One of the more rare items of sports memorabilia in the collections is the earliest known FA Cup final programme. Dating from 1882, it records the match of the Old Etonians versus Blackburn Rovers, when the Etonians would win the FA Cup for the second and last time. The original owner of the programme described going to see the match in his diary “saw the Etonians win the cup after a most exciting match in the presence of 5,000 persons.” 

Almost 110 years after the 1882 match, a dinner was held at Eton to commemorate the long standing relationship between Blackburn and the School. That same year the then Keeper of the Association, Adam Keswick (MAT ’91) was called up for a trial with the club and was presented with this pennant, which was donated to the museum, thereby bringing a 110 year rivalry full circle.