Darwen Football Club
The early years


Around 1870 Darwen FC was founded, as a Football and Cricket club, and although the rules of football were rudimentary mainly of the Rugby code, matches were somewhat controlled. The Club was formed by the amalgamation of two mill teams, with Mr. J.C. Ashton and the three sons of Nathaniel Walsh (owner of the Orchard mill) being the prominent founders. The Walsh sons had attended the public school at Harrow, and their interest no doubt stemmed from the games played there, while they were able to bring the game to the millworkers during their holidays. From this mixed background of enthusiasm, the club first rented a field at Lynwood, as a home ground. The first match played was lost against Brookhouse mill (Blackburn). The leading personality in the opponent's team being A.N. Hornby, who would achieve fame with Blackburn Rovers and Lancashire County Cricket club years later.
In 1875 matches were played under the new Association rules, the first match being against local rivals Turton
( played on the Chapletown ground ) which was abandoned due to fighting.
Around this time (1874) the club had made the move to Barley Bank, where the large ground was used for both football and cricket. As with so many teams of this period, the club was a combined sports organization known as "Darwen Cricket and Football Club" and it was not until 1884 that separate committees were formed for each sport, the club would use the near-by Alexandra Hotel for changing and club meetings, The original committee consisted of two bank managers, two local Cotton Manufacturers, two solicitors, an accountant and the manager of the local Gas and Water Company. The secretary was a Thomas Hindle ( click here ) who would represent the Darreners for over half a century.
Darwen soon became a leading club in the North west of England. In those formative days of the game, the inititive had come from the south, with the introduction of the FA Cup in 1871, for which all the entries had come from the south. The Darreners soon established their prowess at the sport, early in 1878 two prestigious home matches were played against Sheffield in the FA Cup and Partick, the latter a leading Scottish club. Darwen were the first along with Manchester to enter the English Cup from Lancashire. Manchester were beaten in the first round whilst Darwen played Sheffield in the second round this was lost by a single disputed goal, before several hundred supporters. The game with the Scotsmen was an even bigger attraction for around 3,000 including many ladies turned up to watch. The degree of interest can be judged by the reports of the local press that the spectators had to endue ankle deep mud with no cover. The next home game February the 9th was against Eagley in a 2-2 draw the match had to be played on a adjacent pitch, as the regular pitch was a sea of mud due to many days of heavy rain.
A game was arranged against Turton later that month, Turton had not been beaten at home for nearly seven years and with a large following from Darwen (1,000) the Salmoners were overjoyed to spoil Turtons record with a single goal victory.
( Darwen FC were known as the "Salmoners" from a nickname given to the team in their Football League Days post 1891 but we will be refering to them as the Salmoners or Darreners during these early years )
The visit to Darwen on new years day 1878 of Partick Glasgow had repercussions that changed the face of football, and although if it had not been Darwen it would doubtlessly have been another club, for two members of the Scottish side that day were James Love and Fergus Suter, both took a liking to the Darwen area, the latter writing to the club and informing them that he was thinking of moving to the area and continuing his craft as a stonemason. He moved to Darwen along with James Love and a relative (goalkeeper) -- It was always denied by Mr T. Hindle the Darwen Secretary that the players were paid to play for the club, but when Fergus Suter ( click here ) gave up his stonemason position (apparently the stone in the Darwen area was for more harder to work than it's Scotttish counterpart) it somewhat streched the imagination that he would continue to play for the club without payment or no visible means of support.
The importation of the Scotsmen was not without precedent for two players from Scotland had signed for the Heeley club, but there had been no suspicion of professionalism in this transfer. The 1878/79 season was to become the most memorable for Darwen, and a event that happened that year would make the club famous for all time.
In October 1878, the club initiated the forming of the Lancashire Football Association and on the 28th of that month took part in one of the first (if not the first) ever matches to be played under floodlights. The game was played at Barley Bank against a team made up from players from Blackburn teams. It was a brilliant success in more ways than one, for the light provided 36,000 candle power, which was "clear" "constant" Steady and without blemish, It attracted a large crowd of over 3,000 people Darwen won the game 3-0. The light had been provided by two steam-driven "Magneto electric engines" borrowed from the Orchard mill, but the exercise had proved too expensive for the time.
The Club by now was becoming virtually invincible with wins, which included an 11-0 rout over Blackburn Association and the strong Eagley side by 4-1 in a FA cup second round replay the first game finished a scoreless draw but Darwen had played with only 10 men the whole game but in the second game on the 23rd December they took a commanding 4-0 halftime lead with Love netting a hat-trick.
