Derby County

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History

1 Formative years
2 The 1946 FA Cup Victory
3 The Clough years
4 Second Football League title
5 In decline
6 Return to the top division
7 Premiership Rams and Pride Park Stadium
8 Post-Premiership plight
9 New chairman, new manager, new era?
10 Back to the Premiership
11 Premiership Gloom
12 Local rivals
13 Honours
14 Players of the Year
15 List of Derby County Managers
16 Interesting facts and figures about Derby County that you may not have known...
17 FEEDBACK

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Formative years

The first Derby County Kit

Formed in 1884 as an offshoot of Derbyshire County Cricket Club. The football team originally wanted to name themselves directly after the cricket club as Derbyshire County FC, but objections from the local football association (who thought the name was too long) led them to choose Derby County FC.

The team initially took on the cricket clubs colours of amber, chocolate and pale blue.

The Rams, as Derby County are known, initially played at the Racecourse Ground on Nottingham Road, like their parent cricket club.

As well as competing in a number of friendly matches and informally competitions, Derby County also entered the premier British football competition of the time: the FA Cup.

The Derby County team from the 1932/33 season. From the Back (left to right): Tommy Cooper, Ralph Hann, Jack Nicholas, Jack Kirby, Edwards (trainer), George Collin, Jack Barker, Errington Keen. Front: Sammy Crooks, Duncan Hutchinson, Jack Bowers, Peter Ramage and Dally Duncan

Derby County were founder members of The Football League when it was launched in 1888. In 1891, they absorbed another Derby club, Derby Midland F.C., who had been members of the Midland League. Steve Bloomer, generally considered to be Derby County's best-ever player, joined the club in 1892. In 1895 the club moved to a new stadium, The Baseball Ground (so called because it was previously used for baseball), which became their home for the next 102 years, and adopted their traditional colours of black and white.

On April 16, 1898, Derby appeared in their first FA Cup final at Crystal Palace, but unfortunately lost 3-1 against local rivals Nottingham Forest. They were losing finalists again on April 15, 1899 (4-1 to Sheffield United) and April 18, 1903 (6-0 to Bury). Derby's luck didn't get any better and they were relegated to the Football League's Second Division for the first time in 1907, but under Jimmy Methven's management they re-signed Steve Bloomer and regained their First Division place in 1911. Bloomer's captaincy of the side that contained 'The 5 Bs' ('Major' Frank Buckley, Tommy Barbour, Horace Barnes, Jimmy Bauchop) was a feature just before World War I.

In 1914 they were relegated again, but instantly won the Second Division to get promoted (though World War I meant that they had to wait until 1919 to play First Division football again). After just two seasons, they were relegated yet again in 1921.

However, more successful times lay ahead, instigated by Derby's promotion in 1926. Despite not winning anything, the club became a formidable force, with constantly high finishes, from the late 1920s and all the way through the 1939-1940 season, which was abandoned due to World War II. For example, in the 1929-1930 season Derby County finished in second place in the First Division with 50 points behind Sheffield Wednesday on 60 points.

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The 1946 FA Cup Victory

Derby County Skipper Jack Nicholson lifts the FA Cup in 1946

The FA Cup restarted in the 1945-1946 season. Derby got to the final again, but this time managed to go all the way and win by beating Charlton Athletic 4-1 after extra time. (Derby's previous lack of success in the FA Cup — they also regularly lost at the semi-final stage — gave rise to a superstition that the club was subject to a gypsy curse, supposedly because of gypsy anger that the Baseball Ground was built on a gypsy camping ground. Prior to the 1946 final, Derby County players went so far as to ask the gypsies to lift the curse.)

The Football League restarted the following season and, despite the Cup win, Derby could not reproduce their pre-War form and were eventually relegated in 1953. Things went from bad to worse and in 1955 they were relegated to the Third Division North for the first time in their history. The third tier proved easy for Derby, though: they finished second at the first attempt and then bettered it by finishing first (and gaining promotion) the following season.

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The Clough years

In 1967, the now-legendary Brian Clough took over Derby County (in partnership with assistant manager Peter Taylor) and led them to their greatest glories. When Clough took over the team, the Rams were treading water in the Second Division and the club's only honour, the 1946 FA Cup win, was becoming a distant memory. There was little expectation that the young manager was going to lead his team to the club's first League Championship.

