A TOP politician became a Blackburn football team’s bagman as he researched their finest hour for an upcoming book.

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy helped Blackburn Olympic FC to learn more about their role in football history.

The East Renfrewshire MP is planning to publish a work featuring inspiring stories such as the famous cease-fire of First World War soldiers in which German and English troops played football.

Another of the stories to feature is the 1884 FA Cup Final triumph of Blackburn Olympic versus Old Etonians.

At the time Blackburn Olympic were bigger than Rovers.

The match was a historic moment as it was the first time a team from a working-class background had won the title.

The cup had previously been won only by teams of wealthy amateurs from the home counties.

Secretary and manager of Blackburn Olympic Dave Lloyd said the club had enjoyed the MP’s visit, which saw him travel to Blackburn from his Glasgow constituency.

He said: “We had a great time during Jim’s visit and he was passing out the water to all the lads, and asking questions.

“It was a research trip for him, because part of the chapter is describing the difference between modern football and the historic moments which seem so different to today’s game.

“We were thrilled by his interest because it was a proud moment for the club and we were glad to welcome him.”

Mr Murphy said: “It was great fun and a fantastic day.

“It’s teams like Blackburn Olympic that make football the great British sport it is: Working class guys who are not doing it for the money, they are doing it for the love of the game.”

Sport historians say Olympic’s 2-1 victory marked a turning point in football's transition from a pastime for upper-class gentlemen to a professional sport.

At the time, however, Olympic’s victory over one of the great amateur teams provoked consternation.

The Football Association had prohibited clubs from paying their players but working-class clubs, especially those based in Lancashire, had been widely suspected of making illicit payments to players since at least 1876.

In the wake of Olympic’s high-profile victory, journalists and officials affiliated with amateur clubs in the south intensified their calls for the FA to investigate the finances of northern clubs.

This prompted some clubs to make plans to break away from the FA and form a rival governing body, sparking a rehash of the sport overall.