JOHN BALL
A strong fast defender who left Darwen to join Manchester United, he later played for Bury and Sheffield Wednesday. He was capped once for England.
BOB JACKSON
Local lad Bob started his playing career with Darwen and was the star player of the late 1920's for the Salmoners before moving on to Everton and Sheffield United. He played for the Blades in the FA cup final of 1936 which they lost to Arsenal 1-0. Bob later became manager of Portsmouth in 1947, winning the Football league title twice with Pompey before moving to Hull City in 1952. for a photo of Portsmouth team that won the League title in 1949 Click here -- Bob is on the right back row in the centre of the photo is Field Marshall Lord Montgomery who was elected club president in 1944.
MICHEAL KINGSLEY
Turton born Micheal started his career with Darwen in 1895, a goalkeeper he moved to Newcastle United were he won England caps
J. J. WADE
A inside Forward with the Salmoners during their Football league days, gained honours for Lancashire.
JOHN RALPH LEACH
Discribed as the greatest full-back never to play for England in his day, his sense of timing was said to be uncanny, he played with the Salmoners during the early 1890's.
EDGAR CHADWICK ( photo click here )
Blackburn born in 1869, Edgar had a outstanding Football League career with Darwen, Everton, Burnley, Liverpool and Blackpool. During which time he played for England 7 times from 1891- 97, He later coached in Germany and Holland.
ALBERT WALMSLEY ( photo click here )
Born in Blackburn in1885, Albert played for Darwen in 1905/06 and 1906/07 before moving to Blackburn Rovers were he became a member of arguably the greatest Rovers team of all time winning two Football league championship medals in 1911 and 1913
HORACE FAIRHURST ( photo click here )
Born in Bolton in 1895, he played with the Salmoners in the pre war years, after the war he signed professionally with Blackpool in 1919, sadly he died at the young age of 26 after a bad knock on the head in a game against Barnsley on Boxing day 1920
JAMES ORR
Signed from Kilmarnock James played with the Salmoners during the early 1890's, he won caps for Scotland and represented the Football League in a North v South challenge game.
GEORGE SHAW ( Photo click here )
George signed for Darwen in 1928 from Preston North End, he was a prolific scorer for the Salmoners in the years leading up to the Second World war. He became a member of the great Darwen team of the 1930's and only one man has ever scored more goals for the Salmoners than George, -- his team-mate from the "Glory Years" -- Reg Preedy
JOSEPH LOFTHOUSE ( Photo click here )
Joe signed for the Salmoners pre-season 1892/93, from Blackburn Rovers. Joe won 6 England caps whilst with the Rovers, and 1 cap whilst at Accrington before joining Darwen. He wrote his name into Football folklore with his four FA Cup winners medals with the Rovers in 1884, 1885 and 1890 1891 he missed out on another medal when the Rovers won the 1886 final through injury. He stayed with the Salmoners for one season before retiring from the game.



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, 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.