we are. I mean it is great value, so take advantage of it.

I think as Rovers have usually been in the bottom half over the last few seasons, it's not been the time to push for more fans to consider attending. Now others are noticing the standard going up and as Rovers Women have a top of the table clash, I thought it was worth mentioning because from what little info is out there about fans from men's teams that also follow women's teams and applying that to our core men's support, 1,500-2,000 should be achievable for a big top of the table game like today.

I think the club have put an effort in to making the Ewood games an event but the marketing always seems to be at families and young girls being the generation. Which is great but it misses supporters that won't reach and who might still enjoy the games.

This is all before touching on those that might become standalone Rovers Women supporters but that is a different conversation.

So as a few have already mentioned on this thread, Rovers Women are currently top of the Championship and face Palace on Sunday at 2pm. Would be really great to see as many as possible at Ewood supporting Rovers Women as I definitely think every extra person who attends the match and supports the team would make a difference to the players (see the Rovers Women Palace preview interview with Thomas posted on @roverswfc yesterday to see what I mean) and they are currently playing meaningful football at the top of the table..

I think the ticket prices are great value. Basically they are too cheap and I don't often call things too cheap:

£8 adults,

£6 seniors,

£4 12-17

£2 Under 12s.   

As others have mentioned, the standard in the division has gone up dramatically in the last season probably because most teams are now full time. Rovers are not one of them yet but I understand they now have all (or definitely most) of their practices through the day now rather than in the evenings. So it is fair to say Rovers are doing amazingly well so far this season. 

Although names some might recognise like Jordan and Fenton left in the summer. Murphy (on loan to Rovers last season, won Championship Player Of The Month in November and signed permanently in the summer) hasn't played yet this season. Also we have hired a coach that took Lewes to a 5th-placed finish (high for their limited resources) and who wants to play a more technical style. He has said in interviews that currently he is still implementing his style, we are seeing flashes of it in the goals v Birmingham and Lewes but we are also defending well and it's currently paying off (so kind of like where the men were with JDT at the start of last season). So reasons for optimism that even though we are currently top, the best might be yet to come.

In terms of players, the headline signing was that of Tyler Toland, a combative but technical 6. She had an international debut at age 16, ever-present for Ireland for two years and joined Man City but then Vera Pauw took over for Ireland and dropped her. Pauw was recently fired, Toland returned to the starting line up and got Player of the Match. For those that read The Athletic, Caoimhe O'Neill did an article on her about it and there are also various articles in Irish papers.

We have made other signings (like Georgia Walters in her second spell with the club, appointed Vice Captain in a young side and we are seeing the best of her) and loans. Also existing players like Hornby and the Captain Richards are stepping up too. So would be great if as many as possible could be there tomorrow. If anyone thinks this isn't for them, fair enough but maybe they could mention it to someone else they know who might enjoy it (and maybe might not even have been to Ewood before). To me, this team deserves more than a 1k crowd for tomorrow's match when you consider Sheff Utd managed to get 11k to Bramall Lane last season and Norwich City got almost 5k in the fourth tier v Cambridge last month.

Rovers Ladies v Crystal Palace at Bamber Bridge today, kick off at 2pm. Can pay cash or card on the door, £8 for adults, £4 for juniors or seniors and £20 for a family ticket.

There is a new Sky Sports Women's Championship Show starting on Sky Sports Football tonight at 7pm recapping the weekend's games.

Women's Championship Show | Sky.com

It is also already available to watch on the free FA Player where you can also livestream Sunday's game away at Bristol City at 3pm.

faplayer.thefa.com

For any Rovers fans wanting to go to the game in Bristol, the match itself will be at the Robins High Performance Centre at 3pm. £8 for an adult, £4 for u12s and £6 for 65+ and u22 with £4 for parking.

Buy Tickets: Bristol Sport Ticketing (bristol-sport.co.uk)

Alex Brooks won FAWC November Player of the Month with Elise Hughes coming second. 

There were 1,747 votes in total & the Rovers players got 75% (1,310) between them.

