Rovers’ representatives Jack Ellison, Adam Robinson and Ed Rushworth were crowned Boys Champions at the 2011 Fred Perry Table Tennis Urban Cup fi nals in London.

The local youngsters edged out Manchester United in a hard-fought fi nal to come away with the trophy.

The club’s Community Trust team also included sisters Gemma and Lauren Dearden, from Accrington Academy, who competed in the girls event.

In an initiative launched by the Premier League and Fred Perry that has seen 100,000 girls and boys aged 11-14 play table-tennis over the past three months – wearing their Premier League club colours – Rovers’ fi ve youngsters had reached the fi nal 80 competitors in the country.

Rovers’ Premier League 4 Sport co-ordinator, Claire Newton, said: “It was a fantastic tournament and the chance-of-a-lifetime for all the young participants to compete at such a high standard. The progression of table-tennis in Blackburn over the last 12 months has gone from strength to strength.

“The young boys and girls that represented our Community Trust over the weekend really did themselves proud. Within the PL4S project, two national finals have now been held – in volleyball and table tennis – and I am delighted to say that we now hold the boys title in both events.”

View this article as it featured in the match day Programme this weekend, Saturday 12th February, for Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle here