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
