Arthur Blackburn (footballer) Arthur Blackburn (footballer) Arthur Blackburn (1877 – after 1901) was an English footballer who played as a full-back with Blackburn Rovers and Southampton around the turn of the 20th century. He was the elder brother of England international footballer, Fred Blackburn. Blackburn was born in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire and first joined his home-town club, Blackburn Rovers, in March 1895. After three years of reserve-team football, he spent the 1898–99 season with Northamptonshire club Wellingborough playing in the Midland League. He returned to Blackburn in the summer of 1899; by now his brother Fred had become established at outside-left.
Blackburn Rovers F.C. Cricket Club's ground in the centre of the town, Alexandra Meadows. Sources differ as to the date of the first match played by Rovers at Alexandra Meadows. A programme from Clitheroe F.C. states that Clitheroe was the first team to beat Blackburn at Alexandra Meadows on 17 November 1877. Other sources indicate that the first match took place on 2 January 1878 with a Blackburn victory against Partick Thistle. It was on this ground Blackburn Rovers played for the first time under artificial light against Accrington on 4 November 1878. Due to the increasing demand in football in the area