Unreliable History

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 game’s 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 stands. 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.

With troubles on and off the pitch, Derby struggled after being labelled the worst Premier League of all time in the 2007-2008 season when they had a points total of 11 and a goal difference of -69.  Changes came and went in the boardroom and the managers office, but the Rams were stuck in the Championship, coming close to regaining their place in the top flight, but not close enough.  With the recruitment of Wayne Rooney as a player and then the manager of the team, it was hoped that his winning mentality would reap rewards.

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 : –  The late Tim Brooke-Taylor (Comedy actor – The Goodies), Simon Groom (former Blue Peter presenter), Robert Lindsay (Actor – Citizen Smith  and My Family (BBC), Tracy Shaw (Actress – Coronation Street (ITV).

 

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 : AWAY :

THIRD  :


Record Premier League Win 4-0  v  Wimbledon      Home       04.03.2000
4-0  v  Southampton      Home       27.09.1997

Record Premier League Defeat 0-6  v  Liverpool    Away      01.09.2007

Record Football League Win 9-0  v  Wolverhampton Wanderers      Division 1       10.01.1891
9-0  v  The Wednesday      Division 1       21.01.1899

Record Defeat 2-11   v  Everton     FA Cup R1         18.01.1990

Record Cup Win 12-0  Finn Harps  (Republic of Ireland)    UEFA Cup R1      15.09.1976

Record Fee Paid £10 million to Arsenal for Krystian BIELIK  (2 August 2019)

Record Fee Received £11.3 million from Huddersfield Town for Tom INCE (4 July 2017)

Record Premier League Appearances 170 –  Darryl POWELL  (1996-2002)

Record Premier League goal-scorer 32  –  Dean STURRIDGE (1996-2001)

Record goal-scorer in a Premier League season 13  –  Paolo WANCHOPE (1997-1998)

Record all-time League goal-scorer 293 –  Steve BLOOMER  (1892-1905, 1910-1913)

Record all-time goal-scorer 332 –  Steve BLOOMER  (1892-1906, 1910-1913)

Record goal-scorer in a season 43 – Jack BOWERS   Division 1  (1933-1932)

Record goal-scorer in a League season 37 – Jack BOWERS   Division 1  (1930-1931)
37 – Ray STRAW   Division 3 (North)  (1956-1957)

Most goals in a match 6  –  Steve BLOOMER  v  Sheffield Wednesday  Division 1  02.01.1899

Most goals in a League season 111  –  1956-1957  Division 3 (North)

Record League Appearances 478 (+8 as a sub)  –  Kevin HECTOR  (1966-1977 and 1980-1981)

Record Appearances 581 (+8 as a sub)  –  Kevin HECTOR  (1966-1977 and 1980-1981)

Record Home Attendance (all-time) 41,826   v  Tottenham Hotspur    Division 1        20.09.1969      Baseball Ground

Record Premier League Attendance 33,378   v  Liverpool     18.03.2000      Pride Park

Record total of goals in a Premier League season 52  –  1997-1998  (38 games)

Record Premier League points total 55  –  1997-1998  (38 games)

Record total of goals in a League season 111  –  1956-57     Division 3 (North)

Record League points total 2 points for a win :  63  –  Division 2  1968-1969  (42 games)
63  –  Division 3 (North)  1955-1956  (42 games)
63  –  Division 3 (North)  1956-1957  (42 games)
3 points for a win :  85  –  The Championship   2013  (46 games)

Most Capped player while at club 42  –  Deon BURTON (Jamaica)

Youngest player Mason BENNETT  15 years and 99 days  v Middlesbrough  (The Championship)  22.10.2011

Oldest player Peter SHILTON  42 years and 164 days  v Watford  (Division Two)  29.02.1992

 

Stadium details

Address : Pride Park Stadium, Derby DE24 8XL 

Telephone : 0871 472 1884  (calls at 13p/minute)
Ticket Office: 0871 472 1884 (Option 1)  (calls at 13p/minute)
Email: ticket.office@dcfc.co.uk

Capacity :  33,597
Away Allocation : 2,700 (can be up to 5,000)
Pitch size :   105m x 68m  (115 yards  x  74 yards)

Official website :  www.dcfc.co.uk

Directions

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)

 



