Willand vs. Plymouth Parkway
As Willand enters the second of a trifecta of Devon Derbies in the month of November, I’ve been asking myself the question that has (probably) been at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
Do Derby County have a Derby?
The answer, of course, is yes. It’s Nottingham Forest.
However, it appears that Leicester City and Notts County share this distinction.
So the question should possibly be this: Is the Derby County derby game a derby game for their derby opponents?
And then it got me thinking about what actually defines a derby as such? A true derby isn’t just about geographic proximity; it’s a clash fuelled by fierce competition and local pride, igniting a unique passion among fans. Deep-rooted histories, and sometimes even political undertones, shape derbies beyond mere proximity, adding an extra edge to these intense encounters.
The term “derby” is thought to have originated from the town it shares a name with, where the mediaeval game of “Shrovetide football” saw rival parishes battling it out in an early, often chaotic version of football. Over time, “derby” came to mean any intensely contested game between neighbouring teams and quickly became an essential part of English culture. As clubs formed across England in the 19th century, these local rivalries took root, with regional pride and bragging rights electrifying the passion. With the establishment of the English Football League in 1888, these matchups became more formalised and gained even greater significance, and the quintessentially British concept of a derby spread globally, with nearly every footballing nation embracing its own fierce rivalries.
To those who live them, each derby game is set on an equal footing, but much like in life, some contests have become more equal than others. Were you to ask the average fan on a Devon terrace to name some of the country’s fiercest derbies, he might first head north to Glasgow, where the religious and social divides between Celtic and Rangers contribute to an intensity that transcends the match itself.
Then, he might travel south to the capital, where London’s 16 league clubs present a derby on nearly every corner. However, some argue that the concept of a derby in the big smoke has become diluted due to the large number of teams in one city, making it too frequent and varied to match the intensity of rivalries in smaller cities.
Beyond the capital, he might recall the fierce city rivalries in Manchester and Liverpool, where only two clubs command loyal armies of fans. Or, perhaps he’d think of Sheffield, Bristol, and Birmingham, where each clash brings with it a heightened sense of local pride and history, enhanced by fewer teams and a more concentrated sense of identity.
Back in the Southwest, there is, of course, the A38 Derby between Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle. Named for the road connecting these two Devon cities, this derby may not have the global reputation of big-city clashes, but it carries fierce local significance, and city centres are best avoided when matchday arrives.
The fluid nature of what qualifies as a derby reflects the unique complexity of these rivalries. For some clubs, the opponent is an obvious choice; for others, it shifts with league standings and changing loyalties.
What makes derbies special is that they aren’t defined by prestige—they’re about community, pride, and bragging rights that echo far beyond the final whistle. Above all, a derby is a place where both heroes and villains are forged.
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Silver Street in the Devon Bowl may not be the Milan derby at the San Siro, but for both teams, it’s a vital chance to compete for silverware, particularly significant for the Willand the current holders and never proclaimed ‘Pride of Devon’
As with most cup games, there were changes afoot for the home team, with Phil Mendonca, Josh Baker, and Reece Shanley starting, along with Aidam Whifield, who, according to some club sources, started twice.
The visitors also rang the changes, including a starting position for manager Chris McPhee at the heart of the Parkway defence.
The game started at a pace as brisk as the night was cold, with Willand looking to make a breakthrough in the early stages, Baker finding only the side netting after some good work.
Baker should then have done better in the 30th minute, finding himself through on goal after some good Willand play, but the striker could only fire his shot into the body of Griffiths in the Parkway goal, who did well to stay big as the striker bore down on him.
The match took a turn to the surreal in the 39th minute with the sending off of McPhee, a straight red for an elbow. The free kick had originally been given the way of the visitors, before the assistant summoned the referee and dutifully informed him of the Parkway manager’s misdemeanour. Although it was probably the right decision overall, the flailing appendage didn’t appear to be malicious but rather an unfortunate consequence of some earlier jostling and to his credit, the departing centre half took the time to calmly explain his position to the Willand bench as he headed towards the dressing room.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Parkway managed to keep the scoreline level as the first half concluded goalless.
HT – Willand 0 – Plymouth Parkway 0
The second half saw Willand take advantage of the extra man and play on the front foot, with Parkway happy to sit and try to hit their opponents on the break. The game of cat and mouse continued throughout the half, with the home team winning a number of corners and free kicks without ever troubling the Parkway goal.
Willand’s persistence finally paid off in the 86th minute, as fans from all sides were contemplating a penalty shootout in the ever-dropping temperatures, with one of the Whitfields finding themselves at the end of a corner, his deft header sending the home fans into raptures of celebration.
Willand almost increased the lead in the next attack, some outstanding footwork from the excellent Mendonca setting him free only to see his weak shot fall into the grasp of Griffiths.
No doubt conscious of the time, the Parkway keeper quickly launched the ball up field, where it eventually landed with Wragg, who fired a shot from a full 25 yards that nestled in the far corner of the Willand net, as some celebrations were dramatically cut short and others began.
FT – Willand 1 – Plymouth Parkway 1
And so to penalties.
I noted earlier that derby games are where both heroes and villains are forged, and with the villainous role already cast, maybe it was time to find a hero?
Unfortunately for Willand, the hero appeared in the form of Parkway keeper Griffiths, who pulled off excellent saves for two of the first three Willand penalties, with the other crashing off the bar.
Mendonca’s goal and Parkway’s first miss kept things interesting for a while, but it was too little, too late, and when the visitors’ fifth penalty went in, Willands’ hold on the trophy was finally loosened.
FT – Plymouth Parkway win on penalties
