TODAY we take the use of floodlights for evening football games for granted but this was not always the case and it was Darwen which helped lead the way.

The first-time floodlights were used for a sport’s event was on July 18, 1878 at Fulham between Ranelagh Polo Club and the Hurlingham Club.

Shortly after this the first game of football under floodlights was played at Bramall Lane, Sheffield ,on October 14, 1878 between local teams the Blues and the Reds.

Darwen historian Tony Foster takes up the story: “Ten day later the first floodlit game in the North-West was due to take place at Chorley but due to the heavy rain the lights failed.

“So, it was left to Darwen to be the first in Lancashire to play a ‘grand football match’ by electric light on Thursday, October 31. The match between Darwen and District and Blackburn and District resulted in a 3-0 win for the home team.

“The game was a great success with over 7,000 being admitted to the ground with many more viewing the match from high points surrounding the field near the Alexander Pub.

“The evening stated off with a firework display and at 7pm the engines generating the electricity were turned on and the light shone forth amid. This was greeted by loud cheers from the spectators.

“A chemical light place near to the pavilion helped to illuminate the central part of the pitch.

“The novelty of an evening football match lit by electricity causes so much interest and curiosity that nearly all the shops in Market Street closed early. The match generated a profit of £50 (about £5,000 today) for the ground improvement fund.

“Four days later Blackburn Rovers followed Darwen’s use of electrical lighting at Alexandria Meadows but went a step further by using a white ball.- possibly the first time a one was used in a football match.”