Blackburn Rovers Football Club, a founding member of the Football League in 1888, was established in 1875, and is one of only three teams (the others being Aston Villa and Everton) to be founding members of both the Football League and the Premier League. In 1890 Rovers moved to their current home ground at Ewood Park. The club had their most successful period in the pre-1930 years, before the formation of the Premiership in 1992.

Having been taken over by steel magnate Jack Walker, who installed Kenny Dalglish as manager, Blackburn were promoted to the newly formed Premier League. 3 years later, in 1995, Blackburn were crowned league champions, having spent huge amounts relative to transfer fees at the time on match winning players such as Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton. They are one of only 4 clubs, along with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, to have won the Premier League. However, the title-winning team rapidly disintegrated and the success was not repeated. In 1999, the club were relegated. They bounced back 2 years later, just after Walker's death. The club's motto is 'Arte et Labore' - 'by art and by labour' - and was taken from the town council at the club's formation.