[ad_1]
Watford welcomed more than 35 Blackburn supporters from various ethnic backgrounds to Vicarage Road as the Ewood Express rolled into town for the Championship clash between the two sides at the weekend.
This marks the second time the club has joined this season by being named in the ‘Beautiful Game’ after previously linking up through Sky Sports and Sporting Equals partnership in showing support for the Blackburn Euro Garages FC side, whose players were the target of some unsavory treatment during a local league game last year.
Ewood Express aims to make a generational change by making it affordable and accessible for children from different communities to watch live football, with the service usually taking youngsters from local grassroots clubs, mosques and schools – together with a teacher – to Ewood Park for just £. 8 children.
It was a day to remember for Blackburn fans at Vicarage Road
Transport is provided by the club and partners and has now brought over 3500 children to games at Ewood Park, proving invaluable to the local community and to Rovers.
Blackburn has a 35 percent Muslim population in South Asia, but the community is not visible in the space. Rovers have taken a progressive stance to address this issue, becoming the first league club in the country to host Eid al-Fitr prayers at their ground in May 2022, and actively promoting the use of multi-faith spaces on match days.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Blackburn Rovers became the first English league club to open their stadium for Eid prayers.
Halal food has been launched at Ewood Park, with one stand designated as alcohol-free, while the club teamed up with the Fans for Diversity campaign to launch a new ‘Rovers SAS’ supporters group.
The Ewood Express stops at Cambridge Central Mosque on its way down from Blackburn
Working in partnership with Watford’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team, Rovers executive Yasir Sufi created a tailored away experience for some of the club’s Muslim fans.
Children as young as 10, and the leader of Blackburn with Darwen council, Phil Riley, was among those who traveled to the game, which included a bike stop at the famous Cambridge Central Mosque to allow for mid-afternoon prayer to be observed.
Watford also made arrangements for the traveling supporters to pray in the stadium before the 1-1 draw.
A prayer was observed in the stadium before kick-off
The two clubs strengthened their friendship with a post-match meal attended by both sets of supporters, Rovers chief executive Steve Waggott, and dignitaries including Watford MP Dean Russell and local councilor Asif Khan.
“It was an amazing day, and more hospitality,” said Rovers’ Sufi Sky Sports News.
“It was like a home away from home, and sharing the bread and eating it with Watford friends and family was a real highlight.
“Only three of our group have never been to an away game before. It was the first time they experienced the environment away today, and the atmosphere – which is always a little special. And that does not happen without Ewood. Expression of the day.”
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Blackburn Rovers Integration and Development Manager Yasir Sufi and Head of Operations Lynsey Talbot react to the club receiving the EFL Diversity award, and look forward to Ewood Park hosting Eid prayers.
Head of EDI Watford, Dave Messenger, told Sky Sports News: “We share our values as people and as a club. There is a lot of work in football to try and fight discrimination and try to make everyone happy, and people like me and Yasir are at the forefront of that work.
“We really share our values, and so do the clubs. I’ve been around the league and I’ve seen a lot of clubs working in this space and working with Blackburn, with some amazing things they’ve done for the Muslim community. It’s an absolute pleasure and appreciation.
“It makes a statement that clubs are willing to do this kind of work for the supporters and it also says that you have two clubs that share the same values, so why can’t you work together to create a good experience for people, and why wouldn’t you do that? everything possible to make people happy in your stadium.”
English South Asia in football
For more stories, features and videos, visit the South Asia in Football breakthrough page on skysports.com and the South Asia in Games blog and stay tuned to Sky Sports News and our Sky Sports digital platform.
Watford attack Blackburn late
Watford and Blackburn saw their 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road irrelevant in the race for the Sky Bet Championship playoffs.
Rovers’ Bradley Dack’s first-half opener was canceled out by Wesley Hoedt’s debut strike in the second period.
Apart from the start for the goalscorer, Watford gave a home debut to Ryan Porteous, who scored at Reading last week. Blackburn made two changes, with Tyler Morton and Tyrhys Dolan starting the match.
The managers
Slaven Bilic watches his Watford side at Vicarage Road.
Watford’s Slaven Bilic:
“I like the performance, not just the possession. We are constantly in good situations, on the wing or in the last third. It’s just a lack of quality – when crossing, when it comes to reaction. In the box, that’s lacking. Then we conceded a goal from one- put an attack that looks dangerous. But it doesn’t kill us.
“We made some changes at half time, and we continued to play well. All we lost was a goal. It will take a little time for Pedro to reach 90 minutes. He is very good, and we know what he will do.”
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Watford and Blackburn.
Jon Dahl Tomasson of Blackburn:
“At the end of the day, away from Watford by a point, when you look at the squad and the players who are at Premier League level, I think it’s fine. With the quality, it’s a big compliment to the players, the spirit of the team. , the level of work, and how they fight, it’s very good.
[ad_2]
Source link