The motion was defeated and Darwen travelled down to the Oval to play the great amateur side Old Etonians in the quarter-final.
He centred the Old Carthusians' team at the FA Cup Final at Kennington Oval on 9 April 1881, and, 25 minutes into the match, he scored his team's first goal in a 3–0 win against the Old Etonians.
His brother, Herbert, also played first-class cricket for the county, as well as being a two-time FA Cup winner with the Old Etonians.
His uncle, Herbert, also played first-class cricket for Sussex, as well as being a two-time FA Cup winner with the Old Etonians.
Canon Rev. Norman Pares, who was vicar of Horsell from 1897 to 1936, was a member of the Old Etonians side which won the 1879 FA Cup Final.
After school, he played as full-back in association football with the Old Etonians F.C. and took part in the first match (score 1-1 draw) of the 1876 FA Cup Final at Kennington Oval, which they ultimately lost after a replay to Wanderers when his place in team was taken by Edgar Lubbock.