James Costly - FA Cup winner with Blackburn Olympic © Cottontown

To reach the final Olympic had easily dispatched of Darwen Ramblers (8-0), Church (2-0), Druids (4-1) and, in the semi final at Whalley Range in Manchester, Old Carthusians were defeated to take Olympic to the final (4-0). Rovers had already been knocked out by the more famous Darwen side.

For the second year, a travelling mass of Blackburnians journeyed to the Kennington Oval in London praying for a landmark cup win. The Kennington Oval would also host the next three FA Cup finals, all starring Rovers. Harry Kay, the sports editor of the Northern Daily Telegraph told how the Olympic fans caused a stir in the capital. “When Blackburn Olympic supporters invaded London for the Cup final they caused a sensation. Many were wearing their Sunday clogs with brass rivets, and scarves and neckties in the club colours." 1883 was to be perhaps the greatest turning point in the history of association football in England. Olympic- and Blackburn- would win.

The Olympic team was T HACKING, J WARD, S.A. WARBURTON (C), T GIBSON, W ASTLEY, J HUNTER, T DEWHURST, A MATTHEWS, G WILSON J COSTLEY, J YATES. Their opponents were the conquerors of Rovers in the final the previous year; the Old Etonians. In a physical game the Etonians (and favourites) lead 1-0 at half time. After what is probably the first known incident of a cup final ‘half time rollicking’ the Olympic team came out and equalised through Matthews. The tie ended 1-1. The Old Etonians were shattered but were honour-bound to agree to extra time after Olympic asked for the further half hour, even though they were down to ten men for injury and wished for a replay. Sure enough in extra time Dewhurst's long pass gave Jimmy Costley a clear sight of goal which he utilised to place a sipping shot just under the bar. The ground erupted as fans ran onto the pitch. Indeed it took all the capability of the police on duty to hold back the crowd until the final whistle. 2-1 it ended as the ‘Artisans’ triumphed over the ‘Aristocrats’. Never again would the ‘toffs’ triumph in what would be the game of the working-class male. Apparently an Olympic fan was not so impressed with the trophy itself though; inquiring if it was actually a cup at all as to him it looked more like a tea kettle. This perfectly demonstrated the time-honoured infallible capacity of a Blackburnian to be able to have a good moan, whatever the occasion or event may be. Olympic captain Squire Albert Warburton replied prophetically that “Aye it might do, but it's very welcome in Lancashire and it won't be returning to London”. The man spoke the truth. A London side never did bring back that particular cup back to the capital as it was stolen from a shop window in Birmingham in 1895. The cup had not travelled further south than Birmingham in all that time since.