The Lancashire Football Association was formed on 28th September 1878 after a meeting at the Volunteer Inn at Bromley Cross. Representatives of 23 clubs (including John Lewis for Rovers) were present and a Lancashire FA was duly brought into being with Rovers among the founder members. Rovers often clashed with the Lancashire FA and even resigned from it in May 1881. They only returned once they discovered that none of the other member teams would play them in friendlies until they did so. The disputes between Rovers and their bitter rivals Darwen tended to be acted out under the auspices of the Lancashire FA. The Association moved into its office in Wellington Street, Blackburn, where they have remained ever since.

The Lancashire Cup took place for the first time in 1879/80. Rovers continued to take part until they joined the league. The Lancashire Cup is still going, although mainly for non-league clubs. Morecambe and Southport are recent winning-teams.

Rovers Lancashire Cup Record (indicates part of the competition reached)-

1879/80 LAC Final – Darwen 3 BLACKBURN ROVERS 0

1880/1881 LAC R3 – Turton 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS 6 Both Rovers and Darwen were thrown out of the competition when they proved constantly unable to decide on a date for their fourth round match.

1881/82 LAC Final - BLACKBURN ROVERS 3 Accrington 1

1882/83 LAC Final – Darwen 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 3

1883/84 LAC Final – Blackburn Olympic 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 LAC Final r – Blackburn Olympic 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 2

1884/85 LAC Final – Blackburn Olympic 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 2

1885/86 LAC Final – Bolton Wanderers 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 0

1886/87 LAC R1 – Preston North End 7 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1

1887/88 LAC R6 – Derby Junction 2 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1

In all, out of the nine Lancashire Cup competitions they entered, Rovers won four, reached the final on another occasion and were thrown out of one of the competitions after an argument with Darwen. Their participation in the newly formed Football League in 1888 led to their withdrawing from the competition.