Pride of Derbyshire

Sung by many in this great County but who are the pride of Derbyshire?

It depends on what the criteria is of course. Could it be Derby County, the highest ranked club from the County in footballs pyramid. Chesterfield could claim so having reached the National League play off final and giving themselves a chance of promotion back into the Football League. Many of our clubs can lay claim whether it is due to the facilities they provide, the success they have had and there are a number who can be pleased with what they've achieved this term. In my view all our clubs have a claim to that tag but Buxton, perhaps, have the biggest shout to say so, for this season at least, having won this season’s Derbyshire Senior Cup.

Covid meant we went three seasons without our County Cup competition but what a great tournament we had when it did return and at some great grounds our clubs have.

The 1^st Round saw 4 ties with only 3 being played due to Clay Cross Town withdrawing, hopefully the Millers will be back and gracing the competition for 2023/24.

Here I want to look at the grounds that staged Senior Cup ties in 2022/23.

Belper Town.

The competition started out on a chilly night in October with Belper United beating South Normanton Athletic 2-1 at Belper Town.

Christchurch Meadow, Belper Town’s home, staged 3 games in this season’s Derbyshire Senior Cup. The 1^st Round for Belper United and Town’s two home ties, the 4^th Round 4-1 win over Heanor Town and the semi-final defeat v Derby County Academy.

Belper Town’s ground as developed into a great football ground. The clubhouse was built in 1999 and, presumably, a good source of revenue for the club. The 500 seat main stand, built 4 years later, has a press box about half way down, next to the players tunnel/canopy, with a hospitality room at the River Derwent end.

United and Town both reached the semi-finals but an all Belper final was scuppered when both lost 3-2.

The covered terrace, tea bar and scoreboard at Belper Town.

Covered terrace behind the Church end at Belper Town.

The main stand with clubhouse behind.

The hard standing behind the 4g end with cover partly installed.

Stapenhill.

The same night as Belper United were beating South Normanton 2-1, Sandiacre Town won at Stapenhill by the same score.

As with lots of County Cup competitions clubs on the fringe of the County also take part and one such club is Stapenhill who foundered in the 1^st Round to Nottinghamshire Senior League Sandiacre Town. Maple Grove has a couple of bits of cover, a stand behind the near goal and a small covered section to the right as you enter the ground. There used to be a tall thin covered section next to this cover which was used as a press box, accessed via stairs at the back, but also provided cover underneath. That’s now gone but the stand behind the goal has seats at the back with a few steps of terracing in front and then a central seated section.

The press box cover at Stapenhill, no longer there.

The main stand behind the goal.

Staveley Miners Welfare.

Staveley MW staged 2 ties, their 1st Round defeat to Heanor Town and also the 3rd Round tie when Chesterfield played Belper United. In Staveley's defeat to Heanor all 4 goals were scored in the second half. 

Chesterfield, fielding their Academy side, had intended to stage the game at Clay Cross Town but after the game was postponed a couple of times due to the weather, the decision was made to ask Staveley for use of their 3g pitch. I felt for Belper United as they had a fantastic run to the semi-finals and playing at the Technique Stadium would have been a great occasion for the club. That’s not to knock the facilities at Staveley because the ground that has been transformed into a really colourful venue with great facilities for spectators. Belper probably didn’t need firing up for this game but they swept aside the young Spireites 3-0.

Main stand and terracing.

The Tower Bar.

Covered terrace behind the top goal.

Rocester.

Rocester, pic courtesy of Sam Goldsworthy.

We now move out of the County again, not to a club who took part in the Derbyshire Senior Cup but a club who hosted a game on behalf of their neighbours. Rocester was the setting for 2 ties which Ashbourne were drawn at home in. Firstly, the 2^nd round tie against Pinxton which Ashbourne won 2-1 then the 3^rd round tie against Belper Town. The Nailers prevailing 3-0 at the home of the Romans. It was back in 1993 when I last visited Rocester and my main memory was a sharp left turn into the car park from the main road, a revisit is definitely overdue. A 250 seat stand and 2 sections of cover is available at the ground. The main stand is adjacent to the clubhouse which has an overhang providing cover for a small number. Opposite is covered hard standing with a great feature being the sign adorning the middle of this. A revisit is definitely needed as I've not got any pics of Hillsfields so a big thank you to Sam Goldsworthy who allowed use of his photo.

Shirebrook Town.

