JACK Straw presented his US opposite number Condoleezza Rice with a Blackburn Rovers shirt when he visited her home town of Birmingham, Alabama.

And the Blackburn MP hopes the American Secretary of State will become a fan of his soccer team as he has become a fan of her favourite American football team.

Foreign Secretary Mr Straw gave her the signed shirt as he flew from Washington with Dr Rice to her home town.

Then he saw her team Alabama Crimson Tide defeat local rivals the Tennessee Volunteers. Mr Straw was delighted - even though they played in shirts suspiciously close to Burnley's claret strip.

He was even more pleased that Blackburn Rovers had defeated Birmingham City

2-0 at Ewood Park on the same day. He thought the coincidence of seeing the Alabama side record their first victory for some years at the Tuscaloosa Stadium in one Birmingham at the same time as Rovers beat another team of the same name was a good omen.

Mr Straw said: "When I started watching the game I was a bit mystified, but Condoleeza explained what was going on. In the end I became something of a convert. It was a great game.

"She seemed very interested in British soccer and I hope to introduce her to it properly when she comes to Blackburn and I can take her to Ewood Park."