@michell.gent's pit rows at Blackwell, Derbyshire produced lots of sporting greats.

Blackwell is a small village in Derbyshire, England. Up until the middle 1850s it consisted of about 50 families, but following the sinking of the local mine ‘A’ Winning in 1870 and ‘B’ Winning in 1890, the village population increased to about 5000. The mining company built houses (the ones Michelle lived in), a school and a hospital. They also encouraged miners from other areas to move. Good housing and wages.

The colliery company provided employment but also provided good facilities of cricket grounds, football/Rugby pitch and social welfare buildings.

They also encouraged sport when most other colliery villages didn’t. This background produced some very notable sportsmen from a very small village. They were also given time off with pay to train.

We have the following just from Blackwell.

William Faulke William ‘Fatty’ Henry Faulkes

He is the one most publicised as belonging to Blackwell. He was, however, born in Shropshire, not Blackwell and moved there with his family before 1881 when only 7.
He lived at 122 Primrose Hill with his father and Grandfather plus 6 more members of the family plus 2 boarders, all in a 2 bed house.
William was discovered while playing a match between Ilkeston and Blackwell in 1894 aged 20 and signed by West Bromwich Albion.

He moved to Sheffield United later the same year. At the time a Division 1 club.

He was 6’4” tall and weighed in at over 300Ibs (136kg). It is said the well known chant ‘who ate all the pies’ was first used at a Sheffield United match directed at him in 1894.

He played one England match in 1897.

He was then signed by Chelsea for £50 and became their captain. A division 2 club.

Because of his size Chelsea placed 2 small boys behind the goal to emphasize his bulk. The boys became the first ball boys.

He played one season, with Chelsea. (he made an impression but was temperamental and had been known to pick up opposition players and throw them). Good advertising but not sportsmanlike.

He moved to Bolton the next year and played his final year.

He also played cricket for Derbyshire from 1900.

He died broke in 1916 at 42.

Jimmy Simmons James William Simmons

Born in Blackwell at 167 Primrose Hill and the half-brother of William Faulkes. Another family from Shropshire.

He played for Blackwell before getting signed in 1908 by Sheffield United.

He stayed there until 1920 when he moved to West Ham United for 2 seasons.

1908 -1920 Sheffield Wednesday 204 appearances
1920-1922 West Ham United 27 appearances

Harold Hill

Michelle’s great Grandfather.

Harold’s mother Caroline moved to Blackwell from the Black Country with her family and lived at 223 Primrose Hill.

Harold's father John married Caroline Williams and lived at 127 Primrose Hill. Next door to William ‘Fatty’ Faulkes.

All these great footballers are related if only through marriage.

Harold was in the army for a time before signing for Notts County in 1919 and was one of their top goal scorers.

He was transferred to Sheffield Wednesday in Oct 1924 for £1700.

He was one of the top players for the next 3 seasons when he retired in 1929.

Harry Jones

Born in Blackwell 24th May 1891 at 213 Primrose Hill.

Later he lived at 143 Primrose Hill.

He played for Nottingham Forest from 28th Oct 1910 through to the 1923/24 season when he retired due to injury.

Nottingham Forest 225 Appearances
England 1 Appearance England-France 4 – 1 1923

Don Harper

Born Primrose Hill 1921

Played for Mansfield Town 1947/48

James Robert Birch (1888 – 1940)

Born 180 Primrose Hill.

Who played mainly with QPR.

Starting at Aston Villa where he played 3 first team matches.

Signing at QPR in 1911 he played 335 league games and scores 125 times making the 3rd leading scorer for QPR Retired 1926

Terry Adlington

Born in Blackwell.

Played footbool for Derby County, Torquay.

Derby County 1955-1962 36 Appearances
1962 -1967 Torquay United 162 Appearances
Baltimore Bays 25 Appearances
1968-1969 Dalla Tornados 8 Appearances

He died in April 1994.

Double Olympic swimming gold medallist Rebecca Adlington is his grandniece.

Elijah Carrington (25 March 1914 – 19 November 1998)
He was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1934 and 1937.