A BLACKBURN Rovers fan has realised a lifelong dream by producing his own football magazine.

Chris O'Keeffe, who works as a postman in Blackburn and has been going to Ewood Park since the age of four, is currently preparing for the second issue of Turnstiles Magazine.

Issue number one had introduced the magazine with a Lancashire special.

Mr O'Keeffe, a Rovers season ticket holder since 1998, said: "I wanted Turnstiles to sit somewhere between the old school football magazines like Match/Shoot and the newer mags on the market today.

"It’s a true labour of love and is a real one man band as I do everything from the marketing and promotion to the post office run."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Turnstiles Magazine's Lancashire special

He added: "I did this for a few reasons. One being that I’m proud of Lancashire and the football heritage it has.

"The Lancashire clubs at the moment always seemed to get overlooked massively by big media as they focus all their attentions on those from Manchester and Merseyside.

"Secondly, I had a few stories I thought needed telling.

"One was the great work a local charity Creative Football do in and around East Lancashire and also the story of Rovers winning the league in 95, written by an actual fan, to dispel the myth that we bought the title!"

The 56 page magazine also featured articles written by Blackpool and Bury fans and sold out on two separate print runs.

Lancashire Telegraph:

A look inside Turnstiles Magazine 

Now, Mr O'Keeffe is putting the finishing touches on the second issue, which will be 64 pages and is due for release in June and like its predecessor will be printed locally in Blackburn.

He said: "Issue two again is written by the fans, for the fans.

"There’s no point getting a Chelsea fan in London to write about Aberdeen’s 1983 European Cup Winners Cup win!

"Issue two features articles such as David Pleat's Luton Town, Aldershot Town, Underrated Strikers, Ticket Stub collecting, England’s failures at the euros, the epic end to the Irish league in 1993 and Blackburn Rovers 2002 Worthington Cup success.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mr O'Keeffe says that the magazine is "by the fans, for the fans"

"Matt Jansen and Nils-Eric Johannson kindly contributed to the article, plus much much more.

"We also have some other regular features like 80s footballers ageing badly and 11 of the best chosen by an ex player and a pull out poster to stick on your bedroom wall.

"The first issue was Alan Shearer in the blue and white halves."

The magazine costs £6 with customers advised to pre-order to make sure they get their copy.

To find out more, go to: https://turnstilesmagazine.bigcartel.com/.