Bryan Barber recounts, “I seem to remember the first badge (crossed crutches). We had had a competition to design a badge. A referendum was held, and the crutches won – they were everyone's’ third choice.
The crutches, well they were designed by George Shields as a bit of a joke; we had a couple of broken legs in the first season. One of these I remember well: it was at Eccleshall. I passed the ball back to John Hesketh - a poor pass. He went to kick it, and broke his leg in the undertaking.
Move on a couple of seasons and it was decided to get a little more serious,.... and this is how I remember it: the crutches stayed as they were the original badge; the Derby ram was next; then the Melbourne coat of arms because (the Melbourne Arms was our club house); lastly the English rose because Rose was the land lady of the Melbourne arms.
I’ve heard a couple of different versions how this badge came about, but this is how it truly happened."

Dave Bonner now adds his own story.

"When I was club captain I suggested altering the badge, so it would look better embroidered on shirts and jumpers. I came up with the existing badge, as follows: 4 quarters:
1 the original badge;
2 part of the coat of arms of the Melbourne Arms pub,
3: the Derbyshire ram,
4: and the English rose - similar to the England shirt badge at the time.

Well that's two accounts for the origin of the rose. And that's history folks.