Derby Junction F.C.

Derby Junction

Full name	Derby Junction Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Juncs[1]
Founded	1870
Dissolved	1895
Ground	Derby Arboretum
Secretary	G. 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.^[10] 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.^[11]

Ground

The club played on the Arboretum Field,^[12] originally using the Rose Hill Tavern for facilities.^[13]

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:^[14]

References