9.9.15

Derby Midland



The Mids played in black and white stripes 

Derby had a football club as early as 1869- Derby Town FC. The Midland Railway Football Club 
was founded in 1881 and was soon known by their familiar name Derby Midland, or The Mids. Derby Town, eclipsed by the newcomers, went out of existence in 1882.
Midland's popularity inspired the formation of another team- in 1884 Derbyshire County Cricket Club decided to form a football section. Having rejected the name Derbyshire County Football Club they settled for the snappier Derby County. 
The fact that a number of Midland players joined the new County club was a source of great animosity that led to the 2 clubs refusing to play each other for 3 years. 
When the Football League was founded in 1888 a one club per town principle was applied. Being overlooked in favour of County, Midland became founder members of the Midland League in the 1889-90 season.
In June 1891 the 2 clubs 'merged'. In fact the merger was a takeover.  The Midland Railway Company withdrew funding from the club, who were forced to consider  reverting to amatuerism. However  County agreed to cover Midland's debts and took on the Midland players (including a promising 17 year old inside forward called Steven Bloomer!). There was some speculation that Midland would survive as a second team and continue to play in the Midland League, but the takeover ensured their dissappearance. 

I have found evidence of the following meetings between The Mids and County:


08.10.87
County 
1
2
Mids





04.02.88
County 
3
1
Mids





24.03.88
County 
3
1
Mids

Derby County Charity Cup played at the County Ground.

01.12.88
Mids
2
1
County

Midland Ground

24.12.88
County
1
4
Mids


04.05.89
County
3
0
Midland

Johnny Goodall's first appearance for County. He scored in the 12th minute.

02.11.89
County
1
1
Mids





12.04.90
Mids
0
0
County





30.03.91
County
0
4
Mids

County reserves

16.04.91
County
0
2
Mids

Played at The Baseball Ground. County didn’t make the permanent move to The Baseball Ground until 1895, but used it on occasions when the County Ground wasn’t available.

30.4.91
County
4
1
Mids









Derby Midland's League record was :
The Midland League
1889-90 2nd (11 clubs)
1890-91 4th (10 clubs)

Midland entered the FA Cup in 7 consecutive seasons:

1883-84
Bye in 1st Round
Birmingham Excelsior  
1
1
Mids
Mids  
2
1
Birmingham Excelsior
Wednesbury Town  
1
0
Mids
R3

1884-85
Mids
1
2
Wednesbury Old Athletic
R1

1885-86
Mids  
2
1
Birmingham Excelsior
Mids  
1
3
Walsall Swifts
R2

1886-87
Birmingham Excelsior  
3
3
Mids
Mids  
2
1
Birmingham Excelsior
Aston Villa  
6
1
Mids
R2

1887-88
Ecclesfield  
4
1
Mids
R1

1888-89
Mids  
2
1
Derby St Lukes
Notts County  
2
1
Mids
3QR

1889-90
Derby St Lukes
0
1
Mids
Mids
6
0
Stavely
Mids  
3
0
Nottingham Forest
Bootle
2
1
Mids
R2



They reached the final of The Derbyshire County Cup in 1884, 1885, 1890 and 1891. They won the Cup in 1890.