What was remarkable was that most of its members were drawn from the Derbyshire coalfields.

The book details the characters of this unique team. From batsmen like Denis Smith, Albert Alderman, Stan Worthington and Leslie Townsend and bowlers with the pace of Bill Copson, the sorcery of Tommy Mitchell’s leg spin, Alf Pope’s untiring fast-medium and Leslie Townsend’s medium-paced off breaks. Plus Harry Elliott, the quintessential wicketkeeper.

Seven of them, Smith, Worthington, Townsend, George Pope, Harry Elliott, Mitchell and Copson, played for England during their careers although none became fully established. Derbyshire finished sixth in 1933, third in 1934 and runners-up in 1935. And just to prove it was no flash in the pan they came third in 1937 and fifth in 1938.

Local Heroes was shortlisted for the Cricket Society's book of the year for 2007, but finished equal second.

“This is a very good cricket book... enthralling narrative... Several fine illustrations complete a really fine book which is much more than the story of a season... recommended”.
Association of Cricket Statisticians

“Some certanties remain in life, among them knowledge that a book on Derbyshire cricket by John Shawcross will be researched thoroughly and written with clarity... this is a first-class book.”
Derby Evening Telegraph

“... splendidly produced book with major historic interest to the followers of Rose and Crown history.”
Cricket Memorabilia Society

"This is a work of passion, humanity and deep scholarship which does not merely deal with events on the cricket field, but roots the 1936 triumph in the Derbyshire mining communities and the economic circumstances of the time."
Peter Oborne, Wisden

... this is one of the best books of a very good year for cricket writing and in many ways could almost be used as a guide on how to write a cricket book. ... quite simply one of the finest cricket books that I have read and I commend anyone in doubt to purchase it.
John Symons, Cricket Society