Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers supporters who are fasting for Ramadan can access free traditional Islamic food, as well as prayer facilities, on the night of the Lancashire derby at Deepdale.
Free biryani meals, dates and water will be provided from outside three prayer rooms at Deepdale during half-time as a goodwill gesture from Preston North End Community and Education Trust to allow Muslim supporters to break their fast inside the stadium.
Home fans can access the goods from outside the Sir Tom Finney Prayer Room on the Sir Tom Finney Stand, located between the two block F entry points, as well as the Invincibles Prayer Room on the Invincibles Pavilion, which is located between blocks E and F. Biryani, dates and water will be distributed at half-time.
The two home stand prayer rooms are also available for use from 6pm and right throughout the 90 minutes’ action at Deepdale.
Home fans sat in the Alan Kelly Town End wishing to use the prayer room should contact their nearest steward, who will escort fans to the nearest prayer room according to their position in the stand.
A third prayer room has been available for Blackburn Rovers supporters for this fixture, which will be based within the PNECET classroom at the back of the Bill Shankly Kop.
A PNECET staff member will be based inside the classroom to distribute biryani, dates and water to away supporters during half-time. The classroom has also been adapted for away fans so that it can be used as a prayer room and this facility will be available from 6pm.
Away fans must contact their nearest steward to be escorted to the Bill Shankly Kop Prayer Room. The prayer room can also be accessed prior to kick-off before fans have entered the stadium concourse.
All biryani, dates and water across all three locations will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
Community Engagement Officer Mo Patel said: “As we continue to celebrate Ramadan with our fans, we are looking forward to once again providing free biryani, dates and water at Deepdale for the Blackburn Rovers fixture.
“We want to help both home and away fans who are fasting during Ramadan to enjoy the Lancashire derby at Deepdale by allowing them to be able to break their fast inside the stadium with the provision of free traditional food.”
The initiative for Monday night’s game forms part of the Trust’s wider month-long Ramadan project, which has seen three nightly giveaways of biryani, dates and water taking place every week of Ramadan during April.
For more information, email mohammed@pne.com.