Rovers Ladies are away to Sheff Utd tomorrow (Sunday) at 2pm. The game will be streamed live on the FA Player.

faplayer.thefa.com

Although Dalglish & Hughes score highly for me, I think I'd go for Mowbray right now - attacking football, good man manager who tries to be fair to his players & brings Academy players through as well. I really like the passion he has for football too.

In recognition of Rovers Ladies form in November, the League has included 2 Rovers Players in it's shortlist of 4 for Player of the Month. You can vote on twitter & the League's handle is @FAWomensChamp . Voting closes midday Thursday, 10th December.

Alex Brooks was part of the team keeping three clean sheets in November, including a string of remarkable saves v Liverpool.

Elise Hughes, a young striker that Rovers have on loan from Everton scored three League goals in November as well as being an important part of the team's all-round play.

Rovers Ladies managed to keep a clean sheet away v League leaders Durham on Sunday in a 0-0 draw & remain 5th in the League.

Rovers Ladies continue their run of three December League games against the top 3 in the division when the play Sheffield United this Sunday (2pm on 13th December). The game will be broadcast live & free on the FA Player.

The third December game at home v Leicester City (Sunday 20th December at 2pm) will also be shown live & free on the FA Player.

Durham will be livestreaming their match v Rovers Ladies this Sunday via their Facebook page

facebook.com/durhamwomenfc

The stream will be free but Durham request that fans contribute £6 (the price of a ticket) to the #endchildfoodpoverty campaign that is spearheaded by Marcus Rashford.

Durham currently sit top of the table with Blackburn in 5th.

Last season, Rovers went to Durham with no points in the League & Durham were top of the table with a 100% record & Rovers won 0-1 thanks to a gritty away performance & a penalty scored by Ellie Stewart.

This season, Durham are again top of the League while Rovers sit in 5th.

Rovers Ladies will face Coventry United at the fantastically named Butts Park Arena tomorrow (Sunday, 22nd November) at 2pm,

Last Sunday, Coventry lost 9-1 v the newly full-time Leicester City & lost 4-0 in the Conti Cup v Sheff Utd midweek.

Last season we drew against them twice (one of them was the game Rovers Ladies played at Ewood Park).

If Rovers win, they will go up to 5th (of 11) in the League.

Coventry United will be providing a livestream of the game on their Youtube channel that can be found here:-

1 hour ago, tonygreenbank said:

Finished 0-0.

Very entertaining game and our left back Ali Johnson looks a good player. 
They missed a lot of good chances but our goalie made a couple of stunning saves.

We would actually have won the game but for a bizarre piece of refereeing disallowing a goal to give us a free kick!

The goalkeeper Brooks has played 7 League games for Rovers over two spells, keeping 7 clean sheets in 6 wins. Last season she was at Birmingham City who are in the WSL playing behind Hannah Hampton who is regarded as one of the best English keepers although the ones playing for City & Utd (Roebuck & Earps) tend to get more attention.

A lot of the Rovers team have histories with either Liverpool or Everton Academies (& a player on loan from Man Utd) so not surprising they would have wanted to make a point today.

Today was a huge result because a lot of the team are new to the Club, young & still learning how to play with each other. That we have taken a point off a full-time team that was in the WSL last season (& beat us 8-0 in a Cup last season) is a big step forward. Yes we had to ride our luck at times but this team can continue to get better over the season.

It was frustrating when the goal wasn't given so that we could have a free kick but to be fair I think the keeper had stopped playing because the whistle had blown.

On 11/11/2020 at 00:11, tonygreenbank said:

The Rovers Ladies v Liverpool Women is live this Sunday at 2pm on the FA channel or LTV. 
Also I’m curious as to why all the other teams in this league are “Women” yet Rovers are “Ladies?” 
 

The match can be watched at

faplayer.thefa.com

although Liverpool will also have a feed on their Twitter @liverpoolfcw & Liverpool Youtube/Facebook (don't know if that will still be neutral commentary though).

