Jimmy Methven

Who was Jimmy Methven?

James Methven, was a Scottish association football player. Methven became synonymous with Derby County; he played for the club in three FA Cup Finals and managed the club for 16 years. In total Methven was on the books at the Baseball Ground for 31 years and represented the club, in one capacity or another, in over 1000 matches.

Methven, though born in Ceres, Fife, first played senior football in Edinburgh, for Leith Athletic, Heart of Midlothian and St Bernard's. He joined a growing band of Scottish professionals in English football when he signed forms with Derby County at the end of the 1890-91 season.

Under Harry Newbould Derby endured a period of great frustration, never fulfilling what talent that team had and Methven was involved in all the matches that mattered. In total he played 511 games and appeared in each of the three unsuccessful FA Cup appearances for the Rams, before taking the reins as manager immediately following Harry Newbould’s departure in 1906. He last played for the club on 2 February 1907, in an FA Cup Second Round tie against Lincoln City, which Derby won 1-0.

Methven was unable to stop the slide into the Second Division during his first season with the club and only converted the club's wayward fortunes when he persuaded the 36-year-old Bloomer to return home in 1910, returning Derby County to the First Division as deserved champions. Methven finally left Derby in June 1922 having been in charge for 498 games finally working for a local authority after a stint as a scout with Stoke City.