Blackburn Rovers teamed up with footballers from the Salvation Army as they represented the town in a tournament.

The Salvation Army's Bramwell House is located on Heaton Street, and aims to enable people to make positive life changes.

On Thursday, Bramwell House took part in an annual five-a-side football tournament in Manchester against other organisations to raise awareness for those living in unfit conditions and those facing homelessness. 

To help with preparation for the competition, Blackburn Rovers and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust offered their Indoor Centre facilities as a base for them to use to train free of charge, with a coaching session from one of the trust’s qualified academy coaches. 

The club also donated training kits to Bramwell House to wear at the tournament in Manchester and, at the home fixture against Bristol City, the club asked supporters to donate any toiletries for people living in the accommodation. 

Lee and Shane, who work at Bramwell House, said: “Fourteen years ago, Pep Guardiola set up a safeguarding partnership football tournament for Salvation Army officers, there were 30 odd teams who entered it last year and it gave everyone something to look forward to.

“For those who are playing, they don’t get many opportunities like this and it has been great they have been able to train at the Indoor Centre and the club and Trust to offer their services, it has been brilliant."

Ilyas Patel, community inclusion manager at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, added: “We have worked with Bramwell House and the Salvation Army on previous occasions and it is great to get involved with them to help with their preparation for next week’s tournament. 

“They had fun training at the Indoor Centre, and it is massive that we work with them and anything we can do to support them as a football club and a Community Trust, we will do.

“They were really looking forward to receiving the kits too and we wish them well next week in the tournament.”