FORMER Blackburn Rovers trainee Jon Pickup has signed a new three-year contract with American club Indiana Blast.

The 25-year-old defender, who left Ewood Park to join Chester City, will start his third season with the Indianapolis club when the new US national Soccer League season starts next march.

Pickup, whose family live at Clayton le Moors, has already played more games for the Second Division club than any other defender in the Blast's history.

His 45 appearances, amounting to 4,000 minutes, rank him third overall and he holds the Blast record for consecutive games, having played in 31 consecutive matches from April 1998 to June, 1999.

"I'm pleased to be staying with the club for another three years. I have a lot of good friends here and we have good players. I think the club can go places," said Pickup, who played in 24 of the Blast's 28 games last season, scoring once and also being credited with an assist.

Blast head coach Jimmy McDonald said: "Signing Jon is key for us, because he's a steady performer at the back."

Pickup had an earlier two-year stint in the States and then played for two years in China before linking up with the Indianapolis club, who also had ex-Rovers striker Peter Baah on their books last season.

ROVERS Double Your Money winner was 598, Nellie Greenfield, Blackburn. The £800 Rovers Return winner was Philip Reid, Blackburn, number 016499. The autographed ball was won by Colin Barnes, number 010500.

TICKETS are now on sale for Rovers Worthington Cup Third Round clash with Leeds United at Elland Road on Wednesday October 13. Rovers fans have been allocated the lower tier of the South Stand behind the goal and the prices are £12 (adults) and £6 (juniors and senior citizens).

Family tickets consisting of two adults and two juniors or one adult and three juniors are also available priced £30.

Rovers have also announced ticket details for their Nationwide League clash with Manchester City at Maine Road on October 23.

Tickets will go on restricted sale this Monday, firstly to season ticket holders who attended today's game at Queens Park Rangers.

Any remaining tickets will then go on open sale on Monday October 11 to any season ticket holders or supporters in possession of a ticket stub from the QPR game.

It's an all-ticket match and only one ticket is allowed per person.

The prices are adults £12, juniors and senior citizens £7.

And tickets are now on sale for Rovers forthcoming home games against Grimsby Town and Crystal Palace.

Grimsby visit Ewood on October 16th and Palace travel north four days later.

Tickets are priced £15 for adults, £10 for senior citizens and £8 for juniors.

SWINDON Town have accepted a £1M offer from QPR for striker George Ndah.

Ndah proved a real handful for the Rovers defence in Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat at the County Ground.

But any deal was unlikely to go ahead in time for Ndah to face Rovers again at Loftus Road today.

ROVERS Reserves have a home fixture next week when Sheffield Wednesday are the visitors to Ewood on Tuesday night. The match kicks off at 7pm.

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