DERBY COUNTY

 

The initial kit worn by Derby County replicated the colours of the county cricket club, who founded the club, not because they were interested in the game, but because they saw it as a way of cashing in on the games popularity to boost their finances. And so the early profiteers entered the game and made the 1884 side turn out in chocolate, amber and pale blue strip !! It didn’t thwart the club’s development as they were founder members of the Football League and went on to reach the FA Cup finals of 1898, 1899 and 1903—unsuccessfully on each occasion. The club had moved into the Baseball Ground in 1895, having to evict gypsies who had been camping on the site and since that date the club had believed there was a curse on the ground put there by one of the former inhabitants.

The curse had not stopped Derby reaching 13 FA Cup semi-finals between 1895 and 1909 and becoming Division 2 champions in 1912 and 1915. They did suffer a record 0-6 defeat in the 1903 FA Cup final against Bury, when their keeper was injured, but many say that Shakers would have won by more had that not happened. The matter of the curse had lasted for such a long time, that when they reached the 1946 FA Cup final the captain of the side crossed a gypsies palm with silver to lift the curse. It worked as they beat Charlton to take the Cup back to Derby, despite the ball bursting during the game. That also happened in their next League match - also versus Charlton - five days later and in the next two games after that too. The cost of replacements almost equalled their FA Cup winning bonuses !!

When Dai Astley (no relation to Rick) scored 29 goals in his first 30 games, the Rams fans wondered what was happening. Between the years of 1936 and 1939, he went on to score 49 in 98 League and Cup games.

The Rams run to the 1946 FA Cup final saw the end of midweek afternoon matches in this country, because the semi-final replay at Maine Road attracted a crowd of 80,000 and the post-war Government were in fear of the massive loss of productivity because of people being away from work. Considering the other side was Birmingham, it is a mystery where all these fans came from.

The club were embroiled in an illegal payments scandal in the war years, which involved crossing gypsies palms with silver to curse the opposition. It is a period in the club’s history that does them great shame at a time when many, many lost their lives fighting to protect the country from this sort of thing.

The club went into hibernation until the early 70’s when a brash young manager took over at the club and took them to the League title in 1972. Manager Brian Clough led them to their best years, including European football and this was followed up by Dave Mackay, who had been captain in ‘72 and repeated the feat in 1975. As the club fell from it’s exalted position, media tycoon, Robert Maxwell moved in and in their Centenary season 1983-84, he almost took them into Division Four. Since his death and the subsequent move to the modern surroundings of Pride Park, the club have established themselves as Premier League material. Foreign imports have come and gone and the club does well to stay in the top league despite a limited budget for signing new players. Manager Jim Smith is an experienced campaigner who is trying to get Derby back where they belong.

The new stadium has echoes of the old Baseball Ground. The old place was developed by a baseball mad foundry owner and had Catchers Corner and Homerun stand. But the craze was not long-lived and he had to move in a stand from the Racecourse ground (their previous home) to make enough room for supporters when the football team took over the stadium. The new ground boasts a number of Lion bar outlets and also the Simba stand, which is a reserved area for Junior Rams. Pride Park is also has a lavishly grassed pitch in complete contrast to the old Baseball Ground, which was quite often a mud heap and many a player had to be treated by the physio for trench foot.

FAMOUS PLAYERS : - Colin Todd, Jack Stamps, Jack Bowers, Kevin Hector, Manila Envelopes, Steve Bloomer, Roy McFarland, Dave Mackay, Colin Boulton, Paolo Wanchope, Raich Carter
FAMOUS FANS : - Tim Brooke-Taylor (Comedy Actor - The Goodies), Simon Groom (former Blue Peter presenter), Robert Lindsay (Actor), Tracy Shaw (Actress - Coronation Street) 

Club Records 

Formed 1884
Turned Professional 1884
Became a Limited Company 1896
Previous names -
Previous grounds Racecourse Ground - 1884-95
Baseball Ground - 1895-1997
Nickname "The RAMS"
Club Colours HOME : Shirts - White with Black trim
Shorts - Black with White stripes
Socks -White

AWAY : Shirts - Navy Blue
Shorts - Blue with White trim
Socks - Navy Blue

Record Premier League Win 4-0  v  Wimbledon
Home       4.3.2000
Record Premier League Defeat 1-6 v  Middlesbrough 5.3.1997
0-5  v  Sunderland Home   18.9.1999
Record Football League Win 9-0  v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Div. 1       10.1.1891
Record Defeat 2-11   v  Everton   
FAC R1         1889-90
Record Cup Win 12-0  Finn Harps
UEFAC R1      15.9.1976
Record Fee Paid £4.75 million to Hull City for Tom INCE  (3rd July 2015)
Record Fee Received £2.9 million from Liverpool for Dean SAUNDERS (July 1991)
Record Premier League Appearances 137 -  Jacob LAURSEN  (1992-2000)
Record Premier League goalscorer 31 -  Dean STURRIDGE (1996-2000)
Record goalscorer in a Premier League season 13 - Paolo WANCHOPE (1997-98)
Record all-time goalscorer 291 -  Steve BLOOMER  (1892-1906, 1910-14)
Record goalscorer in a League season 37 - Jack BOWERS (1930-31)
37 - Ray STRAW (1956-57)
Most goals in a match 6  -  Steve BLOOMER  v  Sheffield Wednesday  Division 1  2.1.1899
Most League Appearances 486     Kevin HECTOR  (1966-78 and 1980-82)
Record Home Attendance (all-time) 41,826 v  Tottenham Hotspur
Div. 1        20.9.1969
Record Premier League Attendance 33,378  v  Liverpool 18.3.2000
Record match receipts £425,804  v  Huddersfield Town  FA Cup R5r  24.2.1999
Record total of goals in a Premier League season 52  -  1997-98,  38 games
Record Premier League points total 55  -  1997-98,  38 games
Record total of goals in a League season 111  -  1956-57   
Div 3 (North)
Record League points total 84  -  1985-86
84  -  1986-87
Most Capped player while at club 28  -  Roy McFarland (England)

Stadium details

Address : Pride Park Stadium, Derby DE24 8XL 

Telephone : 01322 202202
01322 209999  (Box Office)
 0891 121187 (News)
  Fax : 01322 667540

Capacity :  33,000
Away Allocation : 2,000-5,000
Pitch size :  110 yards  x  74  yards

Official website :  www.dcfc.co.uk
Unofficial websites :  Derby Evening Telegraph

Fanzines

 

Directions to ground

By car ...
Exit the M1 at Junction 25
Take A52 to Derby
Turn off at the Wyvern Shopping Centre and follow the signs to Pride Park Stadium.

By train to Derby Midland (20 minute walk to the ground)

By bus, catch the shuttle bus to the stadium from Derby Bus Station (every 10 minutes)

 

 

Full results history of Derby County v Spurs

Transfers from Derby County to Tottenham

Transfers from Tottenham to Derby County

Honours

Managers

League Record

Spurs v Derby County Notes

Spurs v Derby County Facts

Spurs v Derby County Match Reports

Spurs v Derby County Reserves Match Reports

Spurs v Derby County Youth Match Reports

 

Back to homepage