BLACKBURN OLYMPIC F.C.

'Blackburn Olympic' were a football team which existed for about a decade in the 19th Century. They were based in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Contents
Introduction
Success
FA Cup winners, 1883
Olympic's results in the FA Cup, 1882-83
FA Cup winning team
Downfall
References
External links

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]
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.
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)

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.

FA Cup winners, 1883


Olympic's results in the FA Cup, 1882-83

DateRoundHome TeamScoreAway TeamNotes
November 4, 1882R1Blackburn Olympic6-3Accrington
December 9, 1882R2Blackburn Olympic 8-1Lower Darwen
December 16, 1882R3Blackburn Olympic8-0Darwen Ramblers
February 3, 1883R4Church0-2Blackburn Olympic
February 24, 1883R5Blackburn Olympic4-1Druids
March 17, 1883SFBlackburn Olympic4-0Old CarthusiansPlayed at Whalley Range, Manchester
March 31, 1883FinalBlackburn Olympic2-1Old EtoniansAfter Extra time. Played at Kennington Oval

FA Cup winning team

Thomas James Hacking
Dental assistant
James Thomas Ward
Cotton machine operator
Squire Albert Warburton (C)
Master plumber; also pub landlord and poulterer
Thomas Kenyon Gibson
Iron foundry worker
William Astley
Weaver
John Hunter
Pub licensee
Thomas Dewhurst
Weaver
Arthur Matthews
Picture framer/gilder
George Wilson
Clerk; later pub landlord in Preston
Jimmy Costley
Spinner
John Yates
Weaver
[2]
[3]
James Ward made one appearance for England on 14 March 1885 against Wales.[4]

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 [5]
[6]

References


1. Blackburn Times Feb 16th 1878
2. Blackburn Times April 6th 1883
3. "Shooting Stars: The History of Blackburn Olympic" by Graham Phythian, SoccerData Publications 2007
4. http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=1021
5. http://www.stmarysblackburn.ac.uk
6. "Shooting Stars: The History of Blackburn Olympic" by Graham Phythian, SoccerData 2007


Association Football in Victorian England - A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900, , Philip, Gibbons, Upfront Publishing, 2001, ISBN 1-84426-035-6

Shooting Stars: The Brief and Glorious History of Blackburn Olympic 1878-1889, , Graham, Phythian, Soccerdata, 2007, ISBN 1-89946-883-8

External links



FA Cup final 1883 line-ups

Football club history database

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