FORGET footballers' wives and girlfriends - an amateur team is proving that mums and grans are a far bigger hit.

Relatives of players and officials from Blackburn club Sporting Athletic have got their kit off to pose in a raunchy calendar to raise money for a trip to Europe.

The idea was dreamt up by mothers standing on the touchline while cheering on their sons.

And although the calendars have caused some team members to blush they are proving extremely popular, said club bosses.

The club has printed 150 calendars to sell for £5 each to help fund a tour of Holland next October.

Club treasurer Rick Hosey said: "They were quite up for it when the idea came up. Plenty of the mothers were willing to pose for the calendar.

"When the junior lads saw it they were thinking 'oh my God that's my mother there'.

"But you can see from the pictures there's nothing pornographic about them."

During the October half term the four junior squads, under 10s, 12s, 14s, and 15s will travel to the European country to play games against two sides and also visit the stadium of top Dutch side Ajax.

Team secretary Peter Quinn said the trip costs about £270 per person so the club is hoping to hold more fundraising events soon.

His wife Paula and her mother Anne feature on the cover of the calendar.

He said: "The women are pleased with it and it's raising money for the kids, and anything that's going to raise money has got my full backing."

Paula, who is Miss November, added: "When it was first suggested it was a bit tongue in cheek, but then we thought why not do it?

"We had a superb time doing the calendar, it was a great day."

The under 10s, 12s and 14s, play in the Blackburn, Darwen and Hyndburn junior and youth league, the under 15s play in the Accrington league, and the senior squad compete in the Blackburn combination league.

Sporting Athletic's under-14s squad made the news last month after breaking their three year losing duck by beating Darwen Rangers Hawks 4-1.

The lack of a win saw them named the worst team in East Lancashire, which earned them a brand new kit, special training sessions with Blackburn Rovers coaching staff and equipment.

The calendar can be bought from the club's sponsor Wasp Roofing Supplies, Weir Street, Blackburn, or by calling Mr Hosey on 07930 510264 or Mr Quinn on 01254 582822 or 07932 850608.