Blackburn Rovers Football Club has teamed up with Myerscough College in Preston, Lancashire, to offer an academic qualification for young girls who are leaving school.

The initiative has been designed to enhance career opportunities for talented female footballers.

Myerscough College tutors will deliver two courses at the football club's Indoor Centre at Ewood Park – a first diploma and a national diploma in football studies.

The courses will utilise the on-site facilities and resources, which include two designated classrooms, two indoor pitches and an IT suite.

The partnership focuses on providing the girls with a football coaching qualification, while offering them the possibility of progression to the Blackburn Rovers Ladies first team, which finished seventh in the 2009/10 FA Women's Premier League.

Christina Craig, Myerscough College's learning manager for East Lancashire, said: "Through the partnership we are able to offer the opportunity for the girls to play football for a top-flight club as well as allowing them the use of excellent training facilities, whilst also gaining a recognisable academic qualification from Myerscough College."