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Leonard Gillett (1861-1915) in contemplative pose. In Derby County's first ever game he let in six goals

When Derby County Football Club played their first ever game - on 13 September 1884 away to Great Lever, a team from Bolton - the eleven men who lined up for the Rams made their own small piece of history.

Yet very little has been written about most of that historic first line-up. One such 'forgotten' character is the goalkeeper that day, Leonard Gillett, the first man to keep goal for Derby County, and the first to be beaten too! Derby County were hammered 6-0, an inauspicious start for the team and for Gillett in particular.

Leonard Francis Gillett was born in Derby on 21 January 1861. At the time of the 1861 census he was just 2 months old and living at 101a Friargate, Derby. His father Francis C. Gillett was a civil and mining engineer born in Chesterfield. His mother Mary was born in Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire.

Some sources say Leonard Gillett was born in Borrowash. This has probably arisen because the family moved to Borrowash before he attained adulthood. By 1881 they were living at Manor House in Borrowash, Derbyshire, with a substantial complement of servants and staff.

Leonard Gillett was educated at Charterhouse School (1874-79), where he excelled on the football field as a goalkeeper. He then went up to Pembroke College, Oxford, from 1879-1882, graduating with a BA. He won his soccer blue for playing in the Varsity Match against Cambridge in 1882, when Oxford emerged victorious by 3 goals to nil.

While still at Oxford he helped the Old Carthusians, the old boys of Charterhouse School, to win the FA Cup in 1881, 3-0 against Old Etonians.

In 1882-83 Gillett played for Notts County, but when Derby County were formed in 1884 he was on hand to turn out for his local club in their first ever fixture. Although he earned plaudits from some quarters as 'a most sure goalkeeper, very sharp', he endured the occasional nightmare day.

His worst was in Derby County's sixth game, an FA Cup tie at home to Walsall Town on 8 November 1884, when Gillett was beaten seven times. No Derby player was able to score - hence the 7-0 home defeat!

Although detailed records for Derby's first season are scant, Gillett is thought to have been the regular keeper that season. But by the time the Football League was formed in 1888 he was off the scene, and never played a League game for Derby.

By profession he followed his father to become a civil and mining engineer, but in later years he ceased to practise as he was able to live off his income.

Leonard Francis Gillett, first custodian of the Rams' goal, died aged 54 on 23 November 1915 at Austin's Close, Harbertonford, near Totnes, Devon.

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County:  Derbyshire