Football is coming home to Blackburn

Published Tuesday 21 August 2018 at 12:02

One of the North West’s biggest football festivals kicks off in Blackburn this weekend.

Around 70 teams will take part in the annual Blackburn with Darwen Football Festival at Pleasington Playing Fields on Saturday and Sunday (August 25 and 26).

Sponsored by Forbes Solicitors, the pre-season curtain raiser is organised by Blackburn with Darwen Council and attracts thousands of players and spectators from around the North West and beyond.

It is even registered as an international tournament with FIFA as teams have attending from Scotland and Wales.

Football fans will be able to watch hundreds of games from under 7s through to under 16s. There will also be bar and catering marquees.

Councillor Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, said:

This hugely popular tournament is now in its 19th year and is Blackburn and Darwen’s biggest sporting event.

It attracts teams from across the UK and there must be players who have taken part in past tournaments who have gone on to careers with top clubs. It is also a big boost for local businesses, with many of the borough’s hotels fully booked with visiting teams.

We will have around 30 referees officiating the hundreds of games that will take place over the weekend. There will also be scouts from Premier League and other clubs attending so who knows, spectators could see the next Harry Kane, Steph Houghton or Bradley Dack in action.

The tournament takes place from 9am to 5pm on both days.

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