BLACKBURN Rovers' Academy kick off their league campaign on August 19.

Gary Bowyer's under 18 side will be looking to win their Academy group for the third time in a row.

The season starts with a game against Leicester City and the following weekend they travel to London to take on Tottenham Hotspur.

But before their league campaign gets underway there are pre-season matches.

They have a home game against Rochdale on Saturday before taking part in a tournament in Hamilton, Scotland from August 3-6.

They end their pre-season preparations with a trip to take on Chelsea on Friday August 11.

Rovers reserves have a busy pre-season before their Premiership Reserve North campaign starts on August 31.

This Saturday, they travel to Fleetwood (3pm ko), and then have three successive away games: Aug 2 - Bamber Bridge (7.30pm), Aug 5 - Chorley (3pm) and Stalybrige Celtic (7.30pm) on August 8.

The season opens with a cracking tie at Manchester United on August 31 (7pm) at Hyde United FC.

Then they face Bolton Wanderers at Morecambe on Monday, September 11, and Sheffield United at Chesterfield on September 19.