BOSSES at Blackburn Rovers have been blasted after increasing the cost of a children's Saturday Club ticket for the match against Manchester United by £11.

Youngsters who attend the Saturday Club normally pay £14 to see a Rovers home match. The cost also includes a meal before the game and two hours coaching from the club's Football in the Community staff.

But due to ticket demand, the price has risen to £25 for the clash against the Premiership table-toppers - neither will there be a discount for a second child.

Angry mum Shirley Howard, whose nine-year-old son Matthew is a Rovers fanatic, said she was disappointed with the price increase.

Mrs Howard, who lives in Preston, said: "The price is normally £14 (with discount for second child) as it will be for Liverpool on April 24.

"I appreciate the demand for the United match will be great, but to demand another £11 on top of the usual £14, without any discounts for other children from the same family, is in my mind greedy and unjust. "My son adores Rovers and yes I will no doubt fork out the £25. But for the lads who regularly attend the Saturday Club and support their team, I think Mr (Jack) Walker could have supported them and charged the normal rate."

Peter Devine, boss of the club's Football in the Community scheme, which runs the Saturday Club, said the price increase was simply a result of ticket demand.

He said: "The Football in the Community scheme is a non profit-making organisation. The cost has gone up for the Manchester United match because of the sheer demand for tickets and there is really nothing we can do about it."

Normal children's tickets for the game, which is one of three Category A matches held at Ewood during the season, are the usual price of £10, while adults will pay between £22 and £28.

The remaining games are Category B matches where adult tickets cost between £18 and £25 and children's tickets are also £10.

The game is due to take place on April 10, but may be postponed if United are involved in the FA Cup semi finals.

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