History of Blackburn Rovers F.C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The history of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, an English football club based in Blackburn, Lancashire, dates back to the club's formation in 1875.
The first match played by Blackburn Rovers took place in Church, Lancashire on 11 December 1875.[1]
On 28 September 1878, Blackburn Rovers became one of 23 clubs to form the Lancashire Football Association. On 1 November 1879 the club played in the FA Cup for the first time, beating the Tyne Association Football Club 5–1. Rovers were eventually put out of the competition in the third round after suffering a heavy 6–0 defeat by Nottingham Forest. [citation needed]
During the 1881–82 season, the club continued to rent the facilities at Alexandra Meadows, but began to look towards a move elsewhere. As the leading club in the area, it was felt that Rovers needed its own ground. A ground was leased at Leamington Street and £500 was spent on a new grandstand capable of seating 600–700 spectators. Boards were placed around the pitch to help prevent a repeat of the crowd troubles with Darwen F.C. (1870), and a large ornate entrance arch was erected bearing the name of the club and ground. [citation needed]
In 1882 they lost in the FA Cup final against the Old Etonians.[2]
Rovers won the FA Cup in 1884 with a 2–1 victory over Scottish side Queens Park (Glasgow). The same teams met in the final the next season, with Blackburn Rovers winning 2–0. Rovers won the FA Cup again in 1886, defeating West Bromwich Albion after a replay.[2]
The Football League and Ewood Park
On 2 March 1888, William McGregor, a Birmingham shopkeeper and a committee member of Aston Villa Football Club, sent a letter to five clubs – Blackburn Rovers among them – suggesting that twelve of the leading clubs should organise a series of home and away matches between themselves. With the introduction of professional players, it seemed natural that better organisation should be brought to the complex and chaotic system of friendly and competitive matches prevalent at the time. On 22 March 1888 John Birtwistle represented Blackburn Rovers at a meeting of a number of clubs at the Anderton Hotel in London. This meeting, and subsequent ones, led to the creation of the Football League, with Blackburn Rovers as part of it. Rovers finished the inaugural season of the league in fourth place, and unbeaten at home. [citation needed]
Blackburn Rovers again reached the FA Cup final on 29 March 1890 at the Kennington Oval. The club claimed the trophy, for the fourth time, by beating Sheffield Wednesday 6–1. [citation needed]
The 1890–1891 season saw Blackburn Rovers win the FA Cup for fifth time against Notts County F.C. with a 3–1 victory. [citation needed]
Early 20th century
Blackburn were league champions in 1912 and 1914, and FA Cup winners in 1928. The FA Cup triumph would prove to the club's last major trophy for 67 years.
Mid 20th century
When the league resumed after World War II, Blackburn Rovers were relegated in their second season (1947–48) and remained in the second division for the following ten years. After promotion in 1958, they were regularly a mid-table side as they had been for much of the time since their most recent league title win in 1914. During this time, they seldom made a serious challenge for a major trophy – although they did reach the 1960 FA Cup final when managed by Scot Dally Duncan. Rovers lost this game 3–0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers after playing most of the game with only 10 men on the field. Full back Dave Whelan was lost during the game to a broken leg, the game being played in the days before substitutes were allowed. Despite losing, cup final man of the match was future Scotland manager Ally MacLeod (left winger MacLeod scored 47 goals in 193 appearances for Rovers). During the 1950s and 1960s Blackburn Rovers had several players who made were selected for national teams. They were again relegated from the First Division in 1966 and would not return to the top flight for the next 26 years.
1970s and 1980s
Blackburn dropped to new lows in the 1970s, being relegated to the Third Division twice during the decade. Their relegation in 1971 was followed by a four-year wait for promotion, when they won the Third Division title in 1975. Relegation in 1979 was followed by instant promotion under new player-manager Howard Kendall, who later managed Everton to silverware including two league titles.
In 1988–89 they reached the Second Division playoff final in its last-ever season of the home-away two-legged format – but lost to Crystal Palace. In 1989–90 they lost in the Second Division play-off semi-finals. By this stage, the club had started to receive funding from local steel baron Jack Walker, whose financial support had enabled the construction of a new stand at Ewood Park as well as several new signings. By 1991, he had full control of the club and enabled more major signings, as well as appointing Kenny Dalglish as manager.
