The club was founded on 18 May 1882 by members of rugby team Burnley Rovers, who voted for a shift to association football, since other sports clubs in the area had changed their codes to football. The suffix "Rovers" was dropped a few days later. The team played their first-ever match on 10 August against local side Burnley Wanderers at home ground Calder Vale and won 4–0. In February 1883, the club was invited by Burnley Cricket Club to a pitch adjacent to the cricket field at Turf Moor, where it has remained since. That same year saw them win their first silverware; the Dr Dean Trophy, a knockout competition between amateur clubs in the Burnley area.