DERBY COUNTY

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) 

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