Derbyshire

Cricket may not have reached Derbyshire until the 18th century. The earliest reference to cricket in the county is a match in September 1757 between Wirksworth and Sheffield Cricket Club at Brampton Moor, near Chesterfield.

An ad hoc team of players from Derbyshire travelled to Kent and London in July 1870. They played against the Gentlemen of Kent at the Angel Ground, and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Lord's, winning both matches. Later in the year, on 4 November, Derbyshire County Cricket Club was founded. This was the outcome of a meeting in the Derby Guildhall. The Earl of Chesterfield, who had played for and against the All England Eleven, was elected as the first President. G. H. Strutt was the Vice-President, and Walter Boden, who had campaigned for the club's foundation for three years, was the Secretary. Also present at the meeting was Boden's brother, Henry. When Chesterfield died the following year, William Jervis became President. Derbyshire's opening season was 1871. The team played its inaugural first-class match against Lancashire at Old Trafford on 26 and 27 May. In doing so, they became part of the (then unofficial) County Championship. They defeated Lancashire by an innings and 11 runs, after dismissing them for only 25 in their first innings.