DERBY COUNTY FOOTBALL CLUB.
Derby County were born In 1884 from an offshoot of Derby County Cricket Club. The county cricket ground, which had previously been a racecourse, and more commonly known as 'racecourse ground' is where they played in those early days. The Racecourse Ground, or as we now know it today, County Ground, hosted both the football and cricket until the Derby football club moved to the baseball ground in 1895.It was on the Racecourse Ground in 1886 that the first FA Cup was held outside of London, this was then between Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion, (Blackburn won 2 - 0 in a replay).
From 1884 until the League was formed in 1888 Derby played a series of friendly games and the FA Cup. Derby's first League match was with Bolton in which Derby won 6 - 3 and overall the first season would finish tenth. This was of course out of twelve teams in the early years of the League. The following season saw Derby finish seventh.
Derby played their first FA Cup final in 1898 against Crystal Palace, sadly Derby lost 3 - 1 and again losing finalist in 1899 and 1903.
In 1907 Derby were relegated to the second division, but after a couple of good player signings were back in the first division in 1911.