It's been a wretched season for Shirebrook and a defeat in their 2nd round tie to Graham Street Prims wouldn't have been a surprise to many. Langwith Road staged just that one tie and what a gem this is. The main stand on the grass bank giving a great view of the game and the pitch length covered terrace opposite means there's plenty for spectators when needing to avoid the British weather. I can't not mention the tea bar either, great food on offer and well worth a visit when watching a game here.

Main stand.

The pitch length covered terrace.

New Mills

Two 1^st round winners met in round 2, New Mills welcomed Belper United and were shocked by a 6-1 defeat as the visitors made the most of some poor defending and just as bad attacking options.

Church Lane is a great ground and New Mills are another club with really good facilities for their supporters. The refurbished clubhouse is now open regularly and attracts a lot of locals to their regular Foody Friday events. There’s a bit of cover overhanging the club house entrance with the main cover being on the Church Lane side with a covered terrace running most of the length of the pitch and includes a seated section towards the far end. Plans are afoot to redevelop the ground further should the sale of land the club own come off as the people running the club look to assure this great little clubs future.

The main stand at New Mills.

Heanor Town.

Heanor staged just their 2nd Round game v Sandiacre Town which saw the competitions biggest victory this season as the home side won 8-0.

Heanor’s Town Ground adjoins the cricket field, though I believe cricket is no longer played here. Even so, it’s a 3 sided ground, there are 2 main sections of cover at Heanor. A large covered terrace with some seats in the centre behind the top goal and on the side opposite the cricket field is another large covered terrace. The tea bar at Heanor deserves a mention, a great choice of food always available and well worth sampling. The clubhouse is also a big part of the community, it always seems to be busy and having different acts on for the locals, this is to your right as you enter the ground.

Heanor should have staged the 3^rd round tie v Glossop North End but the Hillmen withdrew, like Clay Cross, it would be nice to see them back in the Senior Cup next season. Heanor’s interest in the competition ended at Belper Town in the 4^th Round when the Nailers won 4-1.

The cover opposite the cricket field.

Dronfield Town.

Dronfield Town beat Borrowash Vics 3-0 in the 2^nd round. The Northern Counties East League Division 1 side have cover for 100 with 80 seats. Since my last visit the main cover on the side as you come down from the cricket pitch, and dressing rooms for the football, has had the seats put in and a small piece of metal sticking out from the perimeter fence at the left hand goal provides a small area of cover. This is one of the Counties developing grounds and as the club continue to consolidate in the NCEL I wouldn't be surprised to see further developments here. Dronfield lost 1-0 at Gresley Rovers in the next round.

The cover at Dronfield before seats were added.

Matlock Town.

Causeway Lane is one of the County’s better venues with very few in such a picturesque setting. Cover on 3 sides due to the cricket field adjoining the pitch with the iconic view of Riber Castle up the hill. Entrance through the turnstile block on Causeway Lane itself brings you in the corner, turn right for the club shop and the pitch length cover which includes tip up as well as bench seating with terracing at the very end. Turn left at the turnstiles and you come behind the town end goal with a very good covered terrace slightly raised from the hard standing and about half the pitch width. The jewel in Matlock’s crown though is the Twigg Stand built in 2011. Along this side is a small section of uncovered terracing, an excellent tea bar then the other side of the Twigg stand a brand new clubhouse. The Gladiators interest lasted just one game when they lost to arch rivals Buxton 2-1. I believe the club have hopes to redevelop the Causeway Lane stand so listen out for any news in the coming months.

The cover on the Causeway Lane side.

The main stand.

Gresley Rovers.

The Moat Ground is a wonderful nonleague ground though in need of some TLC or as it’s more commonly known, redevelopment. The club are actually looking to relocate and it is something they will need to do should they want to progress. You may remember Gresley Rovers were Southern League champions back in 1996/97 but the ground wasn’t up to Conference standard and promotion was denied. For the traditionalist amongst us the Moat Ground is an aesthetically pleasing ground. The cover down the side providing cover and the main stand on the side where you enter the ground is all well and good but practically the club need a more modern facility. Gresley’s two ties were a 3rd round win over Dronfield Town and a penalty defeat to this season’s surprise package, Belper United.

The main stand at Gresley.

The narrow strip of covered terracing at the Moat Ground.

Long Eaton United.