Pages from the Derby Evening Telegraph celebrating Derbys Second Division Championship title in 1969

With Clough having clinched the influential signing of Dave Mackay, Derby were promoted to the First Division in 1969 and won their first ever Football League Championship in 1972. On May 8, 1972, Clough was on holiday in Spain with his Derby side as they were crowned champions with their season having already ended. Back home Leeds United and Liverpool failed to get the results necessary in their last games and the Rams clinched the title.

Though Derby did not retain their title the following season, they did reach the semi-finals of the European Cup, eventually losing to Italian side Juventus in a controversial match which was subject to subsequent allegations that the Italian club had bribed the match officials, leading Clough to accuse the Italians of cheating.

Clough's frequent outspoken comments against football's establishment (which had led to Derby being threatened with expulsion from the Football League) eventually led to him falling out with the board of directors at the club, and Clough and Taylor both left in 1973, to widespread uproar from Rams fans, who demanded the board resign and Clough be reinstated.

Dave Mackay won championships with Derby both as a player, and manager

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Second Football League title

With the high profile signings of Francis Lee and Bruce Rioch, Derby's League success was repeated in 1974-1975 season when they won the title again, this time under Dave Mackay. Before the 1975-1976 season the Rams made another big name signing in Charlie George and that season saw the Rams face mighty Real Madrid in the European Cup. In one of the greatest games at the Baseball Ground, Charlie George scored a hat-trick as Derby ran out 4-1 winners. Progress in the competition was halted by a 1-5 loss in the second leg at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

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In decline

Derby's form declined towards the end of the 1970s and they went down to the Second Division in 1980. Although the Rams were eventually relegated under Colin Addison, it is Tommy Docherty who most fans blame for breaking up the teams run of success in the 70s.

Though they challenged well in their first season, Derby's stay in the Second Division was not a happy one and they were relegated to the now-national Third Division in 1984, their centenary year and just nine years after their last Championship.

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Return to the top division

popular Rams Captain of the 1980s Rob Hindmarch

After the relegation, the club appointed former Newcastle United manager Arthur Cox to stop the rot — and stop it he did. After a two year stint in the Third Division, Cox's emerging side were promoted to the Second Division and won it at the first attempt, returning to the old First Division in 1987.

The club finished fifth in the 1988-1989 season, with the team now containing stars like Peter Shilton, Mark Wright, Dean Saunders and Ted McMinn. However, English clubs were banned from European competition at the time, so the Rams missed out on a place in the UEFA Cup that their high finish otherwise would have earned.

This was Cox's team at its peak; a lack of further investment from controversial chairman Robert Maxwell lead to a decline shortly after. With Maxwell soon dead from suspected suicide, the club was relegated back to the Second Division in 1991 (which became the "new" First Division a year later when the old First Division clubs broke away to form the FA Premier League). At this time, local newspaper businessman Lionel Pickering became the majority shareholder of the club.

Derby's hopes of earning immediate promotion to the new FA Premier League in 1992 were ended when they lost to eventual winners Blackburn Rovers in the playoff semi-finals. The same year, Derby paid £2.5 million for Notts County's central defender Craig Short. At the time — and for five years afterwards — he was the most expensive player to be signed by a club outside the top flight.

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Premiership Rams and Pride Park Stadium

The Queen opens Pride Park Stadium

The FA Premier League (or, more precisely, the money it brought) made it even more difficult for Derby to gain promotion to the Premier League, let alone stay there. Cox resigned in late 1993 citing health problems, and Roy McFarland returned as manager. Despite big spending, however, McFarland failed to get the side anywhere near the top of the division apart from a defeat at the hands of Leicester City in the 1993-1994 playoff final and was sacked in 1995 after a pair of mid-table finishes. Jim Smith was appointed as the club's new manager. Although the season started slowly, the hugely influential signing of sweeper Igor Stimac proved pivotal. Throwing his brief of 'a top-half finish' out the window, Smith guided the Rams to a second-place finish and, more importantly, the Premier League.

John Gregory

Derby County made an excellent Premiership debut in the 1996-1997 season, finishing 12th in the final table with a side containing quality players like Paulo Wanchope, Aljosa Asanovic, Igor Stimac, Jacob Laursen, Stefano Eranio and Francesco Baiano. The club moved into the new 30,000-seat (later upgraded to 33,597-seat) Pride Park Stadium for the 1997-1998 season.

Progress continued in the next two seasons. The Rams finishing ninth and eighth places before a decline in form saw the club finish 16th at the end of the 1999-2000 Premiership campaign. Another relegation battle followed in 2000-2001 when Derby narrowly avoided the drop by finished 17th in the Premiership — one place clear of relegation.

