BLACKBURN Rovers deserve to be applauded for seizing the initiative in the drive to bring down ticket prices.

Over the last few weeks, we've seen various national newspapers launch campaigns to try and make football more affordable, and I'm proud to see Rovers leading the way by announcing price cuts of 25 per cent for next season.

There's no question the cost of watching football had become too expensive, not just at Blackburn, but at Premiership grounds right across the country.

It costs a small fortune for a dad to take his two kids these days.

On top of the ticket prices, you've also got to factor in the cost of transport, maybe a couple of burgers for the kids, perhaps a pre-match pint for yourself, and a programme.

By the time you add all that up, you're talking about the best part of £100, which is a hell of a lot of money for the average guy on the street, and even then he's not guaranteed an afternoon's entertainment at the end of it.

If you go to the pictures, you usually go to watch a specific film you want to see, so you're guaranteed to be entertained, but the same can't be said for a football match, where a bad decision by a referee or a poor performance by your team can affect your enjoyment, yet it costs a fraction of the price to take your family to the cinema.

At the end of the day, football should be a game for the masses, but the working classes can no longer afford to support their team.

That's why drastic action needs to be taken now to stop the game we love from dying on its feet.

Rovers have shown the way by slashing ticket prices. Now it's up to the fans to give the club their full backing.

Wouldn't it be great to see Ewood Park packed to the rafters on a regular basis next season?

Let's face it, Rovers now have a team and a manager that is worthy of such support.