BROTHERLY love was cast aside when Alan and Michael Croascale held their own football derby.

Ian, a staunch Burnley fan, and his friends took on his younger brother’s Blackburn team in an 11-a-side prelude to the Premier League clash.

In a hard-fought encounter, honours were even as the game ended 4-4.

Lancashire County Council worker Ian, 49, from Great Harwood, said he had been Clarets-mad for more than 40 years while younger brother Michael is a staunch Rovers supporter.

Ian said: “When I was growing up Leeds were a big team and I went to watch them against Burnley.

“Turf Moor was filled to the rafters with about 40,000 people, and I fell in love with the place. I’ve been a Claret ever since.

“Michael is younger than me, so when he came to the age where he would watch football, he went with his friends and our dad, who were all Rovers fans.

"It hasn’t caused any problems for us, there’s just friendly banter.

“Being a Claret hasn’t been easy over the years because we almost went out of business a few years ago, while at the same time Rovers were winning the Premier League and playing in Europe, but now things have evened out.

“I think on the day of the match it’ll be a draw, but of course I’d love us to win.”

Michael, 45, a plumber from Clayton-le-Moors, said: “We were born in Blackburn, went to school in Blackburn, and the family are Rovers supporters, so it was only natural I am too.

“When we moved to Great Harwood, Burnley were the bigger team in the first division, but since then it’s completely changed.”

Both teams in the match at Lyndon House, Harwood Lane, Great Harwood, were in full kits, Alan’s team having been given to them by Burnley FC.

Michael said: “The lads on our teams all knew one another and we all got together afterwards for a friendly drink.

“It’ll be the same after the real match, but I think Rovers will win 2-0.”