One of the most significant games in the early history of football occured in front of 8000 spectators at the Oval on 31 March 1883.  The plumbers and weavers of Blackburn Olympic faced the gentlemen of the Old Etonians in the FA Cup Final.  Blackburn, in existence for only five yeaars, had been moulded into a formidable team by half-back and trainer Jack Hunter, who before the final took his team to Blackpool to prepare for the big day. Old Etonians, the cup holders, fielded six internationals including the Hon A F Kinnard who was playing in his ninth final. There was little to choose between the two sides in the first half, although the Etonians took the lead through Goodhart.  Blackburn began to press in the second half, but Kinnard hit a place-kick through the posts, only to have it disallowed because the ball did not touch an opponent.  This was the turning point of the game. Matthew dribbled down the right and hit an angled shot to equalize. Olympic's ability to switch the ball from wing to wing stretched the Old Etonians who lost a player, Arthur Dunn, an England international, because of injury a severe handicap as the aristocrats began to fade.   The match went to extra time, and Blacburn's Crossley converted a pass from Dewhurst son after the change-over for the winner. Major Marindin, the FA's president, made the first public presentation of the trophy on the stand next to the pavillon. The importance of the event to the town of Blackburn can be seen in the coverage in the Athletic News of the team's return to the town: 'The train which conveyed the players was due in Blackburn at 7-30 p.m. and long before that time thousands of people—a great many of whom came from the surrounding towns—invaded the station, a part of which was barricaded, but the crowd there was nothing compared with the vast concourse of living beings which filled the streets outside. As every train came in from a southern direction the crowd sent up shouts thinking it was the right one. At last, the train arrived which contained the conquering “heroes”, and like conquering heroes were they received. The bands struck up the well-known tune, “See the conquering hero comes," but the music was completely drowned by the volume of human voices which rent the air on every hand, more particularly when Alf Warburton, the captain of the team, ascended the dicky In front of the waggonette (in which the players were driven) with the challenge trophy in his hands. The flags were waived, and as the people shouted and cheered to the very echo, the procession of bands, policemen, and the vehicles which brought up the rear proceeded down Station-road, across the Market-street, up Preston-road, and round a lot more streets. All along the route, and on the large market-square, and in all the windows of the hotels and houses of business, and, in fact, in every conceivable spot, innumerable concourse of persons waved their hats, their handkerchiefs, and shouted, and nothing  was heard but the voices of the people. Different coloured lights and small fireworks were set agoing, and never in the history of Blackburn was such a night witnessed.’