Derby Junction F.C.

Derby Junction
Full nameDerby Junction Football Club
Nickname(s)The Juncs[1]
Founded1870
Dissolved1895
GroundDerby Arboretum
SecretaryG. Draper
c. 1883–87 colours
1887–91 colours

Derby Junction Football Club were an amateur football club in Derby, England. They were active in the 1880s and 1890s, notably being founder members of the Midland League in 1890 and FA Cup semi-finalists in 1888.[2] They played at Derby Arboretum.[3]

History

Derby Junction first developed as an old boys' team for Junction Street School, and were renamed Derby Junction Street in 1885, at some point dropping 'Street'.[3] Reports suggest the team began playing at some point in the early 1880s, although the club claimed a foundation date of 1870.[4]

Their run to the F.A. Cup semi-finals came in the 1887–88 season. They won all of their ties in the early rounds by one goal margins, received a bye in the fourth round, then beat Welsh side Chirk to secure their place in the last eight. They were drawn at home to the holders, Blackburn Rovers. The team spent a week at Matlock Bath to prepare for the tie, which was paid for by public subscription.[5] In front of a crowd estimated at nearly 7,000, and with a bumpy and icy pitch acting as a leveller, the Juncs - given odds of 100/30 against to win the match - pulled off an unexpected 2–1 win, coming from behind with goals from S. Smith and W. Hopkins, to reach the last four.[6] Their run came to an end in the semi-finals when they lost to eventual winners West Bromwich Albion.

The club folded in 1895 as professionalism began to spread into the game.[3] The club's final match was on Christmas Day 1895 - an 8–1 defeat to the Derby County reserves.[7]

Colours

In 1882, the club's colours were red and navy blue thin stripes on the shirt with white shorts and navy socks; at some time before 1887 they had switched to a green shirt with a gold sash, white shorts, and green socks.[8] In 1887 the club changed its colours to amber and black,[9] arranged in stripes, with white shorts and black socks.[7] The club changed again in December 1891, to red and white jerseys, presented to the club by a Mrs Ragg, the wife of a club benefactor.[10]

Ground

The club played on the Arboretum Field,[11] originally using the Rose Hill Tavern for facilities.[9]

Full F.A. Cup Results

1884 - 1885:

Round Date Opposition Score
1st 25 October 1884 West Bromwich Albion (A) 1 - 7

1885 - 1886:

Round Date Opposition Score
1st 31 October 1885 Darwen (A) 2 - 2
Replay 7 November 1885 Darwen (A) 0 - 4

Note: The results archive on the official F.A. website shows Darwen as the home team for both the original tie and the replay.

1886 - 1887:

Round Date Opposition Score
1st 30 October 1886 Wellington St. George's (A) 1 - 0
2nd 20 November 1886 West Bromwich Albion (A) 1 - 2

1887 - 1888:

Round Date Opposition Score
1st 15 October 1887 Derby St. Luke's (H) 3 - 2
2nd 5 November 1887 Rotherham Town (H) 3 - 2
3rd 19 November 1887 Lockwood Brothers (H) 2 - 1
4th - Bye N/A
5th 31 December 1887 Chirk (A) 1 - 0
6th 28 January 1888 Blackburn Rovers (H) 2 - 1
SF 18 February 1888 West Bromwich Albion (N)[2] 0 - 3

1888 - 1889:

Round Date Opposition Score
1st 2 February 1889 Derby County (A) 0 - 1

1889 - 1890:

Round Date Opposition Score
1Q 5 October 1889 Matlock Town (H) 4 - 2
2Q 26 October 1889 Belper Town (H) 6 - 1
3Q 16 November 1889 Staveley (A) 0 - 2

1890 - 1891:

Round Date Opposition Score
1Q 4 October 1890 Sheffield United (H) 0 - 1

Source:[12]

References

  1. ^ "Derby Junction v Small Heath Alliance". Derby Mercury: 2. 13 April 1887.
  2. ^ a b Derby Junction Football Club History Database; Accessed 09-03-08
  3. ^ a b c Up for the Cup: The F.A Cup in Nineteenth Century Derbyshire Hartley, Roger; 2001; Accessed 09-03-08
  4. ^ Charles Alcock yearbooks
  5. ^ "Football". Blackburn Weekly Standard: 7. 4 February 1888.
  6. ^ "Blackburn Rovers v Derby Junction". Sporting Life: 4. 30 January 1888.
  7. ^ a b Smith, V H (18 August 1998). "Football and family life". Derby Daily Telegraph: 24.
  8. ^ Moor, Dave. "Eminent Victorians (The Midlands)". historicalkits.co.uk. Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b Alcock, Charles (1887). Football Yearbook. London: Wright & Co. p. 185.
  10. ^ "Notes on out-door sports". Derby Daily Telegraph: 4. 16 December 1891.
  11. ^ Alcock, Charles (1890). Football Yearbook. London: Wright & Co. p. 166.
  12. ^ Association, The Football. "Results Archive - Emirates FA Cup - Competitions | The Football Association". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 31 December 2022.