Hundreds queue at opening of Blackburn Rovers shop (From This Is Lancashire)

Hundreds queue at opening of Blackburn Rovers shop

9:00pm Monday 13th July 2009 in

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HUNDREDS of Rovers fans queued for up to two hours to be among the first in the club’s new town centre club shop torday.

Manager Sam Allardyce and players Stephen Warnock and Ryan Nelsen helped open the store in The Mall, before signing autographs and posing for photos with fans.

The shop, called the OneRoverstore, will even sell season tickets and matchday tickets, making it even easier for fans to get their Ewood Park seats.

Simon Williams, head of commercial and marketing at the club, said the opening of the shop was a significant move for a club of Rovers’ size.

“We have wanted to open a shop in town for about a year, but we needed to wait until we were safe last season to start pressing ahead,” he said.

“It is a big move for a club our size and will help us interact with the fans even more.

"It can be difficult for fans to get to Ewood so this gives them a chance to pop into the shop while in town and even get their tickets here.”

Eight-year-old Liam Allen was one of the first through the doors. The youngster, formerly of Rishton, now lives in Hong Kong with his parents, but is back in town visiting family.

He said: “I can’t believe I have met the players, it is amazing. I watch all the games at home on the TV and still really support the club.”

Philip Walsh, 33, of Lammack, said he thought opening a town centre store was a great move.

“It is definitely good progress,” he said. "It makes the club so much more accessible to the community, it can only improve the relationship between the club, the town and the fans.

"Hopefully it will bring even more supporters to Ewood as well, it couldn’t be easier to get tickets.”

The opening of the new premises, next door to Hampson’s, was marked by the bakers who had a special blue and white cake made for the occasion.

Manager Sam Allardyce said he hoped the club would benefit on the pitch from the new venture.

He said: “I am sure the store will be a great success, it could be a great help bringing more fans in to the ground and down to the club.”