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Leyland Club and Blackburn Rovers unite for festive activities

It’s been a season of festive connection for our Leyland Club, Sporting Memories and Championship side Blackburn Rovers for a Stadium Tour and a Fundraiser.

Visit to Ewood Park and the Empire Theatre

In November, our Leyland Club visited to Ewood Park, home of the Rovers, for a tour of the stadium of the 1994/95 Premier League winners. Our Leyland Club has a special connection to that title-winning team, with former coach Tony Parkes being a member of the Sporting Memories group.

Tony is a legend of Rovers, having been involved with the club for over 30 years as a former player and coach. Tony joined the rest of his fellow Leyland Club members, alongside his daughter Natalie, for an enjoyable visit to the ground. The Club also has another former staff member of Rovers in Colin Fairhurst, who was a scout for the club for over 20 years. You can read more about Colin's story in football here.

The Club members were given a special tour of the ground and got to see some of the behind the scenes areas including the home and away dressing rooms and the boardroom.

They were also given the opportunity to get a closer view of the Premier League trophy they won in the 1990s before having a meal in Blues Bar to conclude their visit to Ewood Park.

However, the day wasn’t finished for our Leyland members after their visit to Ewood Park, as they then made their way to the Blackburn Empire Theatre to watch ‘We’ll Meet Again’ – a 1940s tribute act show featuring music and comedy from the war-time era.

Janet Dalton, Volunteer at the Leyland Club, commented: “It was a wonderful day for all of our Club members with a day packed with new memories and experiences. I could tell from after the session that they enjoyed the day as a group and there was plenty of laughter and singing along the way!”

OneRovers raise funds for Sporting Memories

And earlier this month, Blackburn Rovers, through #OneRovers Christmas Party, for supporters with disabilities, have been raising funds for locally based causes, and they have chosen Sporting Memories as one of three charities to received a donation.

Alongside The Deaf Village and The Salvation Army, we were selected to receive part of the £600 raised during the #OneRovers Christmas Party – and we thank everybody involved for their generous support!