Blackburn Rovers’ award-winning Ewood Express initiative will return for the 2024-25 season, with three matches confirmed so far.

Ewood Express has been a huge success for more than four years and has provided thousands of young people with the access to watch live affordable men’s first team football at the home of the 1994-95 Premier League champions.

During the past two seasons alone, the club has welcomed 3,279 young people through the Ewood Express initiative to watch a match live.

The first game Ewood Express will be in operation for this season is on Saturday 28th September (12.30pm kick-off) against Queens Park Rangers.

The other two games confirmed are against Portsmouth on Saturday 23rd November (3pm kick-off) and Luton Town on Saturday 14th December (3pm kick-off) at Ewood Park.

The Ewood Express initiative won the EFL Diversity Award in 2022, and costs just £8 per child, which includes a match ticket and travel service to and from Ewood Park.

Our aim is to provide young people the opportunity to cheer on John Eustace’s side in a safe and welcoming environment, and allow those who may not have the opportunity to do so, the experience of watching a live competitive football match in the Sky Bet Championship.

Local schools, mosques, grassroots teams and youth/community groups can all get involved in the special inclusive travel service, which was first launched in February 2020 to bring communities together and has since supported thousands of people in the Blackburn with Darwen area.

Yasir Sufi, Head of Commercial and Partnerships at Blackburn Rovers, said: “The success of our award winning Ewood Express initiative over the course of the past four years has ensured it has now become a mainstay when we plan our matchday experience for young people in the local area.

“We’re very proud the positive impact Ewood Express has had on thousands of people’s lives and for some, the initiative has given them the opportunity to watch a live football match for the very first time.

“Ewood Express provides a safe, accessible service for young people across the borough at an affordable price, and we are looking forward to the first game against QPR on Saturday 28th September.”

From school to stadium, grassroots to game and mosque to match, young people from across the borough can experience the excitement of a Ewood Park matchday and have a day to remember at Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

If your school, mosque, grassroots club or community group is interested in getting involved in the Ewood Express this season, including the QPR fixture, please email ewoodexpress@rovers.co.uk for further information.

First three Ewood Express fixtures confirmed for 2024-25 season