The first ever Lancashire County team trails were held at Barley bank on the 16th December 1879 and Darwen contributed six players to the trails. Four of them going on to win county caps.
On New Years day 1879 the Salmoners were shaken out of thier complacency in no small way, when they lost at home to Glasgow by seven goals to nil, the game attracted a £40 gate and goalkeeper Booth was severely criticized for his play. Although it was a shock for their morale, the club could look back with satisfaction that they had only been beaten by Sheffield and Glasgow since reverting to the Association code.
Three days later on the 4th January 1879 Lancashire played North Wales at Barley bank in the first representative game for the county and four Darwen players were included in the side. Interest then once again centered on the FA cup when they were cast as no-hopers against the ex-public schoolboys club the "Remnants". Darwen had obtained a walkover in the first round when the Birch club from Manchester scratched. In the second round Eagley were beaten by 4-1 despite only having 10 men when Manchester based player Dr. J. Gledhill had got off at the wrong station and only arrived at the game just before the end, but now the game against the Remnants from Slough Buckinghamshire in the third round loomed. The game presented financial problems, for apart from Love and Suter who were both regulars in the team by now, the rest were amateurs and were near impoverished millworkers.
In addition the clubs finances were not as healthy as their teams ability. Collection boxes were set up at the ground for donations for the teams train fare and expences, and a benefit concert was held to raise funds. The game before the Remnants game against Sheffield ended 1-2 hardly giving cause for optimism.
The game was played at the Oval on the Thursday 30th January 1879 and the Darwen team consisted of: Duxbury, Suter, Brindle, Moorhouse, Knowles, Marshall, Love, Gledhill, W. Kirkham, Bury and R. Kirkham. Despite the poor weather (snow) a good crowd had assembled by the time of the kick-off at just after 3-00pm. It came as no suprise when the experienced Remnants took an early lead, but by half-time the Darreners had equalised. Once again the Remnants took the lead early in the second half but the Darreners were rescued with a last gasp equalizer. The game went into extra time and the Darreners scored again through Love to bring off probably the first Giant-killing act of the FA cup.
The next game against Accrington at the Barley Bank on the 8th February drew a large crowd to acknowledge their local heroes, but the minds of the club and team were on greater things, for in the next round of the cup they had been drawn against the Mighty Old Etonians. Whilst this prospect was seen as undoubtedly the biggest match ever played by Darwen or indeed any team from the whole of Lancashire, there were serious doubts as to whether the club should scratch from the tie. The club were already in debt, and the trip to London against the Remnants had cost £31. The money previously raised was insufficient to cover these expenses.
Now another visit to the Oval was necessary, at this time all the games from this stage had to be played at this venue including the final. However, for the first time ever the meaning of "cup fever" became a reality and once again the financial support of the town was prevailed upon. Collections were made at the post office, the Co-op, and the mills plus pubs and mines in the area. Individual contributions came from the Mayor, from Aldermen, Councillors, Solicitors, Farmers, Butchers, Plumbers, and Manufacturers: contributions from Entwistles and Nutters workmen 7shillings, Misses Sutcliffe 2 shillings and sixpence, Seph Harwood Joiners 7 shillings, Samuel Shorrock (London) 2 shillings and sixpence, Turncrofts Middle pit three shillings and sixpence, the fund was first a private one, then became a public fund. With such support from the townsfolk, the team set off for the capital once again, for the epic battle on the 13th February -- strong in spirit, but knowing that their chances of success were slim against the twice previous finalist's.
