Burnley 1887

Burnley 1887

The Club

Burnley Football Club were among the great pioneers of the organised game. Founded in 1882 and based in the heart of Lancashire’s industrial landscape, Burnley quickly established themselves as a force in early Association Football. By the mid-1880s the club had embraced professionalism and competitive league football, becoming one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888. Burnley’s early identity was shaped by discipline, resilience, and tactical awareness — qualities that would carry the club to national prominence in the decades that followed.

This print presents Burnley as they stood in 1887, on the cusp of football’s first great structural revolution. Rendered in the style of late-Victorian chromolithograph sporting art, the image captures a full-length footballer in period kit, complete with leather ball, linesman’s flags, and ornamental detailing typical of 19th-century commercial illustration. The composition balances elegance with authority, combining decorative flourishes, muted pastoral tones, and meticulous historical detail. Produced for archival-quality display, the print is intended to evoke both the artistry and optimism of football’s formative years — when clubs like Burnley helped shape the modern game from its foundations.

This image depicts a Burnley footballer from 1887, created as part of a wider project to expose and celebrate the wonderful array of historic club colours found across British football. Long before standardisation, clubs expressed their identity through distinctive and often striking combinations of colour, fabric, and design. This print seeks to restore that richness, presenting Burnley as they appeared in the game’s formative years and highlighting the visual diversity that defined early Association Football.

Product details:

• You will only pay shipping/postage for 1 item, no matter how many items you purchase.
• Discounts are given for multiple purchases.
• Size: A3, A4, A5
• Single Sided
• Paper: 400gsm premium art stock
• Print quality: Museum-grade, high-resolution
• Finish: Unframed
• Watermark shown in images does NOT appear on the final print
• Carefully packaged for safe delivery

A striking piece of football history — ideal for collectors, historians, and lovers of our national game.

Any issues please contact me at paul@worldvintagecolours.com by clicking the hyperlink and I will get back to you ASAP.