Lancashire Senior Cup

The Lancashire cup was first competed for in 1879 and Darwen FC were the first winners. (for the only time in their history) The final was played at Darwen (Barley Bank) and Blackburn Rovers were the opposition, Darwen won by three goals to nil. The gate receipts were £67, and 9,000 spectators were present. Forms from schools were borrowed, and these were placed on lorries (also borrowed) these constituted the "Grand Stand". The first draw for the competition which also shows the original members of the Lancashire football association, drawn at the Coffee Tavern, Darwen Street, Blackburn on the 16th August 1879, was as follows:
North end (Bolton) v Turton.
Padiham v Haslingden.
Astley Bridge v Rising Sun (Blackburn).
Accrington v Halliwell.
St Pauls (Bolton) v St Marks (Blackburn)
Lower Darwen v Darwen Rangers.
Bolton Olympic v Lynwood (Darwen)
Darwen St James v Haslingden Grane.
Middleton v Edgeworth.
Cloughfold v Great Lever.
Darwen Grasshoppers v Darwen FC.
Cob Wall (Blackburn) v Manchester Wanderers.
Livesey United (Blackburn) v Halliwell Jubilee.
Bolton Hornets v Blackburn Christchurch.
Enfield v Blackburn Rovers.
Blackburn St George's v Lower Chaple (Darwen)
Bolton Wanderers v All Saints (Bolton)
Bolton Rovers v Eagley
Church v Blackburn St Andrews.
Blackburn Park Road v Emmanuel (Bolton).
The Semi finals:
Darwen 4 v 3 Great Lever
Church 0 v 1 Blackburn Rovers
Final:
Darwen 3 Blackburn Rovers 0
Most of these teams are now just a memory but without their involment the Lancashire Association could never have been formed Some 10 years later teams in the draw included Newton Heath, Everton, Liverpool, Man city, Preston North End, Burnley to name a few. Up to the year 2000 the teams Affiliated to the LFA have won the Football league championship 41 times, the FA cup 42 times and the premiership title 7 times making it the most successful County association in the country. Photo of cup click here

Lancashire Junior Cup
Lancashire Challenge Shield