Darwen v Old Etonians F. A. Cup Quarter - Final 1879

After beating Eagley in the second round 4-1, and the Remnants in the third 3-2 aet, the Darwen team found themselves drawn against the Old Etonians, ( for the full draw click here ) the Remnants game had been played at the Oval in London and 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. ( Donations from the Darwen Townsfolk had been needed to allow the club to travell to London for the Remnants game ) 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 Darreners, Weldon of the Old Etonians scored --a 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 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 Rain 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 W. Kirkham which was a big blow to the Darreners has Kirkham had been a "rock" in the Darwen defense. 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. ( the Old Etonians went on to win the cup by defeating Nottingham Forest in the semi final 2-1 and then Clapham Rovers 1-0 in the final )
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.

Final score : Darwen 2 Old Etonians 6
To view a photo of the Darwen team click here