Paulo Wanchope was a popular player during the Jim Smith Era

Jim Smith resigned as manager in October 2001 after rejecting an offer to become the club's director of football. He was replaced by assistant manager and former player Colin Todd. Todd remained in charge for just three months before he was sacked in the aftermath of a humiliating FA Cup Third Round home defeat against Third Division strugglers Bristol Rovers.

At the end of January 2002, John Gregory was appointed Derby manager less than a week after walking out on Aston Villa. Derby won their first two games under Gregory's management and also held title chasing Manchester United to a draw, suggesting that Gregory might be able to save Derby from relegation. But seven defeats from their final eight fixtures condemned Derby to relegation from the Premiership after six successive seasons of top division football.

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Post-Premiership plight

Derby County's relegation back to The Football League saw the club enter a serious financial crisis, which forced them to sell many key players and build a team mostly of home-grown youngsters like Tom Huddlestone and Lee Grant. Gregory was suspended from his managerial duties over alleged misconduct and former Ipswich Town boss George Burley was drafted in as a temporary manager. An 18th place finish was secured. At the end of the season Gregory's contract was terminated and Burley received the job on a permanent basis.

Lionel Pickering was a key figure in modern Derby County history

The club's parent company went briefly into liquidation in October 2003 and the majority shareholder Lionel Pickering gave way to a new board of John Sleightholme, Jeremy Keith and Steve Harding, who bought the club for £3. The police are currently investigating whether any illegal payments were made at this time. Derby finished 20th in the 2003-2004 First Division campaign, but improved dramatically in the 2004-2005 season and finished 4th in the Football League Championship (the new name for the Football League First Division) and qualified for a promotion play-off spot, though lost in the semi-finals to Preston North End.

Soon afterwards, Burley resigned citing differences between himself and the board. He was replaced by Phil Brown. Brown failed to find much success in the job, however, and was sacked in January 2006, after a bad run of results, including a 6-1 hammering at Coventry City and an embarrassing 3-1 FA Cup exit to League One side Colchester. Terry Westley, the academy coach at the time, took over first team duties until the end of the season, when Derby finished 20th in the Championship - just two places above the relegation zone.

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New chairman, new manager, new era?

Billy Davies Rams boss from June 2006 to November 2007

Derby's Chairman, John Sleightholme, resigned in April 2006, saying his position had become untenable. The board did not replace him. The rest of the board followed him later that month. A popular consortium of local businessmen led by former vice-chairman Peter Gadsby bought the club to huge acclaim, reducing the club's debt and returning Pride Park Stadium to the club's ownership in the process. In June 2006, former Preston North End boss Billy Davies was appointed Derby County's new permanent manager, with Julian Darby as his first-team coach.

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Back to the Premiership

The Rams performed well under Davies in his first season as manager, finding themselves in the top two automatic promotion places from January 1st 2007 until the last few weeks of the season when they slipped into 3rd and the dreaded play-offs. The semi final pitted them against 6th placed Southampton and former manager George Burley. Southampton also have former Rams favourits Gregorsz Rasiak and Inigo Idiakez in their squad. The South Coast club gave Derby 4,500 tickets for the first leg game on May 12th and with a 12 noon kick off, thousands of fans had a very early start to their Saturday morning with the official coaches setting off from Pride Park at 6.45am.

Two Stevie Howard goals gave Derby County a precious 2-1 win in a thrilling first leg game at St Mary's. Southampton took the lead early in the game, Steve Surnam curling in a magnificent left-footed shot from outside the area in the 7th

Stephen Pearson sends the Rams into the Premiership

minute. Howard equalised before half-time with a powerful looping header and then won the game in the second half when he side-footed a penalty into the bottom right-hand corner of the net after Pearson had been hauled down by Pele. Southampton twice struck the crossbar when it looked easier to score than miss and Jon Macken went close for the Rams when he hit the base of the left-hand post with an instinctive shot from outside the box.

Derby fans celebrating promotion to the Premiership

The Rams won the Second Leg of the tie 4-3 on penalties after Southampton came to Pride Park and won 2-3 (away goals do no count in play-off matches) in an incident packed match. Former Rams player Grezegorz Raziak scored two minutes from time to take the match into extra time. When it came to penalties Leon Best and another former Ram Inigo Idiakez missed from the penalty spot and the Rams booked a place at Wembley on May 28th against either Wolverhampton Wanderers or West Bromwich Albion.

The Derby County fans ran onto the Pride Park pitch on a night which was called one of the best seen at the ground.

