Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1871
| 1871 season | |||
| Captain | Samuel Richardson | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Most runs | Unwin Sowter | ||
| Most wickets | Dove Gregory | ||
|
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Derbyshire county cricket opening season was in 1871 when Derbyshire County Cricket Club first competed in the county competition, having been founded the previous November.
Derbyshire CCC was formed for the county of Derbyshire on 4 November 1870 at a meeting in the Guildhall, Derby. The Earl of Chesterfield who had played for and against All England Eleven was the first President, George Henry Strutt was Vice President and Walter Boden, who had campaigned for the club's foundation for three years, was secretary. When Chesterfield died in 1871, William Jervis, a well connected lawyer, became president. The main problem that arose from the beginning was that of arranging matches against other counties. For the first three seasons only Lancashire County Cricket Club were willing to make fixtures.
Derbyshire CCC played two matches in its first year, both against Lancashire CCC and joined the (then unofficial) County Championship. One match was won, and the other lost.
The club's first captain was Samuel Richardson, a gentleman's outfitter in the town of Derby. Derbyshire's bowling strength came from the professionals Dove Gregory who had played for a Derbyshire team in the 1850s, William Hickton a former Lancashire player and John Platts who was on the ground staff of MCC. Amateurs who began long careers with the club were Robert Smith (future captain) a farmer, John Smith a solicitor, Unwin Sowter a miller and baker, John Tilson a lace maker and John Burnham a clerk. Shorter careers were enjoyed by Thomas Attenborough a cattle dealer and Joseph Davidson a miner. Single appearances were made by Rev, Arthur Wilmot local rector, Edward Foley Oxford University student and vicar's son and James Billyeald a commercial traveller. Some had played for Gentlemen of Derbyshire, South Derbyshire and Derby Town.
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