WHEN Darwen beat a full-strength Morecambe side in the Lancashire Marsden Trophy last week, it was one of biggest nights in the club's history.

But for a club that was founded more than 125 years ago, it wasn't the only special occasion.

There was the day they beat neighbours Turton, who hadn't been beaten at home in seven years, 1-0 away in a match watched by more than 1,000 Darwen fans who had travelled by special train.

There was the day Darwen fielded the country's first professional players and there was the day they reached the Lancashire Cup final after knocking out Accrington, Burnley and Preston on the way.

These events and many more are documented in a new book, written by Lancashire-based sports writer Paul Breeze, to raise money for the North West Counties second division side.

He said: "I contacted the club and suggested writing a book to celebrate their varied and interesting history. It's a great little club. Everybody lends a hand for no remuneration whatsoever and I thought that the best way for me to help out would be to use my writing skills."

Local companies Akzo Nobel and Astley Bank Welding also made a major contribution to help cover printing costs. The book also tells how Darwen: reached the semi-final of the FA Cup; won the first Lancashire Cup final; provided four England internationals; were beaten 11-1 by Arsenal but returned to the town as heroes and have a former World Cup player as current first team coach.

DARWEN Football Club Memories, published by Posh Up North Publishing, is available now, priced £10.