Local derby

Just as it is always pleasing to find new, genuine first citations for idioms, it is even more pleasing to find new, authentic evidence for their origins. Excitingly, this is the case for both the first citation and origin of the well-known expression 'local derby'. The term ‘local derby’ signifies the intense rivalry of a sporting contest, usually but not always soccer, between teams from the same local area. Previous theories for the origin of 'local derby' generally supported the view that it derived from the Epsom Derby, the UK’s premier horserace, founded by the 12th Earl of Derby in 1780. Ian Collis in his book ‘The Derby Game: A History of Local Rivalries’, published in 2023, provides convincing evidence that the Epsom Derby did lend its name to some sporting events, particularly other horseraces of a festive nature. These did become known as ‘derby’ events, but it is a mistake to suppose that the Epsom Derby was the origin of the term ‘local derby’, especially in relation to soccer matches. Ian Collis’s fresh research and scholarship prove that the term ‘local derby’, in relation to contests between local rivals, especially in soccer, derives from the annual game of Shrovetide football played for centuries in the English town of Derby. Shrovetide football began as a boisterous game between large mobs of townsfolk, and was taken up by many towns across Britain. The often violent nature of these games led to complaints, and gradually Shrovetide football was banned in town after town, until by 1800, Derby remained the only large town where the game was still played. The Derby game was notorious for the no-holds-barred rivalry between the two sides, the All Saints and the Peterites, who represented communities either side of the Markeaton Brook which ran through the centre of town. For over 100 years, Derby residents fought off all attempts to ban the game. But in 1846, the Government sanctioned the use of military force. Two squadrons of mounted dragoon guards, backed by hundreds of special constables put a stop to the game. The resulting riot between the footballers and the forces of law and order made headlines and only served to increase the notoriety of the Derby game. Although Shrovetide Football is ancient, the idiom or expression 'local derby' is not. The first citation Ian Collis has found for 'local derby' is 14 April 1888, in the Grantham Journal, which relates to a soccer match between Grantham and Grantham Rovers. Thereafter, the term grew in popularity as newspapers sought a way to convey the heightened feelings aroused when two rival teams from a local area played each other. Shrovetide Football is still played in a few places in the UK, notably at Ashbourne, only 13 miles from Derby itself.