True to form the Old Etonians completely dominated the tired (from the long journey) Darwen players. Even so the southerners played below their normal form, and were prone to slicing the ball on many occations. But the enormous throw-ins of Kinnaird were proving a problem for the Darreners, it was from one of the throw-ins that Whitfield scored first for the Old Etonians followed by a second from Christian. Having won the toss the Old Etonians had chosen to play with the wind in the first half, and the tiring Darwen team conceded two more goals before the break. None but a supreme Darwen optimist would have given the team a chance, especially when Goodhart completed his hat-trick early in the second period. Dispirited and without real hope, the Darreners surged upon the Old Etonians goal, en bloc. In an effort to at least show that they to could score, which they did, with just 15 minutes remaining there then followed what is regarded as the greatest fightback ever in the FA cup, and a performance that would earn them a place in football imortality. With their confidence rising, despite the superior fitness and physique of their opponents, and following greater dominance by the Old Etonians, Weldon of the Old Etonians scored -- an own goal ! -- 2-5. Love using his speed to great advantage scored the third through a powerful header 3-5. A scramble in front of the old boys goal resulted in the ball passing between the posts --- disallowed but after strong protest from the Darreners the official reversed his decision 4-5. By now the Old Etonians were well shaken out of their complacency, and they had every reason to regret their probable easing of effort, which had enabled the Darreners to come back, with seconds ticking away Love scored again, 5-5 the final result. The option was there, for extra time to be played, Darwen were in full agreement but the Old Etonians declined the invitation! Although this could not have been a suprise but it was something of a comedown for the likes of the Hon. A.F. Kinnaird, who had in the past stated to the effect that: " I can never understand players who complain of playing an extra match in midweek. Why I think nothing of playing three hard games within one week, and even then expect to take a little exercise - to keep myself fit" Sentiments no doubt normally echoed by his team-mates but on this occasion noted by their absence !
The town of Darwen greeted the homecoming of the team as heroes from a war just won, but the battle was far from over. This second trip to London had shown a profit of £40 over and above the donations that had been given, but the club was in total now £200 in debt, with still the replay to come --- once again in London. The hard up club tried desperately to get the Old Etonians to agree to play the game in Darwen, offering them £40 as a incentive. Not relishing another trip to the Capital they naturally reasoned that their chances would be better on home territory. Conversely the London team, although still odds on favorites they could not risk the unthinkable, a defeat by a bunch of millworkers! Their opposition probably went further than this though, As true amateurs they may well have been willing to give the other side their chance at home, but as amateurs they also abhorred the hint of professionalism attached to the Darwen team, and if the truth be known probably flinched at the thought of having to play another match with this "sham team". And so it was necessary for more public subscription from the town to be extended. The money came in willingly and a total of £175 was raised for the fund, and for their part the Old Etonians had sportingly sent a donation of £5 and the football Association donated £10 possibly with a twinge of guilt of their rule of venue for the final games.
Hundreds of townsfolk gave the team a rousing send-off at Darwen station when they left in a comfortable equipped carriage, courtesy of the Great Northern Rail Company. The bad weather and the prospects of an intriguing match enticed a large crowd to the Oval which was in reality the Old Etonians home ground. For the replay played on the 8th March 1879 Darwen played an unchanged side, Whilst the Etonians recruited the services of L. Bury (an England International) plus two forward playing changes. Showing more respect for their opponents on this occasion, the Old Etonians took the lead through Whitfield. But Darwen were not to be denied their undoubted ability and equalized through R. Kirkham to make it 1-1 at the break. The second half proved to be more entertaining than the first, although the match was dominated by good defensive work by both sides. But it was the Old Etonians who again took the lead only for the Darreners to reply through T. Bury, the game finished 2 all and although 30 minutes extra time was played there was no more goals scored, thus the tie was to go to a third match. The weary Darwen team came home again to a rousing welcome, and once again resigned themselves to another trip to London one week later.
Darwen again asked the Old Etonians to reconsider playing the game in Darwen, but their request again fell on deaf hears, By now the whole country were not only aware of the team from the "mill town" but also were championing their cause. Many letters and opinions were printed in the newspapers mainly criticizing the ex public schoolboys for their intransigence although in fairness the venue was not chosen by the old boys themselves, it was the unfairness of the then southern biased Football Association. Quite inadvertently Darwen could once again be shown to be responsible for a shift in football thinking, as from the next year onwards the early rounds were regionalized, which also led to more entries especially from the North and Midlands whose teams were emerging fast. For the third match in London, the Darwen team presented a jaded spectacle, tired from long working hours and now also from their long distance train journeys to the Capital. In the Darwen team McLachin replaced R. Kirkham which was a big blow to the Darreners as Kirkham had been a "rock" in the Darwen defence. Although Darwen had the best of the early encounter, their tiredness coupled with a injury to captain Knowles, let the Old Etonians eventually run out 6-2 winners. ( to view a photo of the Darwen FC team that played the Old Etonians see yesteryears! )
So for Darwen the excitement was all over, but they had learnt a lot and had caused a change in the rules of the competition. And even taught the Old boys a lesson. The Darwen play was influenced by the scottish style, that of playing several of the team in the passing game, rather than the Cavalry charge down the field with one man dribbling his way through with the ball and the rest following in a pack. By the third game the Old Etonians confessed to having evaluated the Darwen style and changing their game to suit, thus Darwens influence was to change the thoughts of football forever. The overall financial situation, was a profit of nearly £57, travelling expenses had amounted to £119 for the four London games, when the team had travelled a total of 1,760 miles.
