My impression is that Blackburn is a football town, bit like Middlesbrough the local population has declined for the last 60 years as people moved away for work or better careers. The main local industry was cotton spinning and clothing (which brought alot of prosperity upto 1914) , then the Government moved new industries into the area in the inter war years, but that support had dropped off since 1979 and the new industries have reduced too. Leaving a large manufacturing town with little or no manufacturing. Jack Walker left a £300m legacy when he sold his steelstockholding business and give the proceeds to Rovers in the early 1990s and they were the biggest spenders in the UK for several years, before the foreign billionaires moved into the Premier League from 2003. The town was a product of the Industrial Revolution and the new Victorian inhabitants wanted to give themselves a local identity by supporting a local professional football club and there is still a legacy of this. The clubs catchment area is quite small partly because they are a lot of local competing clubs - Burnley, Accrington, Preston all within 15 miles. They usually bring around 1000 to the Riverside, a bit more than Preston, a bit less than Burnley.I find them a strange club really. Fantastic history but they've never done well attendance wise. Their away support has always been poor as well, they never bring many to the Riverside.
Isn't Diaz suspended for Mondays game ?
The Barnsley away end holds 6000 in theory, but in recent years has been restricted to 4.5 to 4.7k.Probs Barnsley. We might get 6000 this season
I think we may get a few more as they’re having low crowds and will be happy with the money.The Barnsley away end holds 6000 in theory, but in recent years has been restricted to 4.5 to 4.7k.
Blackburn Darwin is a smallish place and they are surrounded by other small places with old football clubs. Preston, Burnley, Bolton are each under 15 miles away, Blackpool 20 miles. That's before considering Manchester 26 miles and Liverpool 30 miles and four big clubs. Even little Accrington 5 miles away has a fan base that impacts them.I find them a strange club really. Fantastic history but they've never done well attendance wise. Their away support has always been poor as well, they never bring many to the Riverside.
Is it in a FIFA agreed 'window'? If not then Chile are relying on goodwill, so my guess is Diaz plays against us.No, but Chile play Argentina next Friday (00:15, so effectively Thursday) so there's a good chance that Brereton Diaz is a away on international duty when we play them, unless Chile allow him to join up late and have no prior training with the squad before their biggest international match.
It takes nearly 24 hours to fly to Santiago from Manchester, he'd be on a very tight schedule.
This is a vital World Cup qualifier too and Chile need to win, they'll surely call up their strongest possible squad.
Is it in a FIFA agreed 'window'? If not then Chile are relying on goodwill, so my guess is Diaz plays against us.
And looks like there are still a load more unrealised in the same block.Just released another 500 in S02
Amazing number of clubs in Central Lancashire and North Manchester areaBlackburn Darwin is a smallish place and they are surrounded by other small places with old football clubs. Preston, Burnley, Bolton are each under 15 miles away, Blackpool 20 miles. That's before considering Manchester 26 miles and Liverpool 30 miles and four big clubs. Even little Accrington 5 miles away has a fan base that impacts them.
Blackburn will never draw much support from beyond it.
Burnley is even smaller, more or less the same size as Darlington which makes their gates very good.
These Lancashire clubs are land locked.
Five founder members of the original Football League in that list too if you add in Burnley.Amazing number of clubs in Central Lancashire and North Manchester area
Rochdale, (Bury), Bolton, Wigan, Accrington, Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Oldham.
We call the North East - the hotbed of football - but we never had more than 6 League professional clubs.
The North East have had a fair few professional League clubs over the years - Durham City, Ashington, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Boro, Nops, Darlo, Pools. Stockton just missed out on election in 1951Amazing number of clubs in Central Lancashire and North Manchester area
Rochdale, (Bury), Bolton, Wigan, Accrington, Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Oldham.
We call the North East - the hotbed of football - but we never had more than 6 League professional clubs.