ROVERS duo Danny Graham and Richie Smallwood paid a visit to the school of a nine year-old boy who fell through a factory roof to discuss the importance of safety.

Leon Langford is recovering in hospital after sustaining a head injury after the incident at a business premises on Rockfield Street.

Headteacher Paul Haythornthawite, a Rovers season ticket holder, gave an update on the condition of the Longshaw Community Junior school pupil, with the youngster facing a long road to recovery.

A Rovers player is set to visit Leon in hospital at a later date, with Graham and Smallwood promoting the message of safety, and resilience during an hour-long assembly.

“It was a nice message and it was nice to see the kids, show our faces and I hope the kids had a good day,” said the Rovers striker.

“It was good to talk about resilience and highlighting what it takes to be successful. The attitude to never give up when you can’t do something.

“I’ve got kids back at home and I know the football club does a lot of this sort of stuff around the Blackburn area.

“It’s nice to come out, and out some smiles on the kid’s faces and them actually take stuff in, of what has been said then it’s a good day.”

The children were shown footage of Winter Olympian Steve Bradbury who battled back from three serious injuries to claim speed skating gold in the 2002 games in Salt Lake City.

The assembly, led by Rovers Community Trust, highlighted the importance of never giving in, and turning the focus from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’t yet’.

Grateful for the support from Rovers, the headteacher said: “I would like to thank them for showing their supporter.

“It will be a long time before Leon is ready to come and see us but he is going to have to show a lot of resilience.

“You are the most precious thing that I know.

“You need to keep yourselves safe so listen to the adults and the people around you.”

Striker Graham said the messages from the assembly about never giving up was similar to that given by manager Tony Mowbray.

He added: “Yeah, obviously he would highlight that if you’re 2-0 up or 2-0 down you have to show resilience to see the game out or to get back into it.

“It was nice to be down here and like I say put a smile on the kid’s faces.

“It’s another bit of good work from the football club again, and keeps everyone pulling together.”