Old Firm Derby

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Derby County was established in 1884 to provide winter interest for cricket supporters. Their first competitive match was a 7–0 FA Cup defeat to Walsall Town in 1884–85. A pivotal moment arrived with a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa, leading to an invitation to the inaugural Football League in 1888. On opening day that year, they famously came from 3–0 down to beat Bolton Wanderers 6–3. The club absorbed Derby Midland in 1891, becoming Derby's sole professional club, and moved to the Baseball Ground in 1895, adopting black and white home colours. Steve Bloomer joined in 1892 and is considered their best-ever player. Despite finishing as runners-up to Aston Villa in 1896 and reaching three FA Cup finals between 1898 and 1903 (losing all), the club faced financial struggles that saw them sell Bloomer in 1906.

In Their Own Story

The club's competitive peak occurred in the 1970s under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, who took over in 1967. After signing key players like Alan Hinton, Roy McFarland, John O'Hare, and Dave Mackay, they won promotion to the First Division in 1969. Despite a European ban in 1971 due to financial irregularities, they won their first League Championship in 1972. Although they lost the title the following season, they reached the European Cup semi-finals, falling to Juventus. Clough's outspoken nature led to his departure with Taylor in October 1973. Remarkably, successor Dave Mackay, a former player under Clough, led Derby to another title in 1974–75 before relegation in 1980.

Reader's Guide

Derby County's history is marked by significant turning points and legendary figures. The club was a strong force in the interwar years, finishing league runner-up twice in the 1930s, and won their first major trophy, the FA Cup, in 1946 with a 4–1 victory over Charlton Athletic. After relegation to the third tier in 1955 for the first time in history, they returned to the second tier by 1957 under Harry Storer. The Brian Clough era remains the club's most celebrated period, commemorated by a 9 ft bronze statue of Clough and Taylor erected outside Pride Park 37 years after their departure. In the modern era, the club has seen high-profile transfers, such as Craig Short for £2.5 million in 1992, and managerial changes involving figures like Roy McFarland and Jim Smith, who guided them to a second-place finish in 1995–96 to reach the Premier League.

Did You Know?

• Derby County was founded in 1884 as an offshoot of Derbyshire County Cricket Club by William Morley.
• The club is one of only nine clubs to have competed in every season of the English football league system up to the end of the 2024–25 season (126 seasons).
• Derby's home colours have been black and white since the 1890s, adopted when they moved to the Baseball Ground.
• The team's nickname, The Rams, honours links with the First Regiment of Derby Militia.
• In the first ever league season on 8 September 1888, Derby came from 3–0 down to beat Bolton Wanderers 6–3.