Sowerbutts Joe Image 1 Blackburn Rovers 1884

Description

Blackburn born forward Joe Sowerbutts joined Blackburn Rovers in 1883 and soon became a first team regular, playing at inside left in the 1884 FA Cup Final against Queen’s Park at The Kennington Oval in his first full season, and scoring as Blackburn Rovers came back from a goal down to win the Cup. He played at outside right a year later as Blackburn Rovers were back at the FA Cup Final, once again facing Queen’s Park, who they beat 2-0 at The Oval. In 1886 Blackburn returned to the FA Cup Final for the third successive time, this time Sowerbutts played at centre forward as West Bromwich Albion were beaten in a replay at The County Ground, Derby, after a 0-0 draw at The Oval, with Sowerbutts scoring in a 2-0 victory to equal The Wanderers’ feat of winning the Cup three times running. Sowerbutts was at Blackburn Rovers when they became a League club in 1888 but found it impossible to get into the first team, the age of professionalism having arrived, and left the club shortly thereafter.