Ewood Notes, with PETER WHITE

BLACKBURN Rovers have beaten off competition from several top clubs, including Merseyside pair Liverpool and Everton, to sign schoolboy Ben Chamberlain.

The midfielder, from Buckley, is a member of the Welsh under-15 schoolboy side.

ENGLAND coach Glenn Hoddle's assistant John Gorman was a spectator at Ewood last Saturday.

Several players could have been the focus of his attention, including Tim Flowers and Jason Wilcox, who were both put on stand-by for England, and Andy Hinchcliffe.

Actress Jenny Seagrove also watched the match as a guest of Everton director and theatre impresario Bill Kenwright.

ROVERS Reserves have two Pontin's League Premier Division games in the next week, including a re-arranged home match against Everton.

On Wednesday they visit Nottingham Forest and next Saturday have brought forward the home match against Everton from October 7. It will now be played on the afternoon of Saturday, October 5, with a 2pm kick-off.

"As there are no Premiership fixtures that weekend, it seemed to make more sense to play the reserve match on Saturday afternoon, rather than a Monday evening," said a club spokesman. BRENTFORD supporters who made the trip North on Tuesday night were given an unexpected bonus - a tour of the Police Control Room at Ewood.

The novel pre-match entertainment was arranged by stadium chief Mel Highmore and was so well received it's an exercise that could be repeated for visiting fans at other games.

ROVERS fans might recall that Portuguese forward Hugo Porfirio, who signed for West Ham on loan from Sporting Lisbon this week, once had trials at Ewood.

NEXT Saturday, Rovers A are at home to Marine Reserves, with the B team away to Blackpool A.

TICKETS for the next Premiership fixture, against Arsenal at Ewood on Saturday, October 12 (3pm), are currently on sale - at normal prices.

Seats for the next away game, against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday, October 19 (3pm), will go on open sale from next Wednesday.

Prices at Hillsborough are: adults £13, concessions £9. Arrangements have already been made for the Coca-Cola Cup third round tie at home to Stockport County, with the game set for Ewood on Tuesday, October 22 (kick-off 7-45pm).

Tickets will go on sale on Monday at normal prices.

League season-ticket holders have until Saturday, October 12, to claim their own seats, either in person at the ticket office with their book, or by telephone (01254-671666), quoting their patron number.

Any seats not claimed by then will go on open sale from Monday, October 14.

Premium season-ticket holders need take no action.

Seats for the Premiership game away to West Ham on Saturday, October 26 (3pm), will go on open sale from next Wednesday, October 2. Prices are £18 adults, £10 concessions.

LATEST Double Your Money Club £500 winner is E Blanche, Blackburn, number 949A.

Winner of the Rovers Return £1,705 prize at last Saturday's game against Everton was P Pascoe, Stratford-on-Avon, number 107003.

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