Blackburn Olympic F.C.

Blackburn Olympic F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Blackburn Olympic
fullname = Blackburn Olympic Football Club
founded = 1877
ground = Hole-i'th'-Wall
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leftarm1=00CCFF|body1=00CCFF|rightarm1=00CCFF|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=ffffff
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=00HHAA|body2=00HHAA|rightarm2=00HHAA|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=ffffff

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

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. ["Blackburn Times", Feb 16th 1878]

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. [cite book|title=Shooting Stars: The History of Blackburn Olympic|first=Graham|last=Phythian|publisher=SoccerData|year=2007|page=p. 36]

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. [cite book |last= Gibbons|first= Philip|authorlink= |title= Association Football in Victorian England - A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900|year= 2001|publisher= Upfront Publishing |pages=p.71 |isbn=1-84426-035-6]

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. ["Blackburn Times", April 7th, 1883]

uccess

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

FA Cup winning team

[Blackburn Times April 6th 1883] "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. [ [http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=1021 Player Profile ] ]

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. 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

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 [ [http://www.stmarysblackburn.ac.uk Saint (St) Mary's College, Blackburn. Home page ] ]

A later club, currently playing in the Blackburn Football Combination, took the name Blackburn Olympic in 1959. [ [http://www.communigate.co.uk/lancs/olympic54/index.phtml The History of Blackburn Olympic Football Club] , Blackburn Olympic Football Club. Retrieved 26th June 2008.]

Players

Amongst those who played for Blackburn Olympic were England internationals:

*Joseph Beverley
*Edgar Chadwick
*Jack Hunter
*Jack Southworth
*Billy Townley
*James Ward
*John Yates

Ward was the only player to be selected whilst registered to Blackburn Olympic. [cite web |title= Club Affiliations - Blackburn Olympic|www.englandfootballonline.com| url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamClubs/Clubs/BlackburnOlympic.html| accessdate=16 November| accessyear=2007]

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. [cite book|title=Shooting Stars: The History of Blackburn Olympic|first=Graham|last=Phythian|publisher=SoccerData|year=2007|page=p. 59]

References

*cite book |last= Phythian|first= Graham|authorlink= |title= Shooting Stars: The Brief and Glorious History of Blackburn Olympic 1878-1889|year= 2007|publisher= Soccerdata|location= |id= ISBN 1-89946-883-8

External links

* [http://www.sportingchronicle.com/FACUP/1883.html FA Cup final 1883 line-ups]
* [http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/BLACKBUO.HTM Football club history database]


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