The Rams then won promotion back to the Premiership on Monday, May 28th when they beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 in the first play-off final at the new Wembley Stadium, thanks to a goal from Stephen Pearson (pictured above). The game was billed as "The most expensive game in the world" thanks to the estimated £60 million in extra revenue it would earn the team that won.

A civic reception was held for the team at Pride Park on Tuesday, May 29th when the team toured Derby in an open-top bus, culminating in the reception at a packed stadium. You can watch a video of the parade around the city in two parts here Part 1 and Part 2.

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Premiership Gloom

Davies' joy was to be short lived however, as the Rams got off to a poor start in the Premiership, initially reasonable performances against Portsmouth and Manchester City were followed by a four goal blitz at Tottenham, a six goal drubbing at Anfield a five goal loss at Highbury and the high-watermark of shame a five goal defeat by West Ham.

This was too much for the new Rams chairman Adam Pearson, and Billy Davies left by mutual consent in November 2007.

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Local rivals

Peter Taylor tried to buy John Robertson from Nottingham Forest, causing a bitter split with his friend, Brian Clough

Derby County's fierce rivals are Nottingham Forest, who are based in Nottingham, a city 15 miles east of Derby; the rivalry was ignited over former Derby boss Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor, who moved on to Nottingham several years after being sacked from Derby.

At Forest, Clough found the European success that had eluded him with Derby and he won back to back European Cups with them in 1979 and 1980 with former Derby County player John McGovern as his cup winning captain, and whilst Derbys fortunes faded in the late 70s, Forest overtook their rivals.

Although rival clubs, a number of players have played for both clubs at one point or another. Players who have played for both sides include John McGovern, John Robertson, Archie Gemmill, Alan Hinton, Peter Shilton, Gary Charles, Darren Wassall, Steve Sutton, Lars Bohinen, Gary Mills, Kenny Burns, Darryl Powell, Frank Wignall, John O'Hare and Dean Saunders.

Taylor however, later returned to Derby as manager in 1982 and in May 1983 he tried to sign winger John Robertson from Forest. This incident lead to a sad fallout between the former friends Clough and Taylor. Taylor however could not repeat his previous success and resigned in April 1984, but not before beating Forest in an FA Cup tie by two goals to Nil.

The two clubs and their fans, however, united in mourning following Clough's death in 2004, with a memorial service held at Pride Park and attended by one of Cloughs former Forest players, Martin O'Neill.

There is also a significant amount of distaste with Leeds United, despite Leeds not being geographically close to Derby; the rivalry is due to Derby and Leeds being two of the top English teams in the early 1970s managers Don Revie and Brian Clough regularly clashed with each other, Cloughs shock move to Leeds is the subject of David Peaces book "That Damned Utd" which is a brilliant examination of the hostility between Clough, Derby and Leeds at the time.

The hostility between the two was most spectacularly shown in a infamous punch up between Francis Lee and Norman Hunter in the 70s in a typical mud-splattered Baseball Ground encounter.

There is also a much lesser rivalry with Leicester City, as the two teams play within 20 or so miles of each other and have been in the same divisions for much of their existence.

Also there is rivalry with West Midland teams such as Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Coventry City,Stoke City, West Brom and Wolves , particularly as these clubs have faced each other many times. The matches are known simply as Midland derbies.

Derby are enjoying more success than their traditional rivals, with Leeds and Forest now playing their football at a lower level in Division One and the Rams in the Premiership for the season 2007/2008.

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Honours

Dave Mackay lifting the Watney Cup in 1971

Football League First Division (now FA Premier League)
- Champions, 1971-1972, 1974-1975
- Runners-up, 1895-1896, 1929-1930, 1935-1936
Football League Second Division (now The Championship)
- Champions, 1911-1912, 1914-1915, 1968-1969, 1986-1987
- Runners-up, 1925-1926, 1995-1996
- Play-Off winners 2006-2007
Football League Third Division North
- Champions, 1956-1957
- Runners-up, 1955-1956
FA Cup
- Winners, 1945-1946
- Runners-up, 1897-1898, 1898-1899, 1902-1903
Charity Shield
- Winners, 1975-1976
Texaco Cup
- Winners, 1971-1972
Watney Cup
- Winners, 1970-1971
Anglo-Italian Cup
- Runners-up, 1992-1993

