AN HISTORIC football match between Darwen and Arsenal is being screened - 75 years after the match took place.

Accrington Library will show the 1932 "David versus Goliath" game as part of "East Lancashire on Film".

The North West Film Archive has put together the collection of films chronicling major events in the region over the last century.

As well as the third round FA Cup match, the screening will also include moving scenes from the Accrington Pals battalion leaving for the Western Front in World War 1, the folk of Great Harwood celebrating the Queen's coronation in 1953, Burnley residents marking the town's centenary in 1963, and the end of steam at Rosegrove five years later.

The early 1930s was a golden age for Darwen FC, and in the 1931/32 season, they beat League side Chester and then drew the Arsenal at Highbury.

It was the second time the clubs had met, after a narrow two-nil defeat to Arsenal in a 1902 FA Cup match.

But in 1932, Arsenal were one of the biggest clubs, valued at £45,000, whereas Darwen's part-time side was worth £25.

The Darreners were beaten 11-1, but Arsenal were so impressed by their performance that they gave the club a set of their own red strip - colours which Darwen have worn ever since.

Darwen's share of the gate from the 37,000-plus crowd also paid for a new stand.

The team were welcomed back to Darwen as heroes.

Geoff Senior, collections assistant at NWFA, based at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "The short film was commissioned by the Palladium Cinema, and it would have been played in the theatre as a short local item before the main news reel, probably a daily showing for a week."

The screening will take place on Thursday, November 8 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £1 and can be bought from the James Street library or by calling 01254 306905.