Four games against teams from Blackburn followed in April 1879, The association club ( based at Ewood ) were the first beaten 4-0, then a rare defeat against the up and coming Rovers, the next game was played against the newly formed Blackburn Olympic who had been formed by the amalgamation of Black Star and Saint James teams. The game was played at the "hole in the wall ground Blackburn" and a crowd of over 2,000 paid £40 to see the Darreners win 8-2. A return game was played against the Olympic a week later again Darwen triumphed 5-2 The Rovers game had only produced a gate of £25 but the attractions of games between the two clubs would reach huge proportions in the coming years. On April 26th 1879 a game was arranged against Turton this game was played at Lower Darwen a neutral ground for a benefit game for Suter and Love the Darwen players, a fact which was fairly conclusive that the two were professional players a claim always denied by the club. The game drew a crowd of 1,500 (£35) In all just four matches of the 25 played ended in defeat, with a goal difference of 100 for -- 40 against, although it had been a momentous season on the field it had been unhealthy on the financial side, only the profits from the cup run had kept the clubs head above water. The first game in the 1879/80 season was against local rivals Darwen Grasshoppers, and won 7-0. followed by a win over newly formed Darwen Old Wanderers 2-1
On September the 27th Darwen played Bolton Wanderers in front of 1,500 and won 7-0, and 2,000 turned up for the game against Blackburn Olympic who were again beaten 4-2. It was expressed that with Darwen's townsfolks great interest in the game and with now four figure attendances the "clubs debt" would soon be cleared. A crowd of several thousand at Barley Bank witnessed a rare defeat by 1-3 to the Forrest from Nottingham, the "reds" as they were known were a strong test for they had already made their mark in the FA cup competition, having reached the semi-finals in the two previous years. The main events of the coming season were the mighty tussles against the up and coming Blackburn Rovers, the first game was a portend to the animosity that was to develop between the clubs as each battled to become the top team in the area. Played at Barley Bank in front of the then largest crowd ever to watch a football game (5,000) on the 8th November 1879, Darwen were leading by the single goal and as the game wore on the rougher it got. In the second period the Darwen goalkeeper Duxbury was injured. He gamely carried on but a soft equalizer forced him to leave the field and the game finished 1-1.
The next meeting between the two clubs was in the FA cup and aroused great interest, over 5,000 packed the Alexandra meadows including a large following from Darwen, despite the importance of the game it was played in a sporting manner, but the Darreners could not repeat the successes of the previous year and lost the tie 1-3. But the interest of all the previous games was to be outshone on the 20th March 1880 for the final of the new Lancashire cup, when the biggest attendance for a football match turned up at Barley Bank of around 9,000. One hour before the kick-off the large crowds were gathering outside the ground, and it was necessary to have six match selling ticket positions to cope with the throng. Twelve lorries were commandeered as temporary seated stands on the North side of the ground, and these were soon filled to overflowing. Even team photographs were taken and in the two teams two future England internationals were on show Tom Marshall of Darwen and the Blackburn Rovers captain John Hargreaves. Rovers quickly established control of the game but against the run of play Darwen went ahead through Bury which caused "Hats and Sticks to fly in all directions" in the second half Darwen began to pile on the pressure and eventually ran out easy winners 3-0, the third goal had been hotly disputed by the Rovers and the two umpires could not make a decision, eventually the referee made the decision and awarded Darwen the goal -an amazing compromise for such a thing was not covered in the rules at the time, ironically this was to be the only time Darwen would ever win this trophy. continue

Acknowledgements for the history and images in this section are made to : Darwen RBL -- who originally published this page in 2002  Paul Breeze -- Posh up North publishing, Darwen Football Club, Dave Twydell -- Yare Publications, Stewart Fells, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley FC, League Football and the men who made it -- Simon Inglis, The Guinness record of the FA Cup -- Mike Collett, Richard Rundle -- The Football club History database, Nora Thompson, Marjorie Bibby, Bert Pross, England Football Online website: www.englandfootballonline.com Blackburn with Darwen Library.