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.