Blackburn Olympic F.C.
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| Blackburn Olympic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Blackburn Olympic F.C. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 1877 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Hole-i'th'-Wall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
Contents |
[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. [1]
Their usual team colours were light blue shirts and white shorts. However when there was a colour clash, if they were the younger of the two clubs involved, they were obliged to change into their alternative dark blue strip. [2]
The Olympic soon evolved into one of the finest sides in Lancashire, while former England player 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.[3]
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.[4]
[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, 1882-83
| Date | Round | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 1882 | R1 | Blackburn Olympic | 6-3 | Accrington | |
| December 9, 1882 | R2 | Blackburn Olympic | 8-1 | Lower Darwen | |
| December 16, 1882 | R3 | Blackburn Olympic | 8-0 | Darwen Ramblers | |
| February 3, 1883 | R4 | Church | 0-2 | Blackburn Olympic | |
| February 24, 1883 | R5 | Blackburn Olympic | 4-1 | Druids | |
| March 17, 1883 | SF | Blackburn Olympic | 4-0 | Old Carthusians | Played at Whalley Range, Manchester |
| March 31, 1883 | Final | Blackburn Olympic | 2-1 | Old Etonians | After Extra time. Played at Kennington Oval |
[edit] FA Cup winning team
| Name | Profession |
|---|---|
| Thomas James Hacking | Dental assistant |
| James Thomas Ward | Cotton machine operator |
| Squire Albert Warburton (captain) | Master plumber; also pub landlord and poulterer |
| Thomas Kenyon Gibson | Iron foundry worker |
| William Astley | Weaver |
| Jack Hunter | Pub licensee |
| Thomas Dewhurst | Weaver |
| Arthur Matthews | Picture framer/gilder |
| George Wilson | Clerk; later pub landlord in Preston |
| Jimmy Costley | Spinner |
| John Yates | Cotton weaver |
James Ward made one appearance for England on 14 March 1885 against Wales.[7]
[edit] The "derby" games: Olympic vs. Rovers
Blackburn Olympic played local rivals Rovers a total of forty times. Of these games, Olympic won just six, Rovers taking twenty-eight, with the remaining six being drawn. [6] Five of the more interesting "derby" games:
1. 15 February 1879: Rovers 1, Olympic 3
The first ever meeting between the two clubs, at Rovers' home venue of Alexandra Meadows. The winners, although a lighter team than their opponents, were praised for their "clever" play, each team member "acting in concert". (Blackburn Times 22/2/79)
2. 7 August 1882: Olympic 5, Rovers 2
The final of the inaugural East Lancashire Charity Cup, played at Ewood Park, Blackburn (later Rovers' home ground). A few weeks earlier, Rovers had swamped their rivals 12-1 in a friendly, so were expected to cruise this one. Youngster Tommy Dewhurst, drafted into the Olympic forward line from the reserves, had other ideas, hitting a hat-trick in the memorable win. (Source: Blackburn Times 12/8/82)
3. 22 March 1884: Rovers 1, Olympic 1
The final of the Lancashire Cup, played at Preston North End's ground of Deepdale. Olympic were winning 1-0 until the last few seconds, when Birtwistle scored Rovers' equaliser. A reporter, calculating that the ninety minutes had elapsed, had telegraphed a 1-0 win for Olympic to his Blackburn offices. It was later revealed that the referee had indeed unintentionally allowed an extra minute to the playing time! (Source: Blackburn Standard 29/3/84) Rovers won the replay 2-1.
4. 6 December 1884: Rovers 3, Olympic 2
The first ever FA Cup meeting between the teams, which took place at Rovers' new home ground of Leamington Street, Blackburn. With the score 2-1 for Olympic, their opponents scored a hotly disputed goal. Olympic started to leave the pitch in protest, but were persuaded to return by club President Fred Yates (Sid's brother). Rovers won the game 3-2, and went on to retain the FA Cup, the second in their hat-trick of victories in the final of this trophy. (Source: Blackburn Times 13/12/84)
5. 5 November 1887: Rovers 5, Olympic 1
Another FA Cup encounter. By now Olympic were past their best, and Rovers were less than a year away from joining the elite of the Football League.
Full analysis of results of Olympic's "derby" games with Rovers: Played: 40 Won: 6 Drawn: 6 Lost: 28 Goals for: 58 Goals against: 139
[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 wins in 1884, 1885 and 1886, 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 [8] [6]
[edit] Players
Amongst those who played for Blackburn Olympic were England internationals:
Ward was the only player to be selected whilst registered to Blackburn Olympic.[9]
Thomas Dewhurst was originally chosen for the international match with Ireland in 1884, but was deselected following a fight on the pitch during an FA Cup tie.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ Blackburn Times, Feb 16th 1878
- ^ Phythian, Graham (2007). Shooting Stars: The History of Blackburn Olympic. SoccerData, p. 36.
- ^ Gibbons, Philip (2001). Association Football in Victorian England - A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900. Upfront Publishing, p.71. ISBN 1-84426-035-6.
- ^ Blackburn Times, April 7th, 1883
- ^ Blackburn Times April 6th 1883
- ^ a b c "Shooting Stars: The History of Blackburn Olympic" by Graham Phythian, SoccerData Publications 2007
- ^ Player Profile
- ^ Saint (St) Mary's College, Blackburn. Home page
- ^ Club Affiliations - Blackburn Olympic. Retrieved on 16 November 2007.
- ^ Phythian, Graham (2007). Shooting Stars: The History of Blackburn Olympic. SoccerData, p. 59.
- Phythian, Graham (2007). Shooting Stars: The Brief and Glorious History of Blackburn Olympic 1878-1889. Soccerdata. ISBN 1-89946-883-8.
