BLACKBURN Under 15s have been given a tough away draw at Manchester in the first round of this season's Heinz Ketchup Trophy.

The national knockout cup, the schools' version of the FA Cup, is in the second year of a three-year sponsorship deal with Heinz.

Blackburn have never won the prestigious 94 year old schools' national competition, but local officials will be hoping for an extended run this time round.

Burnley, who reached the Lancashire Schools Wrennal Cup Final last season only to go down 2-0 to Preston, have also been drawn at home to Wigan.

The full first round draw involving associations in the North West is: Macclesfield v Oldham, West Lancashire v Tameside, Chorley v Bolton, Halton v Bury, Pendle v Stockport, Manchester v Blackburn, Burnley v Wigan, Blackpool v Rochdale, South Cheshire v Wirral, Warrington v South Ribble, Preston v Salford, Chester v Trafford. Byes: Rossendale, Kirkby, Sefton, St Helens, Mid-Cheshire, Liverpool.

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