After losing the opening game of the 1939/1940 season 3-0 at Sunderland, the Rams played their first match at the Baseball Ground on Wednesday 30 August against Portsmouth. Derby President Bendle W Moore is optimistic about the campaign in his programme message, saying: “we shall no doubt have our disappointments, but I am hopeful that they will not dishearten us and make us forget those moments of elation when the play of our team is a delight to watch.” There is no hint in the programme of the events that were about to affect the world over the next few years when just four days later, on Sunday 3 September, Britain declared war on Germany and the Football League abandoned the season after just three games.

The Daily Telegraph match report describes how the Rams made a poor start and ‘began so badly that they appeared certain of heavy defeat’. From kick off, Derby were put under heavy pressure by Portsmouth with the ‘forwards and wing half-backs moving well in unison’ and ‘the marksmanship was so good that it seemed only a matter of time before even the brilliant Boulton was beaten.’

But Derby withstood the Portsmouth onslaught and fought their way back into the game so that the ‘Portsmouth wing half-backs found themselves obliged to make defence their chief concern’ and the Rams players ‘commandeered the field in inspiring attacks’.

Derby included two summer signings in their lineup – Wilf Walsh, an outside right from Arsenal, and Billy Redfern, an inside right from Luton who was making his debut. Redfern had signed for a four-figure fee with Derby inside right Reg Stockill moving to Luton in part exchange.

Redfern ‘tricked opponents to create trouble for a harassed Portsmouth defence’ and ‘was frequently masterly in working the ball and in changing the point of danger.’ Despite Portsmouth’s strong start, Redfern opened the scoring after 42 minutes and Dally Duncan added another on 77 minutes to give Derby a 2-0 victory.

Billy Redfern played only once more for Derby – in the 1-0 win at home to Aston Villa three days later – before the league programme was abandoned. Due to this, Redfern’s Derby career is not included in official records.

Derby County: Boulton, Wilcox, Howe, Nicholas, Barker, Hann, Walsh, Redfern, McCulloch, Stamps, Duncan

Attendance: 10,211