Meet the fan turned guide raising money for charity
Ian Snape is the oldest football club tour guide in the country.
Snape, who is 74, began going to a Blackburn Rovers group for people affected by loneliness after his wife passed away in May 2022.
Since then, he’s found a new lease of life and has raised more than £1,700 for the club’s community trust and local charities.
As a result of his endeavours, Ian was asked to be a tour guide at the club and he says it has changed his life.
Always happy to talk, the ever-jovial Ian said: “It was in 2023 I did a charity walk around Ewood Park to raise money for the East Lancashire Hospital Trust. I set out to raise £500 but ended up raising £1,300
“It just escalated from there. I was then asked to be tour guide, so I’m the oldest tour guide in the country.”
Ian continued: “Towards the end of last year, to celebrate Rovers’ 149th anniversary, I was asked if I wanted to walk around the ground again. So, I did 149 laps, which equated to about four to five miles.
“The aim of this was to raise money for ‘Remember The Rovers’, Alzheimer’s and Dementia charities and loneliness, which is something I’m interested in.”
Remember The Rovers is the group Ian attends every Wednesday. The aim of the group is to provide social connections for those who might be suffering from loneliness, as well as those suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Ian said: “My life has changed for the better since coming here. I’m just really enjoying myself. If I ever book my holidays, they’re always Thursday to Tuesday.
“It’s good to do something for the club I’ve supported since I was seven and coming to matches with my dad.”
Ian has been given lots of support from those connected with the club. From staff to even former manager John Eustace
A proud Ian said: “People in and around the club want to talk to me and take an interest. I like to talk to the staff, they always make time to talk, from the maintenance to (Blackburn Rovers CEO) Steve Waggott.
“Before I completed the last lap, of my 149, Tyrhys Dolan (a Blackburn player) was asking me when I was going to do it, which was nice he remembered.
“After I’d completed it, the manager came over and invited me to Brockhall (Rovers training centre). I thought for the manger to seek me out and invite me was really good of him.”
Ian is looking forward to the club’s 150th anniversary and is more than ready to dust off his walking boots again.
