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Jimmy Methven (1868-1953) - both player and manager at Derby County, his grave at Normanton Cemetery, Derby, is shared with another Rams player

This grave in Derby's Normanton Cemetery marks the final resting place of the Derby County player and manager Jimmy Methven (1868-1953)

JAMES 'JIMMY' METHVEN was born at Ceres, Fife, on 7 December 1868 and died in Derby on 25 March 1953, aged 84. He was both a player and manager at Derby County Football Club, being associated with the Rams for fully 31 years from May 1891 to June 1922. According to a description in an early twentieth century book he was 'one of the wonders of the football world.' There is a brief summary of his career in the Famous Residents section of You and Yesterday.

This additional posting is part of the Grave Matters project which aims to locate the final resting place in Derbyshire of interesting or well-known local characters.

Jimmy Methven's grave is within the peaceful and pleasant confines of the Normanton Cemetery, which is situated down an unobtrusive driveway off Stenson Road, not far from the Sunnyhill area and the fringes of Littleover village.

Perhaps more than many graves it tells a particular story, for its first occupant was Jimmy Methven's wife Agnes who died aged 77 on 29 April 1946. The date is significant, for it was two days after Derby County had beaten Charlton Athletic 4-1 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Agnes had been listening with her husband to a radio commentary of the game and suffered a heart attack during it, said to have been caused by the anxiety and excitement attendant upon the occasion. She died two days later.

Jimmy Methven joined his wife seven years later. Their son James, sometimes referred to as 'Jimmy junior', became the final occupant of the grave following his death in Derby aged 73 on 20 March 1964. He too was a professional footballer, but played only a solitary game for Derby County, in 1913-14.

Nevertheless, it is likely that this fact makes this particular grave unique - namely the only one to commemorate two Derby County players in the same final resting place. But perhaps others may come to light - if you know of another such example, then why not enter the details on the You and Yesterday site.

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County:  Derbyshire

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