Welcome to the database dedicated to the history of a small town club, that once rubbed shoulders with football's elite: Darwen Football club during the years 1875 to 1939.
In the first section is the history of the club pre-Football League with the years 1875 - 1891.
In the second section is the clubs Football league years between 1891 and 1899.
In the third section is the years leading up-to the second World War 1899 - 1939.
In the fourth section there is the clubs FA cup records for the years 1877 to 1939 .
In the fifth we have some of the great games that the club played during the years 1875 to 1939.
In the sixth we have the Hall of Fame,with great players who have donned the Darwen jersey.
In the seventh and eighth sections we have the history of the grounds used by the club during these years.
The ninth section deals with some facts/stats and records of the Club.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darwen Football Club got their nickname "The Salmoners" in 1891 when after gaining election along with Stoke City to the Football League they were compelled to change their strip, from their Black and White stripe shirts to a salmon pink shirt, this was due to original League members Notts County who played in the same colours as Darwen FC. In 1893 the club replaced Notts County in the Football League First Division and reverted back to their original strip, but were forever known throughout Football as the Salmoners!

Darwen Football Club 1875

Acknowledgements and special thanks for the history scource, photo's and information on this Database are made to :
Dave Twydell -- Yare Publications
Stewart Fells -- Radcliffe
Ken Ormerod -- Morecambe
Dave Howgate -- Southport
Slater Family
Gareth Rowlands -- Canada
Hamiltron Family -- Austrailia
Newspaper cuttings from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Darwen News and Darwen Advertiser
Blackburn Rovers
Burnley Football Club
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, Darwen
Harold Heys (Local Journalist)
Marjorie Bibby, Darwen
Bert Pross, (Darwen FC mascot at Highbury 1932)
Bob Eccles, Darwen
Vic Gavagan, Darwen
Paul Breeze -- Memories of Darwen Football club "Posh up North Publishing"
Old Boltonians A.F.C
Aston Villa FC
Huddersfield FC
PSV Eindhoven AFC
N. Kaufman - Pinegowrie, South Africa.
The England Football Online website: www.englandfootballonline.com
Howard Peters -Local Historian and former headmaster of Darwen Technical school
and a special thanks to all the staff at Blackburn with Darwen Libraries.

A to Z index

The Salmoners 2003