Lancashire’s Football History
With the Euros just around the corner, it's the perfect time to dive into Lancashire’s amazing football heritage. Here in Lancashire, football isn’t just a game—it’s a beloved tradition that brings people together, creating a sense of community and joy. Our region is famous for its football clubs, not only for their on-field successes and challenges but also for their historic contributions to the sport.
The founding members of the English Football League
The English Football League (EFL) started in 1888, thanks to 12 teams, many from the north. Lancashire proudly contributed Accrington Stanley, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, and Preston North End—along with historic Lancashire’s Bolton Wanderers. This league wasn’t just a first for England; it was the first national league system in the world!
Preston North End made history by winning the first EFL in 1889. They continued to make their mark by playing in the first-ever televised cup match, the 1938 FA Cup Final at Wembley, where they won against Huddersfield Town. Deepdale Stadium in Preston is the world’s oldest football ground still used by a league team, and the city remains the home of the EFL. Preston was also home to the Dick, Kerr Ladies FC, one of the first women’s football teams in England.
Blackburn Rovers, along with Accrington, Bolton Wanderers, and Turton FC (Lancashire’s oldest club), helped form the Lancashire Football Association in 1878. Burnley FC, with its historic Turf Moor ground—the second oldest in continuous use by a professional team—played a key role in pushing for player payments, helping to professionalise the sport.
Celebrate Football in Lancashire
As the World Cup kicks off, there are so many fun places in Lancashire to catch a match and join in the excitement! Whether you take to the Blackpool Winter Gardens for Lancashire’s largest indoor fan zone.
If you want to explore more about the region's football history you can get up close and personal with some of the top teams by taking a stadium tour at Burnley’s Turf Moor or Blackburn Rovers’ Ewood Park. These tours give you a behind-the-scenes look at these historic clubs.
Lancashire’s football story is rich and ongoing, and we’d love for you to be a part of it. Come celebrate with us and enjoy the vibrant football culture that makes Lancashire so special!