Blackburn Rovers Super Fan Alan 'Birdy' Birkbeck Launches New Nike Kit In Bizarre Video

Blackburn Rovers have made their own Southern Comfort-style video starring super fan Alan "Birdy" Birkbeck to launch their new home shirt.

On the same day Manchester United annouced a world record £750 million deal with kit manufacturer Adidas, Blackburn took a more prudent approach to unveiling their kit by calling upon lifelong fan Birkbeck to star in the club's launch video.

The video, called Birdy's Date, shows Birkbeck getting ready for what seems to be a date with a Rovers fan.

Clean shaven and in a crisply ironed shirt, the 66-year-old suavely saunters from his home opposite Blackburn's Ewood Park ground to the club store, only to re-emerge wearing Rovers' new home shirt.

The video and its soul soundtrack bear a resemblance to the popular Southern Comfort commercial featuring a man walking along a beach to the song Hit or Miss by Odetta.

Blackburn has "previous" for producing odd promotional videos, none more so than in 2011 when the club's players, including vegan Jason Roberts, appeared in a video eating chicken produced by Rovers' owners Venky's.

Reaction to Birdy's Date has so far been mixed with some fans seeing the funny side while others slamming it as embarrassing.

One admirer is former Blackburn striker Kevin Gallacher, who used Twitter to show his admiration for Birdy.

Meanwhile, a linesman collapsed during Blackburn's pre-season friendly against Telford last week. The official was reportedly stretchered off about 20 minutes into the game. Play resumed after an eight-minute delay while a replacement linesman was found.

Blackburn kick off their season on Friday, 8 August when they take on relegated side Cardiff at home.