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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Derbyshire => Topic started by: Sarco on Wednesday 12 January 22 07:51 GMT (UK)

Title: Foot ball in 19th century Derbyshire.
Post by: Sarco on Wednesday 12 January 22 07:51 GMT (UK)
My Great Grandfather John Thomas Smedley was born in Sawley in 1866. He emmigrated to New South Wales in 1889. From newspaper reports he was a talented fullback, playing for Pyrmont Rangers, a prominent club in late 19th and early 20th century New South Wales football. I have a significant silver medal awarded to him for kicking a soccer football the furthest distance in the 1901 event at the Sydney Cricket Ground to celebrate the federation of the states into the Commonwealth of Australia.

I fairly regularly check the online UK newspaper archives at to see if there are any new references to football in Sawley.  Something new popped up when I read in the Derby Mercury of 6 April 1870 of a match between Ockbrook, Borrowash and Sawley at Hemmington. Sawley had scored a "rouge" just before half time and another one in the next half.

I have never heard of a "rouge" but from a quick google search I learnt that it was worth one point. I remain unsure what the criteria for awarding a 'rouge' may have been and what other scoring shots may have been successful and there value.

Hopefully there may be a football historian that can me with this knowledge.

Darryl
Sydney, Australia
Title: Re: Foot ball in 19th century Derbyshire.
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 12 January 22 08:05 GMT (UK)
Tab down this page a little for an explanation: https://tinyurl.com/37ajb3be

 
Title: Re: Foot ball in 19th century Derbyshire.
Post by: DCB on Wednesday 12 January 22 09:17 GMT (UK)
There is a report in the Derby Daily Telegraph, 17th January 1887, on a match between Sawley Rangers and Notts Swifts which mentions a T. Smedley in the Ragners Team.

David
Title: Re: Foot ball in 19th century Derbyshire.
Post by: Sarco on Wednesday 12 January 22 10:27 GMT (UK)
Thanks for that reference Shaun, it explains it quite well. The other info is also of interest.

Cheers, Darryl
Title: Re: Foot ball in 19th century Derbyshire.
Post by: Sarco on Wednesday 12 January 22 10:34 GMT (UK)
Thanks DCB, I'm pretty sure that the T.Smedley on the Sawley team list is my GGrandfather. Findmypast seems to be down atm so I will try to view the paper image tomorrow.

Cheers, Darryl