Ellafella

1. The Badge . . .

Are you ok?

Great topic @B4ev6is. Can’t wait to see the full set. We could aggregate every contributor’s too 10 and come up with a top, top 10.

Without doubt he is Mr Derby County. What a brilliant icon he is. Brilliant footballer & a total Gentleman.

You’re right @Mostyn6; I can spend hours reading Victorian match reports; they used such quaint turns of phrase and give quite a good idea of what play was like. . .

Thank you @uttoxram75. You’re a gent. You’re so right about the history becoming more important as you get older. In the context of time 132 years is the blink of an eye. I find the roots of football and Derby County football so utterly fascinating. I just do. I’m glad you do too.

3 pesetas and an old button?! @richinspain. I've donated now. Well done everyone.

Indeed, he did play. See the following: The Lichfield Mercury, February 3rd, 1888 Blackburn Rovers ». Junction Street, Derby.— This tie was played Derby, on Saturday, before 7,000 spectators. The home team had gone in for thorough preparation for the contest spending last week at the Derbyshire watering-place, Matlock*. Prior to the kick off odds of 10 to 3 were offered on the Rovers, with but few takers. The ground was hard dangerous when, at half past two the Junction Street, who had lost the toss, kicked off downhill. The Blackburn forwards, by some pretty concerted play, were quickly at the top goal, a light breeze assisting them. The backs, however, relieved an opportune moment, which gave the home left chance; hut ere they could get away the ball was wrested from them. A run up the slope by the Rovers gave them corner, which proved fruitless : whilst a few minutes later shot of Snuthworth’s was well stopped by Bromage, whose throw gave his halves a chance to feed the forwards. Smith and Peach went down the field, and were becoming dangerous when Suter intervened By a ponderous return, which again gave his men clear ran. This they did cleverly, but their final waa rendered abortive by the defensive tactics of the Derby men. A run and shot by Bromage, which went wide of the posts, was applauded, and another stampede to the opposite end gave Southworth an opening, which he availed himself of by scoring the first point. This put new life into the Rovers, who attacked fiercely, but could not get beyond a certain point. Smith and Bromage (forwards) hampered the halves, and the former ran the ball out, whilst Radford caused Suter to concede a corner, and Junction, for a wonder, began to press. After Arthur bad stopped hot one of Hopkins's, the sphere was returned in front, and S. Smith had no difficulty in breasting it through, making the game one all. Up to the cross over the Rovers had the best of matters, but the game remained unaltered. Just on the point of time the Rovers bad unproductive corner, which was the last item of note; and the whistle blew with the Rovers beaten by 2 goals to 1. Although the Rovers played the best game and had hard lines, there is every credit due to the Junction Street for their indomitable pluck and perseverance, which has brought them victory. Derby Junction ; E. Bromage, goal; 6. Putts, (captain) and T. Hind, backs; R. Smith, I. SidJuns, and J. Walker, halfbacks S. Smith and J. Bromage, (right-wing); A. Peach and W. Hopkins, (left-wing), and J. Radford, (centre) forwards. Blackburn Rovers: Arthur, goal; Suter and Beverley, backs; Forrest. Barton, and Heyes, half-backs; Townley and Chadwick,(left-wing), Douglas and Ruahton (right-wing), and Southworth (centre), forwards.. Referee: Mr. W. H. Jope, Wednesbury. Blackburn coriespondenttelegraphsthat the news of the defeat of the Rovers Derby Junction created consternation among the crowds awaiting the result in, Blackburn and was not credited at first. On finding it only too true, the Blackburn people were disgusted, but they derived souse little satisfaction when the information arrived that the Rovers bad protested against the match being held valid, on the ground that the field of play was in such a state as not to admit of a fair contest. * A subsequent protest was launched by Rovers on the grounds that, as Junction's trip to Matlock had been resourced by public sponsorship {ie a modern "crowd fund"}, they were effectively "professionals" yet were registered as Amateurs. This was not upheld by the FA. and so Junction recorded one of the biggest Cup shocks of all time. Of course, Enos Bromage played for Junction in goal and a few short weeks later was transferred to Derby County!

I’ll search & see & let you know @Hilton Ram.

Is that your best-ist handwriting Young @David

... who ate all the pies? Who ate all the pies? @IslandExile?

It’s all a matter of taste; let’s suck it and see, etc 😉

Potato kit?

Whilst I totally agree with @IslandExile about the white shirts, I strongly believe we should glance back to our earliest history once in a while. Derby County was the youngest Founder Member of the Footbsll League at just 4 years old and did wonders to mature so quickly against the opposition of Midland, Junction, Sawley, Staveley et Alia. The amber, chocolate and blue needs to be celebrated. Think how proud it would make the likes of Amos “Jammer” Smith, Ben Spilsbury, William Monk Jarvis, Old Etonian gloriously named John Barrington Trapnell Chevallier, and not least William Morley, to know that their part in the early battles were not in vain. So I’d like to see us do something like:

Competition aimed principally at youngsters but there’s a 16+ level. See DCFC website. Closing date 9th April.