Blackburn Rovers famous blue and white halves will soon be dominating the junior football scene in India – with 400 teams set to sport the club’s colours.

Rovers’ Indian owners Venky’s are determined to help develop football in their country and have started to introduce a Blackburn Rovers Football Club league across the nation.

The club’s academy manager Phil Cannon has just returned from Venky’s home city of Pune to help launch the setting up of the first league.

The Pune league will have 20 teams in it, with 19 other leagues ready to be implemented across India, with the next expected to be created in Delhi.

Every single team in each of the under 12 leagues will play in Blackburn Rovers’ kit, with the home teams in blue and white and the away teams wearing Rovers’ yellow kit.

Cannon said: “It is a great initiative from the owners. Football is taking off in a big way in India and they want to do their bit to help develop the game.

“I know everyone says cricket is their main game, and it is, but when we went out there we saw how popular football is becoming. There is huge potential out there.

“I’m sure one day the owners would love to see these leagues help to develop an Indian player who could play in the Premier League. That is still a way off, but this is a great start.”

Cannon, left, made the trip with fellow academy coach David Lowe, visiting schools, coaching sessions and passing on their expertise to the Indian coaches.

Cannon said: “The trip was about helping and advising the Indian coaches and managers on the development of young players. It will lead to an exch-ange of coaches and hopefully players over the next few years and who knows, we may unearth a gem.

“One of the schools we visited were donated an astroturf by the owners.

“You never know other English clubs might want to get involved as they try to tap into the Indian market.

"That would be fine, but they would still be playing in the Blackburn Rovers league.”