By the end of 2015 I had seen all the Derbyshire teams that play in the top 9 tiers of the English football pyramid, at home, in league action.
By the end of 2016 I had seen all Derbyshire (first) teams that feature in the top 11 tiers (professional and semi-professional standard) play some sort of competitive fixture (either home or away).
For the sake of completeness I thought that watching a game on all of the grounds, that the tier 10 and 11 teams call home, would be a fitting way to wrap up my Derbyshire odyssey.
But just what is a Derbyshire team?
From my point of view here are the determining factors:
1) Do the team play their home games within the ceremonial county boundary? and, if not,
2) Does the team have an affiliation to a Derbyshire location AND are affiliated the Derbyshire Football Association?
My definition makes Sheffield FC a Derbyshire team as criteria 1 is satisfied. My definition makes Ashbourne FC a Derbyshire team as criteria 2 is satisfied (although they play their home games in Staffordshire).
By autumn 2017 I had seen all current Derbyshire teams play and had seen games played on the grounds that they call 'home'. Below is a list of the Derbyshire first teams, their current league and level (as of the 2017/18 season) and their 'home' grounds I have seen games on.
Derby County (T2 - Football League Championship)
- Pride Park and The Baseball Ground
Chesterfield (T4 - Football League, League 2)
- Saltergate and The Proact Stadium
Alfreton Town (T6 - National League, North)
- The Impact Arena, North Street
Buxton (T7 - Northern Premier League, Premier Division)
- Silverlands
Mickleover Sports (T7 - Northern Premier League, Premier Division)
- Don Amott Arena
Matlock Town (T7 - Northern Premier League, Premier Division)
- Causeway Lane
Glossop North End (T8 - Northern Premier League, First Division North)
- Arthur Goldthorpe Stadium, Surrey Street
Sheffield FC (T8 - Northern Premier League, First Division South)
- Coach and Horses Ground, The Home of Football
Belper Town (T8 - Northern Premier League, First Division South)
- Christchurch Meadow
Gresley (T8 - Northern Premier League, First Division South)
- Moat Ground
Heanor Town (T9 - Midland Football League, Premier Division)
- Town Ground
Long Eaton United (T9 - Midland Football League, Premier Division)
- Grange Park
South Normanton Athletic (T9 - Midland Football League, Premier Division)
- Lees Lane
Staveley Miners Welfare (T9 - Northern Counties East League, Premier Division)
- Inkersall Road
Shirebrook Town (T10 - Northern Counties East League Division One)
- Langwith Road
Dronfield Town (T10 - Northern Counties East League Division One)
- Stonelow Fields
FC Bolsover (T10 - Northern Counties East League Division One)
- Langwith Road
Ilkeston Town phoenix club of Ilkeston FC (T10 - Midland Football League, Premier Division One)
- New Manor Ground
Belper United (T10 - East Midlands Counties League)
- Christchurch Meadow and Anderson Electrical Arena (Asterdale)
Graham Street Prims (T10 - East Midlands Counties League)
- Asterdale
Borrowash Victoria (T10 - East Midlands Counties League)
- Anderson Electrical Arena (Asterdale)
Stapenhill (T10 - East Midlands Counties League)
- Edge Hill
Holbrook Sports (T10 - East Midlands Counties League)
- Shaw Lane
New Mills (T10 - North West Counties League, First Division)
- Church Lane
Clay Cross Town (T11 - Central Midlands League North Division)
- Mill Lane
Tideswell United (T11 - Central Midlands League North Division)
- Tideswell Sports Complex
Mickleover RBL (T11 - Central Midlands League South Division)
- Poppyfields
Hilton Harriers (T11 - Central Midlands League South Division)
- The Mease Pavilion and Etwall Leisure Centre
AFC Kilburn (T11 - Central Midlands League South Division)
- Kilburn Welfare
Swanwick Pentrich Road (T11 - Central Midlands League South Division)
- Highfield Road
Pinxton (T11 - Central Midlands League South Division)
- Van Elle Welfare Arena
Holbrook St Michaels (T11 - Central Midlands League South Division)
- Holbrook Park
Ashbourne (T11 - Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division)
- Hillsfield (Rocester)
Sandiacre Town (T11 - Nottinghamshire Senior League)
- St Giles Park
Whaley Bridge (T11 - Cheshire Football League)
- Park Road
In addition I have seen:
South Normanton Town (T11 - Central Midlands League South Division)
Technically the second team of South Normanton Athletic that play on the same ground
But not:
Staveley, Dronfield and Matlock 'official' reserve teams who also play in the CMFL.
Teams that have either fallen from Tier 11 or have disbanded since 2014 are:
Chapel Town (now play in the Manchester League at Tier 12 - not seen)
Mickleover Royals (disbanded - not seen)
Gamesley FC (disbanded - seen in the Derbyshire Senior Cup in Belper)
Glapwell FC (disbanded and became FC Bolsover - not seen)
Allenton United (disbanded and reformed to play in the MRA for a season - saw in the MRA at Moorways in Derby)
Aston United (left the Nottinghamshire Senior League - seen in the Derbyshire Senior Cup and used to play at Ilkeston's ground)
Wednesday, 4 October 2017
Dronfield Town 0, Grimsby Borough 2 (04/10/2017 19:45) - NCEL Division 1
I watched Dronfield play previously in a Derbyshire Senior Cup game at Hilton's Mease Pavilion ground. I had never been to their Stonelow ground but a midweek game in the Step 6 Northern Counties East League Division One allowed me to rectify this oversight.
Although I had already seen all the Derbyshire first teams that play in the top eleven tiers of English football, I had not seen games played on all of their grounds. Today allowed me to complete a fairly unique double.
The game itself saw 18th place Dronfield host 4th place Grimsby Borough at a Stonelow ground that was quite tidy with a small stand that was filled with spectators that appeared to be, mostly, from Grimsby. The pitch slightly sloped away, width ways, from the stand and a smell of mothballs filled the air, reminding me of the gasworks clean-up jobs by company gets involved in.
The rain came down and the pitch got skiddy. Tackles went flying in and the referee was kept busy with the issuing of yellow cards.
Grimsby looked the better side throughout but it took them 'til mid-way through the second half to take the lead. A diagonal, defence splitting, pass from the right was perfectly weighted for the striker to run onto, and from 8 yards out, to the left of goal, it was calmly dispatched.
Ten minutes from time and the win was sealed. A cross from the left wing found the striker on the penalty spot and a composed finish saw the ball fly past the left hand of the 'keeper.
A stroll up hill back to the car park and an hours' drive got me home.
Although I had already seen all the Derbyshire first teams that play in the top eleven tiers of English football, I had not seen games played on all of their grounds. Today allowed me to complete a fairly unique double.
The game itself saw 18th place Dronfield host 4th place Grimsby Borough at a Stonelow ground that was quite tidy with a small stand that was filled with spectators that appeared to be, mostly, from Grimsby. The pitch slightly sloped away, width ways, from the stand and a smell of mothballs filled the air, reminding me of the gasworks clean-up jobs by company gets involved in.
The rain came down and the pitch got skiddy. Tackles went flying in and the referee was kept busy with the issuing of yellow cards.
Grimsby looked the better side throughout but it took them 'til mid-way through the second half to take the lead. A diagonal, defence splitting, pass from the right was perfectly weighted for the striker to run onto, and from 8 yards out, to the left of goal, it was calmly dispatched.
Ten minutes from time and the win was sealed. A cross from the left wing found the striker on the penalty spot and a composed finish saw the ball fly past the left hand of the 'keeper.
A stroll up hill back to the car park and an hours' drive got me home.
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