ABSTRACT
Rivalries in ‘mob’ or ‘folk’ football were some of the first and most intense in the game, illustrating that such feelings pre-dated the game’s modern form. The parishes of St. Peter’s and All Saints in Derby and the areas represented by the Up’Ards and Down’Ards in Ashbourne defined early football’s highly competitive nature in both the city itself and in the county of Derbyshire. However, whilst the ‘conflict’ in the city has not survived, its Ashbourne counterpart has remained and thrived. Furthermore, the intensity of the rivalry in the city of Derby has provided a ready depiction of local hostility in sporting contexts. But, what were the real reasons for the Derby spectacle’s demise and Ashbourne’s sustained popularity? This essay is underpinned by the figurational sociology developed by Norbert Elias, noting in particular how the nineteenth century Western European ‘civilizing process’ played a crucial part in events, at the same time minimizing the effect of industrial practices.