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Players of the Year

Charlie George, Rams player of the year in 1975-76

2006--07 Steve Howard
2005-06 Tommy Smith
2004-05 Inigo Idiakez
2003-04 Youl Mawene
2002-03 Giorgi Kinkladze
2001-02 Danny Higginbotham
2000-01 Chris Riggott
1999-00 Mart Poom
1998-99 Jacob Laursen
1997-98 Francesco Baiano
1996-97 Chris Powell
1995-96 Dean Yates
1994-95 Craig Short
1993-94 Martin Taylor
1992-93 Marco Gabbiadini
1991-92 Ted McMinn
1990-91 Dean Saunders
1989-90 Mark Wright
1988-89 Mark Wright
1987-88 Michael Forsyth
1986-87 Geraint Williams
1985-86 Ross MacLaren
1984-85 Bobby Davison
1983-84 Archie Gemmill
1982-83 Steve Cherry
1981-82 Steve Buckley
1980-81 Roger Jones
1979-80 Steve Buckley
1978-79 Steve Powell
1977-78 David Langan
1976-77 Leighton James
1975-76 Charlie George
1974-75 Peter Daniel
1973-74 Rob Webster
1972-73 Kevin Hector
1971-72 Colin Todd
1970-71 Dave Mackay
1969-70 John O'Hare
1968-69 Roy McFarland

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List of Derby County Managers

Brian Clough and Dave Mackay

Billy Davies 02/06/2006 - 11/2007
Phil Brown 24/06/2005 - 30/01/2006
George Burley 31/03/2003 - 07/06/2005
Mark Lillis 21/03/2002 - 31/03/2003
John Gregory 30/01/2002 - 21/03/2003
Billy McEwan 14/01/2002 - 30/01/2002
Colin Todd 08/10/2001 - 14/01/2002
Jim Smith 15/06/1995 - 07/10/2001
Billy McEwan 29/04/1995 - 15/06/1995
Roy McFarland 02/10/1993 - 29/04/1995
Arthur Cox 28/05/1984 - 02/10/1993
Roy McFarland 04/04/1984 - 28/05/1984
Peter Taylor 08/11/1982 - 04/04/1984
John Newman 25/01/1982 - 07/11/1982
Colin Addison 06/07/1979 - 25/01/1982
Tommy Docherty 17/09/1977 - 10/05/1979
Colin Murphy 25/11/1976 - 17/09/1977
Dave Mackay 23/10/1973 - 25/11/1976
Brian Clough 01/06/1967 - 15/10/1973
Tim Ward 01/06/1962 - 31/05/1967
Harry Storer 01/06/1955 - 31/05/1962
Jack Barker 01/11/1953 - 01/04/1955
Stuart McMillan 01/01/1946 - 01/11/1953
Ted Magner 01/08/1944 - 31/05/1946
George Jobey 01/08/1925 - 01/05/1941
Cecil Potter 01/07/1922 - 31/07/1925
Jimmy Methven 01/08/1906 - 30/06/1922
Harry Newbould 01/08/1896 -31/07/1906

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Interesting facts and figures about Derby County that you may not have known...

Steve Bloomer scored six goals against Sheffield Wednesday

Financial difficulty isn't anything new to Derby County, in 1884, honorary secretary Samuel Richardson was accused of committing fraud against the club, he fled the country !
Derby's first ever game was against Great Lever in 1884, they didn't get off to a great start they lost 6-0 !!
The first ever goal scored by the Rams was scored by Benjamin Ward Spilsbury, when he scored against Blackburn Olympic in the Rams second ever game. The Rams went on to lose the match by 4 goals to 3.
The Baseball Ground was officially opened on 14 September 1895 when Sunderland were the visitors.
Derby County's record defeat is a 2-11 loss to Everton in the first round of the 1889-90 FA Cup !
Rams legend Steve Bloomer has the record for the most Derby County goals in one league match (six against Sheffield Wednesday) and the most League goals for Derby in total, with 292 goals.
The 1903 Rams FA Cup Final team suffered the worst final defeat in FA Cup history when they lost to Bury 6-0.
The close Bond between the cricket club and the team continued when Derbyshire county cricket club won the county championshipin 1936 Derby County gave each member a silver cigarette case in recognition of a great season (thanks to David Alderman)

Jack Bowers scored 37 goals in one season, a joint record with Ray Straw

* The highest number of goals in a single league season however is shared between Jack Bowers, who hit 37 in Division One in 1930-31 and Ray Straw who hit 37 in Division Three (North) in 1956-57.

