Joseph Marsden

Joe was born in Darwen in 1868, He became one of the first football stars in the early days of the game. Joe was the second of five brothers, three of them went on to play the game at the top level, Joe winning caps for Lancashire and England during a career lasting just 8 years.
Joe started his football career with the Royal Blues a youth team from the Whitehall area of the town. In 1885 he joined the Darwen Old Wanderers along with his elder brother Tom. The two brothers were members of the Old Wanderers team that beat Burnley football Club 11-0 in the first round of the F. A. cup in 1885, this score still stands as the heaviest defeat in Burnley Football Club's history. The game was played on the Pothouse football field (across from the Punch Inn).
In 1888 Joe and Tom along with younger brother William signed on with Darwen FC. Joe reverted to the right full back position with Darwen FC and captained the Darreners in the final of the Lancashire cup in 1891against Bolton Wanderers played at Anfield Liverpool the home (then) of Everton football club. Darwen lost 3-1. It was during his spell with Darwen Football Club that Joe represented his County captaining Lancashire for almost two years, and on the 7th March 1891 he won his one and only cap for England in the Home international match against Ireland which England won 6-1.
It was well expected that he would win many more caps for England but after captaining the Darreners in the Lancashire Senior cup-final of 1891 Joseph signed on for Everton, he played the first league game of the 1891/92 season for Everton against West Bromwich Albion then mysteriously quit the game, sadly Joe died at the young age of 28 on the 17th January1897.


Acknowledgements for the history in this section are made to :  Darwen RBL -- who originally published this page in 2002