Club Profile
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Overview
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is based in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. They currently compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, and have played their home matches at Ewood Park since 1890. The club’s motto, Arte et Labore, translates from Latin as “By Skill and Hard Work.”
History
Blackburn Rovers was founded on 5 November 1875 at the Leger Hotel in Blackburn by John Lewis and Arthur Constantine, former pupils of Shrewsbury School. The club played its first match on 18 December 1875, drawing 1–1. They became founding members of the Lancashire Football Association in 1878 and entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1879, winning their first trophy in 1884 against Queen’s Park. Blackburn achieved successive FA Cup victories in 1885 and 1886, followed by further wins in 1890 and 1891.
The club joined the inaugural Football League in 1888, finishing fourth, and quickly established themselves as one of the strongest teams in England. Early 20th-century successes included First Division championships in 1911–12 and 1913–14, and an FA Cup win in 1927–28. However, Blackburn experienced relegations in 1936, 1948, 1966, and 1971, often oscillating between the top and lower divisions. Jack Walker’s takeover in 1991 revitalised the club, leading to Premier League promotion in 1992 and a championship title in 1994–95. Subsequent years saw periods of relegation, promotion, and ownership changes, including the 2010 takeover by Venky’s London Limited.
Competition Performance
Blackburn Rovers dominated early FA Cup competitions, securing five wins between 1884 and 1891. Their early league campaigns were strong, with high-scoring victories and top-four finishes in the inaugural seasons. In the 20th century, Blackburn claimed First Division titles in 1911–12 and 1913–14, and FA Cup triumphs in 1928 and later reached the final in 1960. Following Jack Walker’s investment, Blackburn were promoted to the Premier League in 1992, finishing fourth in 1992–93 and runners-up in 1993–94 before winning the 1994–95 Premier League. They also won the League Cup in 2002. The club has had fluctuating league performances since, including relegations to the Championship in 2012 and League One in 2017, followed by promotions back to the second tier.
Stadium
Blackburn Rovers have played at Ewood Park since 1890. Before this, the club used several grounds: Oozehead (1875–1877), Pleasington Cricket Ground (1877), Alexandra Meadows (1877–1881), and Leamington Road (1881–1890). Ewood Park has seen multiple renovations, including the covering of the Darwen End in 1905 and the opening of the Nuttall Stand in 1907. It has remained the club’s home through its various periods of success and hardship.
Identity
Throughout their history, Blackburn have only ever had one design to their home kit.
The club's motto is Arte et Labore, meaning "By Skill and Hard Work" in Latin, and is taken from the town motto which was adopted in 1852. This features on the club crest along with the Lancashire Red Rose — the red rose being a traditional symbol of Lancashire. When appearing in FA Cup finals, the club traditionally replaces their badge with the town's coat of arms — a custom that has been upheld across all eight of their final appearances.
Clement Charnock, a mechanical engineer and Blackburn Rovers fan, is credited with introducing football into Russia in the 1880s as a response to concerns about alcoholism.
Rivalries
The club’s principal rivalry is with Burnley, contested in the East Lancashire derby. It is also known as the Cotton Mills derby due to the fact that both Blackburn and Burnley are former mill towns and close geographic rivals as the two Lancashire towns are only 11 miles (18 km) apart. They played each other for the first time in September 1884 in a friendly match, while the first competitive league game took place at Turf Moor in November 1888, with Blackburn winning 7–1, which remains their biggest win in the derby.
During the 2022–23 season, Burnley completed a league double over Blackburn, winning 3–0 at Turf Moor before clinching the Championship title with a 1–0 victory at Ewood Park.
Other regional rivals include Bolton Wanderers in the A666 derby - named after the major road in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Another rivalry exists with fellow Football League founder members Preston North End, dating back to the early days of English football.