DERBY DAYS: STROLLING BY THE DERWENT

By Peter Davies,

THE FIRST COUNTY CRICKET OF 2015

A DERBYSHIRE - LANCASHIRE COUNTY CRICKET TRAVELOGUE

HEADING OFF

Got the Huddersfield - Sheffield train at 9.15 .Very slow but gets you there. Then the Sheffield train to Derby, with a taxi stop at Derby Lloyds Bank. Arrived at about 12,with Lancashire recovering slowly from their bad start with the bat the previous night.

WIND IN THE WILLOWS

Derby,s Racecourse Ground doesn,t have the best reputation:it is open and exposed and can get very cold and windswept. Did not visit Derby for cricket until relatively late but over the last ten years I must have been four or five times,and once also for a cricket event in the pavilion (nice facilities ).

FRIENDS UNITED

Got a few Derbyshire -supporting friends:Brendan, in Huddersfield ;Malcolm, in Bolton;and a guy from Wirksworth in Derbyshire ,whose name I can not remember. It is a small county in cricketing terms , but with a strong support base.

GRUDGE MATCH

First county cricket of the season. Somebody once told me that the Roses rivalry in cricket was nothing on Lancashire-Derbyshire tension. Nice day and a few changes at the ground since my last visit, with the second-hand bookshop now located by the "transport cafe " on the way round from the pavilion.

SAUSAGE AND TEA

The cafe is good: cheap meals and also sandwiches and cakes. I just had a sausage sandwich  with onions and ketchup, plus a couple of filling-less teacakes. Not many healthy options . And a cup of tea or two. It is located at right angles to the wicket, so a good view also, with lots of seats around. The women serving was a bit grumpy, though, and the cook a bit miserable.

SPENDING BIG

In mid-afternoon I went over to the banking on the far side of the ground and had a little sleep.Very nice indeed in the April sun. A good view too.Bought some books at tea-time from the second-hand bookshop.
Some at £1, the odd one at £3. But they did me a deal, which was nice of them.a
WATER,WATER

Walked back into town via the River Derwent . Very nice indeed.What is it about me and water?The Derwent, the Danube,canals. Something very psychological, obviously. Got he train back via Sheffield and the Sheffield train station Marks and Spencer.

Typing done by Brian Sanderson so sorry if there is any errors.