WE'RE all used to high quality football on our HD TVs nowadays - but there's a certain charm to this footage which shows Blackburn Rovers hosting Aston Villa in 1904.

The film is the earliest of two games caught by Mitchell and Kenyon at Ewood Park.

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The negative was badly damaged, giving the picture a snowed-out look, but the competitive nature is clear to see.

Unusually for Mitchell and Kenyon's football films, the camera captures a (rather scrappy) goal, to the visible frustration of Villa players, who mount a furious protest.

Blackburn went on to win 4-0.

It's hard to distinguish the Rovers players as the sides make their way onto the pitch - but if you look closely enough - you will see a difference in shade with the white pocket on the blue half.

  • Special thanks to Dean Beresford, who identified this match as the First Division game played at Blackburn's Ewood Park on the 10th September 1904.