A FAMILIAR name was being bandied about Brockhall this week - Trelleborgs!

That's right, the little Swedish club who knocked Rovers out of the UEFA Cup last season and then gave Italian giants Lazio an almighty scare before losing to a last-minute goal.

Two representatives from Trelleborgs, in fact, visited Blackburn for a first-hand look at Rovers' youth set-up.

Top official Hans Cronholm and youth organiser Roland Larsson met Ewood's youth development boss Jim Furnell, although the atrocious weekend weather meant they couldn't take in a planned training session at Brockhall.

"We have kept in touch with the club since we played them," said Furnell. "And they expressed an interest in comparing an English club's youth development methods with those in Sweden.

"It's possible we could pay them a return visit at some stage in the future.

"You can always learn in this game and we had some very fruitful discussions and exchanged ideas, even though the weather ruined our main plans."

The two-day trip, however, wasn't a complete write-off for the Swedish visitors. Apart from the talks, they were also able to take in the Everton-Port Vale FA Cup tie.

PLACES are still available at Ewood for next Saturday's "live" screening of the Premiership game against Manchester United. Priced £6 adults, £3 concessions, they are on sale at the Ewood ticket office. There are no seats left for the actual game at Old Trafford, both clubs reporting a sellout.

MICHAEL Thompson, who has moved in as the new owner of Swansea City, is a friend and former business colleague of Jack Walker's son Howard.

TICKETS went on limited sale this week for the Premiership game against Liverpool at Ewood on Saturday, February 24.

The club are anxious to ensure regular supporters have the best chance of tickets so they are using the voucher scheme.

Seats for the Liverpool game can be bought on production of a stub from any of the home matches against Middlesbrough, Tottenham or Bolton.

They can also be booked by telephone (01254-671666), although applicants will have to provide verification of their attendance at one of those fixtures.

Season-ticket holders can also purchase tickets on production of their book. Verification will again be required for telephone bookings.

Normal match prices apply and there will not be any tickets sold on the day of the game.

SKY TV have chosen Rovers' home game against Premiership leaders Newcastle United for "live" screening. The date of the fixture, Easter Monday, April 8, has not changed but the kick-off time has been put back to 8pm.

YOUNG Rovers keeper Gareth Stewart has been called up for England duty again, selected for the under-16 squad who were scheduled to play Denmark in a friendly at Chester today.

Defender Marlon Broomes has been named in the England under-18 squad to face Italy at Yeovil on Tuesday.

DERBY County provide the opposition at Deepdale in Rovers' next Pontin's League First Division fixture on Wednesday night (kick-off 7pm).

THE A team are at Brockhall next Saturday morning (11am), with a home match against Tranmere. The B team travel to Carlisle.

PHYSIO Steve Foster is showing signs of strain - and not because of the injury list.

Steve and wife Alison are celebrating the recent arrival of their first child, Amy Louise. Both mother and daughter are home and fine but Steve groaned: "I just need some sleep!"

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