TEAMS from across the North West have been travelling to Blackburn to play in a specially-designed football league for vulnerable adults — thought to be the first of its kind in England.

The 12-team league has grown from six people turning out for kick-abouts next to Ewood Park, and is now attracting teams from Wigan, Stockport and Everton, as well as interest from professional clubs in the south.

The competition is run by Creative Support, a non-profit organisation which offers help to adults with mental health needs, drug and alcohol problems or learning disabilities, as well as those who are socially isolated.

Paul Hardman, who works in the organsation’s Blackburn office, in Strawberry Bank, said: “Three years ago we just had six lads at the Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre — we would ask for £1.50 in subs and make the rest of the money up ourselves.

“But over time more people started to come. We played a couple of friendly matches against the James Street hostel in Darwen and invited them to join our weekly Wednesday sessions.

“The weekly group was the catalyst for the league, which started up a year ago and now has 12 teams and matches once a month. As far as I know there’s not another regular league like this, so we are really proud of it. It’s often difficult for us to engage with vulnerable people, but what we found was many of them love playing football. When you’re having to spend a lot of time in hospital or attending appointments with GPs or psychiatrists it’s nice to have somet-hing to look forward to.”

Paul was recently contacted by professional teams Northampton Town and Crawley Town, who wan-ted advice on engaging vulnerable adults in foot-ball.

He said: “We want this to be replicated across the country.”

Players from the weekly sessions also represent the Blackburn Rovers Co-mmunity Trust in competitions around the country.

Shaun Morris, 29, from Blackburn, who attends the sessions, said: “I look foward to the football each week and after working hard on my fitness I was picked to play for Blackburn Brasilia in Division 2 of the league. It helps to keep me fit and I now also go to the gym and swimming pool. It enables me to make lots of new friends and I enjoy the banter with other teams.”

Creative Support operates nationally but the football sessions have grant funding from Blackburn with Darwen Council.