WORK is under way at Blackburn Rovers' new soccer academy aimed at grooming the club's stars of the future.

The £4.75 million facility for the cream of Rovers' youth talent is being built on the former Brockhall hospital site in Langho by Yorkshire-based PS Turner Constructions Ltd.

Rovers has been chosen by the Football Association as one of only a handful of clubs in the UK to operate one of the top academies.

It will include five full-sixed pitches and a half-sized pitch, indoor training facilities, a swimming pool and accommodation for 36 players.

Local residents had objected to the original plans for the academy, claiming it would be an eyesore in an open rural landscape.

But it finally got the go-ahead from councillors at the beginning of the year and work is due to be completed at the end of this month.

The academy, which is yet to be named, will be about half a mile from the senior players' training ground.

John Williams, chief executive of Blackburn Rovers, said: "The facility will be the pride of Blackburn Rovers.

"It will be used mainly by players in the youth squad aged 16 to 19, but youngsters from the age of nine from the school of excellence will also play there."

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