The Rams have appeared in four FA Cup finals but have only won it once in 1946 when they beat Charlton Athletic 4-1 when Charlton's Bert Turner had the distinction of scoring a goal at both ends.
Also the 1946 FA Cup Final was remarkable for the fact that the ball burst, and incredibly the ball burst in the 1947 Cup Final as well ! (Thanks to Simon Smith)
The record number of appearances for Derby County goes to Kevin Hector, who played 486 games in two spells between 1966-78 and 1980-1982
Hector was also the first English player to score against an Italian club side on Italian soil when he scored in the 3-1 loss to Juventus in the European Cup on 11 April 1973.
The Rams record attendance is 41,826 against Tottenham Hotspur, Division 1, 20 September 1969.
Only two Derby County players have had the distinction of being voted PFA player of the year, the first was Dave Mackay, who shared the award with Manchester City's Tony Book in 1968-69, the second player was Colin Todd who secured the award in 1974.
Derby's record cup victory is the famous 12-0 victory over Finn Harps in the UEFA Cup 1st round, 1st leg in 1976
During the Rams glory years in the 70's they were the only team other than Liverpool to win Division one twice, winning the league in 1971-1972 and 1974-75.
The Baseball Ground was the setting for the Central TV series "Murphy's Mob" in the late 80's.
It has been rumoured that former Rams star Gary Micklewhite is related to Michael Caine (Maurice Micklewhite) any confirmation would be greatfully received!)
On 22nd November 1987, Derby made their first live televised appearance. Peter Shilton played his 1,000th club match for the club and John Gregory scored the second goal in the 2-0 win. Derby have also featured heavily on Scandinavian television resulting in a large fan club in that part of the world ! (Thanks to Per)
The only person to manage the Rams twice is Rams legend Roy McFarland who was in charge at the club between October 1993 to May 1995 and April 1984 to May 1984, managing the club before and after Arthur Cox. Peter Taylor had two spells at the club, as Brian Clough's assistant between 1967 and 1973 and as manager between November 1982 to April 1984.
Derby's first ever goal in the Premiership was scored by Dean Sturridge in the thrilling 3-3 draw with Leeds United, at the Baseball Ground, 17 August 1996.
The pitch at the Baseball Ground was, along with Arsenal's pitch Highbury, one of the smallest in the Football League. (thanks to Martin Tanner)
The Baseball Ground, after the Ley Stand was built, was one of only 4 grounds in the country with seats and terracing on all 4 sides. The others were Old Trafford, White Hart Lane and Everton's Goodison Road. (thanks to Martin Tanner & Simon Smith.
DCFC were the first club to have a souvenir shop away from the ground (thanks to Martin Tanner)
The last ever goal at the Baseball ground was scored by Ashley Ward when he scored the first goal against Arsenal in a 3-1 defeat on 11 May 1997 Ward, then went on to score the first ever goal at Pride Park before the game at Wimbledon was called off because of floodlight failure !
The first ever league goal at Pride Park was then scored by Stefano Eranio in a 1-0 win over Barnsley on the 30 August, 1997.
The record gate receipts are £425,804 for a match against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup Fifth Round replay on 24th February 1999.
Derby's record transfer fee is the £3,500,000 paid to Norwich City in June 2007 for striker Robert Earnshaw.
When Branko Strupar scored two minutes into the game against Watford on 3rd January 2000, he scored the first league goal of the new millennium.
The record transfer fee received for a Rams player is the £7,000,000 (rising to £9,000,000 with conditions) paid by Leeds for midfielder Seth Johnson, in October 2001.
Derby County's most capped player, whilst at the club is Deon Burton who has 40 caps for Jamaica.
The youngest player to play for the Rams is Lee Holmes at the age of 15 years and 268 days old, who appeared for the Rams against Grimsby in a 3-1 defeat on 26th December 2002.
Lee has also made a record in being the youngest player to appear in a proper round of the FA Cup. The youngster from South Normanton was 15 and 277-days-old when he came on as a substitute against Brentford at Griffin Park on Saturday 4th January 2003 in the Third-Round 1-0 defeat.
Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon is a keen Derby fan. Other famous Derby County fans include Goodies star Tim-Brooke Taylor and "My Family star" Robert Lindsay, both of whom have joined the recently formed RamsTrust.
In a remarkable match Division One match against Sunderland on the 20th September 2003, former Rams goalkeeper Mart Poom equalised from a corner to make the score 1-1 in the 90th minute after Ian Taylor thought he had scored a last-minute winner.
The Rams won the first Championship play-off final to be held at the new Wembley, when they beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 thanks to a goal from Stephen Pearson.

Pages linking here

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