Blackburn Olympic F.C.
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Blackburn Olympic were a football team which existed for about a decade in the 19th Century. They were based in Blackburn, Lancashire.
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[edit] Introduction
Blackburn Olympic were founded in August 1877 from the merger of two smaller clubs, Black Star and James Street. The name was thought of by James Edmondson, the club's first treasurer. The first match under the new name was played on February 9, 1878: a 2-0 win against local team St. John's. (Source: Blackburn Times Feb 16th 1878.)
The Olympic soon evolved into one of the finest sides in Lancashire, while Jack Hunter, an astute coach and tactician, taught the Olympic players the art of the passing game. It was Hunter who decided to take the team to Blackpool for a few days' relaxation prior to the final, which had been unheard of previously.
It is unlikely that their great success would have happened without financial backing from local iron foundry owner, Sid Yates. The professions of the players in the FA Cup final are given below. (Source: Blackburn Times April 7th, 1883)
[edit] Success
Their greatest success came when they overcame the dominance of local rivals, Blackburn Rovers, and the amateur teams of southern England to win the FA Cup in 1883. Well organised and trained, their ability to switch play from wing to wing, stretched an Old Etonians team reduced to ten men due to injury. A long pass to the left gave Jimmy Costley the opportunity to score the winner in extra time.
As a result of this victory, Olympic became the first team from North of the capital city to win the FA Cup, thus bringing to an end the Southern domination of the competition.
[edit] FA Cup winners, 1883
[edit] Olympic's results in the FA Cup, 1883
| Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 1882 | Blackburn Olympic | 6-3 | Accrington | |
| December 9, 1882 | Blackburn Olympic | 8-1 | Lower Darwen | |
| December 16, 1882 | Blackburn Olympic | 8-0 | Darwen Ramblers | |
| February 3, 1883 | Church | 0-2 | Blackburn Olympic | |
| February 24, 1883 | Blackburn Olympic | 4-1 | Druids | |
| March 17, 1883 | Blackburn Olympic | 4-0 | Old Carthusians | Played at Whalley Range, Manchester |
| March 31, 1883 | Blackburn Olympic | 2-1 | Old Etonians | After Extra time. Played at Kennington Oval |
[edit] FA Cup winning team
Thomas Hacking
Dental assistant
James Ward
Cotton machine operator
Sam Warburton (C)
Master plumber; also pub landlord and poulterer
Thomas Gibson
Iron foundry worker
William Astley
Weaver
John Hunter
Pub licensee
Thomas Dewhurst
Weaver
Alfred Matthews
Picture framer/gilder
George Wilson
Clerk; later pub landlord in Preston
Jimmy Costley
Spinner
John Yates
Weaver
(Source for professions: Blackburn Times April 6th 1883) (Secondary source: "Shooting Stars: The History of Blackburn Olympic" by Graham Phythian, SoccerData Publications 2007)
James Ward made one appearance for England on 14 March 1885 against Wales.[1]
[edit] Downfall
After winning the FA Cup, Olympic were soon replaced as the number one team in Blackburn by their rivals, Blackburn Rovers. The professionalism which helped foster their success ultimately also helped their downfall, as Rovers, backed by John Lewis and aided by their FA Cup win in 1884, were able to tempt Olympic's best players away. Eventually they also slipped behind other local clubs like Witton and Blackburn Park Road. In September 1889 their rented ground at Hole-i'th'-Wall was taken over by the Blackburn Railway Clerks Club. The location of their ground is now mostly covered by St Mary's Sixth Form College (Secondary source: "Shooting Stars: The History of Blackburn Olympic" by Graham Phythian, SoccerData 2007)
[edit] References
- Gibbons, Philip (2001). Association Football in Victorian England - A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900. Upfront Publishing, p.70-72. ISBN 1-84426-035-6.
- Phythian, Graham (2007). Shooting Stars: The Brief and Glorious History of Blackburn Olympic 1878-1889. Soccerdata. ISBN 1-89946-883-8.
