This brief introduction to Darwen Football Club's long and varied history is
based on the book "Darwen Football Club: Memories" by Paul Breeze. For
information on purchasing this book, please
click here.
A Printer Friendly version of this
document is also available.
Founded in 1875, when Association Rules were adopted, Darwen F.C. can trace
its history back to 1870 when the rugby code was played at Lynwood. Having set
up headquarters at Barley Bank in 1878 Darwen signed Fergus Suter and James Love
from Partick Thistle, these two being the first of an influx of Scottish players
into English Football and the first “paid professionals” in the game.
During this same year experiments with floodlights were being carried out.
Darwen were the first northern club to achieve prominence in the F.A. Cup,
reaching the quarter-finals in 1878-79 and the semi-finals in 1880-81. On the
way to this semi-final they defeated Romford 15-0 in the Quarter-final. In 1880
they defeated Blackburn Rovers 3-0 to win the Lancashire Cup.
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The club competed in the Football Alliance until they were elected to the
Football League in 1891. On the 4th March 1892 they entered the History books
for suffering the heaviest defeat in the Football League when they lost 12-0 to
West Bromwich Albion. This still remains the record defeat for a club in
Division 1. Needless to say they finished bottom with just 11 points, and became
one of the founder members of the second division. Having finished in third
place in the 1892-93 season promotion back to Division 1 came after defeating
Notts County 3-2 in a test match. (These test matches were the equivalent of the
modern day play-offs).
This promotion lasted only one season and they were relegated back to
Division Two. In season 1896/97 they achieved their highest league win, beating
Walsall 12-0, and also set a record of going the whole season without
registering a single draw. This feat has never been repeated in the history of
the Football League.
In the early days, Darwen played in several combinations of black and white
stripes or hoops with dark blue or white shirts, but during their first two
seasons in the Football League they played in salmon and pink shirts, which gave
them their alternate nickname of “The Salmoners”.
Darwen remained in the Second Division until 1899 when they were not
re-elected. During this season they again entered the history books - for the
most goals scored against during a season (141 goals in 34 games), and losing 18
consecutive league matches. [top]
In the summer of 1899 the club moved to it’s present home at the Anchor
Ground. They joined the Lancashire League in 1899, winning the title in 1901/02
after going unbeaten all season; they then switched to the Lancashire
Combination.
The early 1930s saw the next “golden age” of Darwen Football Club. Wearing a
striking new strip of red and white striped shirts, the club won 5 trophies in
the three years from 1930 to 1933, including the Lancashire Combination title
twice in a row in 1931 and 1932. In the 1931/32 season FA Cup, they beat
Football League side Chester in front of a 10,000 crowd at the Anchor Ground and
were rewarded with an away draw at reigning league champions Arsenal in the 3rd
round.
Darwen’s part-timers lost the game 11-1 but their share of the gate receipts
from a crowd of over 35,000 helped to pay for a new stand behind the Darwen End
goal which has only fairly recently been demolished. After this match, Arsenal
were so impressed with Lancashire sportsmanship that they presented their
visitors with a set of their own red strip, which Darwen have worn more or less
ever since. [top]
The golden 1930s team gradually broke up and Darwen FC began to struggle
financially. Throughout the 1950s and 60s they battled on in the Combination
achieving little success. The committee structure of player selection,
allied with the lack of discernable tactics adding to Darwen's usual financial
woes.
Then in 1972, the club merged with a Manchester League side called Clarence
Athletic. This brought the turnaround of Darwen’s fortunes and they won the
Combination title again in 1973 and 1975. This success was followed by an
uninspiring period in the higher standing Cheshire County League from 1975-82
before Darwen became one of the founder of the North West Counties League in
1982. [top]
Darwen started well in the new League winning the League Cup in its first
year of competition, and finishing a creditable sixth in Division One.
This wasn't to last, and Darwen were relegated the following season to Division
Two.
They only spent three season in the lower division, but after their return
were unable to regain trophy winning ways. After repeatedly being in the lower
half of the Division One table, the end of season 1997/98 saw the club relegated
to Division Two for allegedly not meeting the grading requirements for Division
One.
The following season, Darwen reached the final of the Lancashire A.T.S.
Trophy (Junior Cup) for the first time in 50 years, beating Accrington Stanley
of the Unibond League and Conference side Southport en-route. They met
Morecambe, the county’s second Conference side, in the final they held the lead
twice in a thrilling match that went to extra time and a penalty shoot out
before the “Darreners” finally succumbed to the team from four divisions above
them.
Unfortunately the cup run had a detrimental affect on the league campaign,
and Darwen slipped to eighth after a promising first half of the 1998/99 season.
In the following season fourth place was one below a promotion spot, but in the
following years the team slipped out of contention for honours.
Last season Darwen appeared to have won promotion back to the First Division
after again finishing fourth, benefiting from the re-organisation of the pyramid
system. Unfortunately the club then learned the devastating news it would
be deducted three points for unknowingly fielding an ineligible player, slipping
to sixth on goal difference.
At the end of the season manager Stephen Wilkes left the club to take the
helm at Padiham, and was replaced by local lad and former star Stephen Mullen.
He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience, and a number of new
players based within the town. [top]
Also see.
