COLOUR CLASH

In the 1882 FA Cup Final, Blackburn Rovers were playing the Old Etonians. I KNOW you know the Rovers' colours (remember a light navy blue and white; BUT not sure if you know the OEs colours).
I do because my school lads were pitched against Eton footballers once a year and we would have around 16-20 fixtures from U14 through to 1st XI (U18) turning out on a Saturday in October. It was a big occasion, sometimes with royalty on show.

The Old Etonians would not get to an FA Cup Final these days but in 1882 they met the "blue and white" professionals of Blackburn Rovers, whilst they were very much the "light blue and white harlequin shirts". In those days the referee would toss a coin when there was a colour clash.Who ever lost would wear waistcoats or pullovers as kit changes! I'm not sure the Rovers professionals would stretch to waistcoast??!! The match was played at the Oval and 6,500 turned up to see the spectacle. It was the first final invaded by outsiders (those not on the "amateur scene of the south") and professionals. The posh chaps held their own and Lord Kinnaird was able to lift the trophy after his team won 1-0. Kinnaird celebrated the win by doing a handstand...here he is up the right way.

As I write I hear that the Old Etonians (very much present day representatives as old boys from the Berkshire school) have won their way to their Old Boys cup final, the Arthur Dunn Cup. This will be against the Old Carthusians, whom if you don't know, then you haven't been a regular reader of this blog.

The goalkeeper was often a problem because the goalie would wear the same colour as the rest of the team. This changed in 1909.
In 1890 once the official Football League had been established, the committee decided that all teams travelling should bring with them a change of kit. In the 1920s the FA decided that visiting teams must have a change of shirts and socks. Mind you in those days, local rules were often slightly different. Some leagues would state that the home teams should change in the event of a clash. Shorts were often "ignored" which seems unreasonable.

Don't forget the referee who might indeed clash. Millwall who played in royal blue provided grey alpaca blazars for officials who arrived with a clashing royal blue blazar!

In the 1978 FIFA World Cup Hungary (red) met France (blue) in a group game and the television companies complained that viewers watching in black and white would struggle to tell who was who!

Don't forget goalkeepers, who often would clash with the opposition and even the QPR mascot was dispatched from the pitch side for confusing the linesmen and ref in a game against PNE in February 2005.

Norwich City players complained in March 2005 that Bolton mascot, Lofty the Lion, looked like a Bolton player. Mind you in a top class stadium any one can clash with anyone-unless they decide to invade the pitch!!