Honours


Division One Champions  (Top tier) 1971-1972, 1974-1975

Division One Runner-up  (Top tier) 1895-1996, 1929-1930, 1935-1936

Division Two Champions  (Tier Two) 1911-1912, 1914-1915, 1968-1969, 1986-1987

Division Two Runners-up  (Tier Two) 1925-1926

Division One Runners-up  (Tier Two) 1995-1996

Division Three North Champions  (Tier Three) 1956-1957

Division Three North Runners-up  (Tier Three) 1955-1956

FA Cup Winners 1946

FA Cup Finalists 1889, 1899, 1903

FA Charity Shield Winners 1975

Texaco Cup Winners 1972

Anglo-Italian Cup Runners-up 1993

Watney Cup Winners 1970

 

Managers


Harry NEWBOULD 1 August 1896 – 31 July 1906

Jimmy METHVEN 1 August 1906 – 30 June 1922

Cecil POTTER 1 July 1922 – 31 July 1925

George JOBEY 1 August 1925 – 1 May 1941

Ted MANGER 1 August 1944 – 1 January 1946

Stuart McMILLAN 1 January 1946 – 1 November 1953

Jack BARKER 1 November 1953- 1 April 1955

Harry STORER Jnr 1 June 1955 – 31 May 1962

Tim WARD 1 June 1962 – 31 May 1967

Brian CLOUGH 1 June 1967 – 15 October 1973

Jimmy GORDON  (Caretaker) 15 October 1973 – 23 October 1973

Dave MACKAY 23 October 1973 – 25 November1976

Colin MURPHY 25 November 1976 – 17 September 1977

Tommy DOCHERTY 17 September 1977 – 10 May 1979

Colin ADDISON 6 July 1979 – 25 January 1982

Johnny NEWMAN 25 January 1982 – 11 August 1982

Peter TAYLOR 11 August 1982 – 4 April 1984

Roy McFARLAND 4 April 1984 – 28 May 1984

Arthur COX 28 May 1984 – 2 October 1993

Roy McFARLAND 2 October 1993 – 29 April 1995

Billy McEWAN  (Caretaker) 29 April 1995 – 15 June 1995

Jim SMITH 15 June 1995 – 7 October 2001

Colin TODD 8 October 2001 – 14 January 2002

Billy McEWAN  (Caretaker) 14 January 2002 – 30 January 2002

John GREGORY 30 January 2002 – 21 March 2003

Mark LILLIS  (Caretaker) 21 March 2003 – 31 March 2003

George BURLEY 31 March 2003 – 7 June 2005

Phil BROWN 24 June 2005 – 30 January 2006

Terry WESTLEY 30 January 2006 – 2 June 2006

Billy DAVIES 2 June 2006 – 26 November 2007

Paul JEWELL 28 November 2007 – 29 December 2009

Chris HUTCHINGS  (Caretaker) 29 December 2009 – 6 January 2009

David LOWE  (Caretaker) 6 January 2009 – 8 January 2009

Nigel CLOUGH 8 January 2009 – 28 September 2013

Darren WASSALL  (Caretaker) 29 September 2013 – 1 October 2013

Steve McCLAREN 1 October 2013 – 25 May 2015

Paul CLEMENT 1 June 2015 – 8 February 2016

Darren WASSALL 8 February 2016 – 27 May 2016

Nigel PEARSON 27 May 2016 – 8 October 2016

Chris POWELL  (Caretaker) 27 September 2016 – 12 October 2016

Steve McCLAREN 12 October 2016 – 12 March 2017

Gary ROWETT 14 March 2017 – 22 May 2018

Frank LAMPARD 31 May 2018 – 4 July 2019

Phillip COCU 5 July 2019 – 14 November 2019

Liam ROSENIOR  (Interim manager) 15 November 2020 – 26 November 2020

Wayne ROONEY  (Interim player-manager) 26 November 2020 – 

 

League Record

The Football League structure has historically been as follows …

  1888-1892 1892-1920 1920-1921 1921-1958 1958-1992 1992-2004 2004 to date
First tier Football League Division One Division One Division One Division One Premiership Premier League
Second tier   Division Two Division Two Division Two Division Two Division One Championship
Third tier     Division Three Division Three
(North) and (South)
Division Three Division Two  League One
Fourth tier         Division Four Division Three League Two

Founder member of Football League 1888

Division One 1907-1912

Division Two 1912-1914

Division One 1914-1921

Division Two 1921-1926

Division One 1926-1953

Division Two 1953-1955

Division Three North 1955-1957

Division Two 1957-1969

Division One 1969-1980

Division Two 1980-1984

Division Three 1984-1986

Division Two 1986-1987

Division One 1987-1991

Division Two 1991-1992

Division One 1992-1996

Premier League 1996-