At the beginning of the twentieth century Matlock Bath had a young football team that played against other local groups. This photograph shows a group of boys and their coaches. M. Bath YFC is written on the ball and the letters stood for Young Footballers Club.

Back Row, left to right:
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---

Front row, left to right (seated):
--- | --- | Eric Donegani, vice captain | Fred Dalton, captain | --- | ---

Enlargement of football

The club was founded in 1906, thanks to Arnold Fryer, whose brother was the goalkeeper for Fulham. Mr. F. C. Arkwright was the president whilst Mr. Fryer was both secretary and treasurer. The club decided not to joint the Matlock & District Junior League in their first season, but hoped to hear from club secretaries to arrage friendly fixtures.^[1]. A number of local youths handed in their names to become players, but have not been identified on this photograph. They were:

Harry Gregory, James Gregory, Hugh Slack, J. A. Reeds, Fred Dalton, Eric Donegani, H. Walthall, Wm. Oliver, Richard King, W. F. Jacques, Eli Frost, Richard Coates, F. W. Brooker, Colin Brooker, and W. Lever. Fred Dalton was made captain^[2a], and Eric Donegani, vice captain.

At the end of the club's first year, the secretary, Arnold Fryer, issued its statement of accounts and annuual report^[2]. It also included a letter of encouragement and advice from the Bishop of Southwell.

"Of the 23 matches played, the club won ten, drew seven and lost six. The balance sheet, which was audited by Charles P. King, shows a credit balance of £3 2s 10d after payment of £8 7s 5d in expenses. Jas. Gregory will captain the team next season, and W. Brooker will act as vice-captain. The joint secretaries are Messrs Arnold Fryer and Arthur Walker, who will be pleased to arrange fixtures with clubs comprising players under 17 years of age within a radius of two miles of Matlock Parish Church." In 1907 the average age of those playing was 16½^[3].

Nothing more has been found about the club, but it was thought to be short lived. Arnold Fryer was still living in Scarthin in 1911, aged 29, and working as a lay preacher^[4]. Percy Rowbottom of Matlock Bath took the photograph, but the identities of the majority of these boys is not currently known. If you can help with any names, please email the wb mistess.

References:

^[1] "Derbyshire Times", 1 September, 1906.

^[2] "ibid.", 24 August 1907.

^[2] Frederick James Searle Dalton moved to Leicester with his parents shortly before the 1911 census. He joined the Lancers and then moved to the Machine Gun Corps in WW1. He was awarded a Military Cross in 1919 (London Gazette 31092/1, Jan 1919).

^[3] "ibid.", 14 September 1907. Football Challenge.

^[4] From the 1911 census. He was born at Scarthin and can also be found on the the 1891 census and the 1901 census. He had become a Lay Preacher at Scarthin in 1909, replacing H. Hadfield Cubley and entered Lichfield College in 1911 to study for holy orders. In 1913 he went to Australia to become a sheep farmer.