What a season it's been for Long Eaton United, recently promoted to the NPL Premier Division against all the odds in the play offs. Long Eaton won 1-0 v Mickleover in the only Senior Cup tie they hosted, in the 3rd round. The found National League North, Buxton, more difficult in round 4 and lost 3-0. This is another ground with great spectator facilities that have been enhanced over the years. The main spectator cover is the main stand or as the sign says “The Big Jim Stand”, to the left of this is a small covered section of hard standing. Opposite is a covered section with 3 steps of terracing.  

The "Big Jim" Stand.

Graham Street Prims.

This is one of my favourite grounds in the County. Prims, who are very close neighbours to Borrowash Victoria at the Asterdale Sports & Social Club, built the ground from scratch after moving from Longbridge Lane. The ground is now fully enclosed, there’s a seated stand behind the top goal and further cover down the right hand side. Prims hosted Derby’s Academy side in round 3 and were beaten 4-0.

The stand behind the top goal at Graham Street Prims.

Alfreton Town.

Alfreton Town, winners of the last DSC competition, pre-Covid, had an impressive 6-1 win over Ilkeston Town in round 3, despite the Reds fielding fringe players in the tie. Possibly the tie of the round, especially for drama was at the Impact Arena for Alfreton’s 4^th round game against Derby County’s Academy side. 2-0 down and then 5-2 ahead Alfreton were looking forward to a semi-final against old rivals Belper Town. Derby’s youngsters though never gave up and scored 3 times from the 88^th minute into added time to force a penalty shoot out which they won 5-3. A makeshift Reds side, again fielding fringe players, were done for and the chance of silverware gone. A great season in National League North the Reds finished 5th and qualified for the play offs, I believe they were the only part time team in the play offs and succumbed to a full time Kidderminster Harriers in the eliminator.

Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena is another one of the County’s grounds that is impressive. There are ample seats on 3 sides of the ground, surprisingly uncovered at the Bungalow end, behind the goal. To your left from this end is the Tom McRoy stand which is the main stand and has a large section of covered seats alongside some more uncovered seating. Opposite the Tom McRoy stand is the dressing rooms and clubhouse building. There are 3 bars for supporters to use on this side and in front of that is cover the majority of the length of the pitch with a mixture of seating and terracing. Behind the other goal is a large section of terracing with some of it partly covered, this is the Tin End and sometimes given over to away supporters when segregation is needed. 

The Tin End.

The dressing room side at The Impact Arena.

Buxton.

The Silverlands, home of Buxton, who joined Alfreton in National League North this season hosted two ties. A 4th round win v Long Eaton United (3-0) and a semi-final win over Belper United (3-2) on a snowy night in March. The Bucks went on to win the competition at Pride Park to gain some silverware which may have compensated ever so slightly as they just missed out on the National League North play offs. Another of Derbyshire's premier grounds with the large elevated Main Stand above the dressing rooms, a large covered terrace behind the goal to your right as you enter the ground and a pitch length covered terrace opposite help make this a tidy ground to watch your football at. Behind the other goal is uncovered hard standing. Expect a play off push at least from the Bucks in 2023/24.

The main stand.

The pitch length cover at The Silverlands.

Derby County.

Pride Park is, obviously, the County's Premier football venue and was the stage for this season's final. Opened in 1997 it moved the club into a more modern ground at a time when the transformation of professional football, and grounds in particular, was changing rapidly. 

Derby's Academy side had an adventurous run in the competition being drawn away in each round. They impressed me as they coped really well against the more physical side of their opponents and in the game at Alfreton never gave up even when trailing 5-2 in the 88th minute. On the flip side losing to 2 late goals to Buxton was something not expected and with that went the cup. 

Pride Park - home of The Rams.

The final venue.

The Derbyshire Senior Cup gave us some cracking games, good football, committed teams, high scoring games and late drama. Buxton were worthy winners who came back in the second half at Pride Park to pressure the Academy side and eventually break through with those 2 late goals.

The Derbyshire FA social media team deserve some praise too for publicising the games and picking a game from each round for reporting from to raise the competitions profile. Likewise the sponsors Cawarden who's patronage of the competition should be applauded. 

The Derbyshire Senior Cup used to be decided over 2 legs but I must say having a one-off game at one of the County's best grounds is preferable.

Lastly, thank you to those clubs that issued programmes for ties, not everyone did and maybe something for the DFA to consider. It doesn't have to be an elaborate publication an A4 sheet folded to make a 4 page programme is better than nothing.

Here's to another great Senior Cup competition next season.

Final Score.

The match officials.

Connor Kirby knocks the ball in the net for Buxton's late winner.