THE famous tale of Darwen FC’s FA Cup giant-killers is set to be brought to the stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Before The Salmoners took Old Etonians to two replays in 1879, the game had been dominated by southern amateur sides.

Darwen sparked controversy by fielding Fergie Suter and James Love, two professionals drafted in from Scottish club Partick.

Their tumultuous tale has been reimagined in The Giant Killers, by the Long Lane Theatre Company, which was established by seasoned West End performers Eve and Andrew Pearson-Wright.

A Long Lane spokesman said: “Football was not always a game for the masses.

"The first players to compete for the FA Cup were lords, knights and peers, in essence it was a game for the wealthy and privileged.

“The pivotal moment happened when a group of mill workers from Darwen joined two talented Glaswegians to change football.”

The first two rounds saw Darwen overcome Birch and Eagley, before they beat Berkshire side Remnants 3-2.

Old Etonians had twice been cup finalists but the plucky Darreners forged a 5-5 draw, after being three goals down in the opening tie at The Oval.

Because all finals fixtures took place in and around London in those days, the Darwen side returned for the replay, which resulted in a 2-2 draw.

Their endeavours ended with a 5-2 defeat but the match-up had already made history.

Within two years Darwen had reached the FA Cup’s semi-finals.

And by 1882-83, Blackburn Olympic had gone one better, beating Old Etonians to clinch the silverware.

Even the ramifications of the 1879 ties had wider implications.

The fixtures also raised questions about the remuneration of northern sides, often populated by full-time workers, which were opposed by the southern amateur ‘gentleman’ clubs.

In a book on professionalism in football, historian Graham Curry, said: “These pleas can be perceived as the first indications of a growing southern fear of northern dominance in the game of football.”

The Giant Killers is set to run at Edinburgh’s Gilded Balloon studio from August 2.