Blackburn Rovers have defended their decision not to allow local league cup finals to be played at Ewood Park this season.

Rovers claim that they are one of the few Premiership sides that regularly allows local amateur leagues to use the pitch but they have put a block on Ewood Park being used this year because the club needs it for academy assessment games.

Both Blackburn Combination and Orphanage Cup committee members have expressed their disappointed in the club denying local league players the 'chance of a lifetime' to play on the hallowed turf.

Peter Bush, secretary of the Orphanage Cup said: "It is the pinnacle of any local league player's career to play on Ewood Park. To play at the home of Blackburn Rovers watched by your family and friends is the icing on the cake so naturally I am very disappointed. The response we seem to be getting from players is that what's the point in playing in the cup if we can't play on Ewood Park." The Orphanage Cup has not been played on Ewood Park since 1990 but the Blackburn Combination, whose patron is Jack Walker, used the ground to stage its Eddleston and Birtwistle cups last season.

Fixture secretary Jim Haworth said: "The club was absolutely magnificent last year and we were hoping to get on again this year. I can understand they have to use it for their academy games so hopefully we can get on again in the next few seasons."

Both Mr Bush and Mr Haworth were quick to praise Darwen FC who have allowed both competitions to use the Anchor Ground over the past 10 years. Tom Finn, Blackburn Rovers secretary, said he realised how disappointed players felt but the club had to be able to compete with the rest of the Premiership in trying to attract the country's top young players to Blackburn.

He said: "We have always done what we can to help local leagues but we have to get our priorities right and that is trying to attract young players to the academy.

"We are not saying that local leagues will not be able to use Ewood Park ever again and they are welcome to re-apply next season."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.