The trend in women's football is towards being called Women or something else (Lionesses) because generally Ladies is seen as old-fashioned (is seen by some as implying needing help), Rovers just haven't got around to changing yet but I would expect if they ever got to the WSL, the FA may insist for branding purposes (no teams called Ladies in the WSL at the minute).

Last season, Women's Championship teams would stay in a hotel for longer journeys which would take up a large chunk of budget & becomes more of an issue when games were cancelled due to flooded pitches etc. however not sure if Covid has changed that for everyone this season.

Keep an eye out for our recent signing number 20 at left back, Ali Johnson - from Blackburn & went to the Rovers Academy age 6-16, left to play WSL for Liverpool & Bristol City & has now returned to Rovers.

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

That's a joke  should be nowhere near the team if hed not signed.

I think we had a midfielder who was doing well but got injured so we brought in DMWP.

2 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

James Richardson,that was his name, what a blast from the past. It was extremely exotic. Watching it in Ireland ,I could actually feel sunshine from it ?

- Had a Platt-era Sampdoria kit that I still use for 5-a-side now.

- Borrowed Signori's one step penalty technique too.

- The Dutch players at AC Milan were amazing to watch but I also enjoyed Baresi's blatant tactical fouls too on the rare occasions he was beaten.

Unfortunately it looks like Rovers have had to call the match off due to a waterlogged pitch.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/february/ladies-game-postponed/

For any London-based Rovers fans, Rovers Ladies are playing:

- London Bees @ The Hive (Barnet) on Saturday, 14th March at 5pm.

- Crystal Palace @ Selhurst Park on Sunday, 22nd March at 2pm.

Next home game is scheduled to be Sunday, 29th March at 2pm v Leicester City.

Really enjoyed listening to this. ?

Just a reminder that this match is happening at Bamber Bridge this Sunday & it would be great if we could get a big crowd there to support Rovers against Charlton.

All the matchday info is in my original post. ?

On 18/02/2020 at 17:14, JoeH said:

Really appreciate the info, genuinely considering this now. Seems as good as, if not better, than the 23's at Leyland facilities wise. If only the club themselves knew how to put these things across in this way.

Thanks again pal!

To be fair, I got most of the images from @roversladies (they have their own Fbook/Twitter/Instagram accounts).

The above is only really matchday info. It doesn't get across that I originally planned to go to a few Rovers Ladies games this season but ended up going to more because I saw the effort they were putting in early in the season & that finally started getting it's reward on the pitch.

Once I started learning more about the players & the teams in this division (eg London City Lionesses are kind of = MK Dons & Lewes are very progressive), it became a whole new Blackburn Rovers for me to follow in addition to the men at Ewood.

You can see by the table attached that Rovers are starting to do better in the FAWC (especially with the games in hand).

Charlton Women are currently winless & were recently beaten 1-2 by Rovers back in January.

Another 3 points could go a long way towards helping Rovers retain their hard-won FAWC status.

You can buy tickets on card via the link or you can pay cash on the day:-

£5 Adults

£3 Concessions (18-25 & Senior)

£2 Kids (17 & Under)

or you can go posh & contact the Club about the £12.50 Hospitality option (screenshot below) where you can access the balcony behind one of the goals.

or you can sponsor the ball for £50+VAT if it's still available.

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/onerovers/EDP/Event/Index/829 

Bamber Bridge's ground (The Sir Tom Finney Stadium) is just off the m65.

There's free parking in Bamber Bridge (on the street by the ground or there is St Mary's Church Car Park which is also free if needs be).

It's a 15 minute walk from Bamber Bridge train station to the ground as per Google Maps.

I can recommend the chips'n'gravy (pic attached). They also serve Bovril & hot chocolate as well as chocolate bars/crisps etc.

#onerovers

Thanks for reading,

Darmond.

Am feeling sad on hearing the news of Sir Bobby today.

In the same way as others on this thread, England at Italia '90 is when I fell in love with football. I also remember his grey suit with the crest over the pocket and how he took losing the semi-final v Germany with such good grace.

Have read countless stories today of how he would put other people first and take care of the little things.

My thoughts are with his family and friends.