Rovers will join forces with the Professional Footballers’ Association to host a talent identification event to help boost the representation of south Asian players within the game.

The club will host an ‘Emerging South Asian Rovers’ talent ID event at their Brockhall training base to showcase the talents of players aged between six and nine from Blackburn and surrounding areas.

Supported by the club’s Community Trust, the event on June 11 will also help educate parents on the pathways available for young players, with the opportunity to earn a chance within one of Rovers’ development centres.

Head of Academy, Stuart Jones, said: “Our community in Blackburn has a high percentage of young South Asian heritage children who are actively playing football with schools and local grassroots clubs. Working with the PFA and our Community Trust, this Talent ID day gives a fantastic opportunity for those young players to come and showcase their talents at the Academy, with the potential to become players within our system.

“We are proud to be part of this project and hope to work together to raise the number of South Asian players within the game and at our football club. Once in the system, we hope these players can inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

“Furthermore, we hope this will evolve to ensure that we as an Academy can offer support and opportunities for not only players but also coaches from South Asian heritage to develop within the game and at Blackburn Rovers.”

Rovers were awarded the EFL’s first ever diversity award and along with the PFA are hoping to use the event, and follow-up initiatives, to bolster links within south Asian communities.

CEO Steve Waggott added: “As a club, we are passionate about providing opportunities for young players within our South Asian community to demonstrate their footballing abilities, with the potential to enter our Category One Academy programme.  

“So we are pleased to be working together with the PFA and our Community Trust to develop and deliver this exciting Talent ID event, with the aim of increasing the number of South Asian players within the game and providing them with a development pathway at Blackburn Rovers.

“Recent statistics show that the percentage of South Asian heritage players in the professional game in England and Wales, including Academies, stands at just 0.78%. In Blackburn with Darwen, over 50% of children under 16 are now of South Asian heritage, so by putting on Talent ID days like this we’re hoping to bridge the gap and help the PFA work on a nationwide strategy to improve representation in the professional game of British South Asians.”

The PFA have joined forces with Rovers and say ‘there is an overwhelming appetite from them to tap into under-represented communities to find talent’.

Player inclusion executive Riz Rehman explained: “Working with Blackburn Rovers to organise these events will create a real buzz amongst players and communities, and is the first step as part of our longer-term strategy to see meaningful change.

“These initial emerging talent events will allow us to shine a light on a concentration of South Asian players and provide further opportunities for Blackburn Rovers Academy to build long-lasting links with South Asian communities and players that will go beyond these one-off events.

“Our aim is to develop more professional footballers and via our Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme and our data insights, we can nurture the elite talent and track the progress that these booster events will undoubtedly contribute to over the coming years.”

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