StockholmRam

Did you get your Stone Roses book signed? Can recommend the John Robb Roses book if that’s your thing.
 

We love you though mate. 

O
 
Travelled overland independently by train, lots of snow around Banya Luka (October), but still arrived in good time at Mostar. Walked from the station to the ground in conversation (in French!) with a German, who recognised the Ram motif on my shoulder bag. Gateman at the ground was after Rams souvenirs when Stuart Webb arrived, we exchanged a few pleasantries, he showed his DCFC credentials and I was allowed in with him!  The team coach arrived shortly after and Alan Hill was struggling with the kit hamper across a pebbled area, so yes, just offered a hand to get it to the visitors dressing room. Most of the players had gone to have a look at the pitch, but David Nish followed us in. He had just moved into our village and had had conversations over the garden gate with my Dad, so that was a useful starting point until Zac arrived with his bit of typical Yorkshire forthright approach!
I bade my adieus, and walked out into the next room which happened to be the club bar, which, needless to say, was full of Bosnians and Serbs. My bag and rucksack singled me out as a Rams fan, and it was only seconds before I was besieged with more requests for Rams souvenirs. I had only two left when their inside forward Vidic, who had played in the first leg at Derby, came and sat down, and he ended up with a copy of the Football League Magazine which came out with the Rams programme.
Whilst waiting in the York Hotel outside the station for the train back home after the first leg, a tall smartly dressed individual wanted the phone, speaking in  reasonable English to the hotel staff, who of course had to get the call for him - in the 1970s it was necessary to wait for calls to be obtained to less popular international locations, in this case Mostar. I assumed that he was possibly the Mostar president or CEO perhaps, so in the bar I motioned to Vidic that I wanted to speak to the "President". He disappeared and duly returned with an ageing gentleman who was in fact the Club President. But the message had got across that we needed an interpreter, and shortly after the guy seen in Derby appeared. I recalled to him that I had seen him at the York, so we were well away! Drinks and food were provided gratis, courtesey of the club / President, and I could leave my rucksack there until after the game. The well dressed guy was the reporter for the local paper, and this was news, as Mostar had beaten one of the Moscow teams (? Spartak?) over two legs in the previous round, unbelievable for a town the size of Burton!
As it built towards kick-off, I made my way out to the Terraces, only to find that I was in the private part of the ground, with only a small three- step terrace which held about 20 people maximum! A programme seller appeared walking round the ground, the very guy who had been manning the gate earlier on. I called to him and rummaged in my shoulder bag for the last souvenir, one of those circular gold and dark blue DERBY COUNTY pin badges with a Ram in the centre - you might have one still, I haven't! I thought that offering it was an appropriate gesture to a guy who had been instrumental in what was turning out to be some totally unexpected "adventure", and he proudly pinned it on, safe in the knowledge that no one else had one!
The Rams of course lost 4-1, and it was almost dark as the firecrackers went of following their third and fourth goal, the latter a penalty against Colin Todd which was clearly ball-to-hand rather than the reverse, which the high profile and even more highly controversial Dutch referee, Charles Corver, duly gave.  (He was handing out photos of himself on the flight into Dubrovnik apparently - some ego!). Stuart Webb was beside himself at this unexpected setback, and on returning home made it clear that Derby would appeal against the firecrackers during the match, so I sent in some camera shots of them to him, and weeks later they were returned after the appeal had been turned down.
So, back to the bar, where the President came to commiserate - and celebrate that lightning did sometimes strike twice. In true English fashion I offered my congratulations, and eventually took my leave of them, reflecting, in spite of my disappointment, that I had witnessed what had been a momentous event in the history of this small club.
This must sound unusual to many of you, but the club is not like an English club. The dressing rooms and bar were part of what we would call a large two story club house, set back some 50 yards from the pitch and behind the goal. The directors / officials watched the games from easy chairs in a first floor "terraced room" with sliding -folding doors, looking out "onto all they surveyed". The 50 yards in between were flower beds with rose trees, neatly trimmed low privet hedges and a pebble path for the players to access the pitch. The opposite end was not spectator accommodation. The side nearest the road was terraced, and provided perhaps 15 steps the length of the ground, and the opposite side had 3 /4  steps of concrete terrace, with a small seated stand at the half way line. Beyond this, the (enclosed) hillside rose quite steeply into the far distance, and would have accommodated the population of the three East Midlands cities with ease.  Little did I know the horrific significance that this welcoming club was to play some 20 years later. During the dissolution of the old Yugoslavia, you may be aware of the subsequent ethic cleansing which took place: the Radavan Karadice saga / era, plus others.
That same pitch was used as a concentration site / camp for those unfortunate enough to be on "the wrong side"......
And no, I had no part at DCFC, I'm just a popside fan who took his chance when it came, this being the third "adventure" that being a Rams fan has brought my way. To me, DCFC has always been a Way of Life.
Thanks for reading - sorry if I bored you.

Thats the thing I love about boxing Bris... I agree, couldnt see anyone but Groves winning and then BAM..out of nowhere. Astonishing. 

Cracking left that was...not that dull. 

I get what you're saying but like @David says, a lot of it is chucked at him whether he likes it or not.
He's also said in the past that while he doesn't enjoy the media stuff that much it does serve to inspire people which he does like. 
I get more pissed off at the celebs who are only hanging around him while he's hot and the fans that think he's some God that knocks everyone out. 
Where was Jamie Redknapp when he fought Gary Cornish in what was supposed to have a bit of risk involved. Or Kevin Johnson who was supposed to give him rounds? 
He is a walking advert but he does admit that it's all about drawing attention to the boxing world. It's worked a treat. 
And what I really like is when he does deviate from the poster boy image and when he gets pulled up on it he quite rightly reminds people that he's a fighter. He fights for a living. It's not a game for choir boys. 
 

I think AJ actually learns from each fight he has and improves. 

A man wakes up in the hospital, bandaged from head to foot.
 
The doctor comes in and says, "Ah, I see you've regained consciousness.

Now, you probably won't remember, but you were in a pile-up on the motorway.  You're going to be okay, you'll walk again and everything, but...
"Something happened.  I'm trying to break this gently, but the fact is, your willy was chopped off in the wreck and we were unable to find it."

The man groans, but the doctor goes on, "You've got £9000 in insurance compensation coming and we have the technology now to build you a new willy that will work as well as your old one did - better in fact! But the thing is, it doesn't come cheap. It's £1000 an inch."
The man perks up at this. "So," the doctor says, "It's for you to decide how many inches you want. But it's something you'd better discuss with your wife. I mean, if you had a five inch one before, and you decide to go for a nine incher, she might be a bit put out. But if you had a nine inch one before, and you decide only to invest in a five incher this time, she might be disappointed. So it's important that she plays a role in helping you make the decision."
 
 
The man agrees to talk with his wife.
 
The doctor comes back the next day. "So," says the doctor, "have you spoken with your wife?"
 
"I have," says the man.
 
 
 "And what is the decision?" asks the doctor.
  
  "We're having granite worktops."

Made my month that has mate. Awesome job. With the papers and news full of horror, doom and gloom I'm sure glad there's still decent folk like yersen about. 

Made my month that has mate. Awesome job. With the papers and news full of horror, doom and gloom I'm sure glad there's still decent folk like yersen about. 

Made my month that has mate. Awesome job. With the papers and news full of horror, doom and gloom I'm sure glad there's still decent folk like yersen about. 

We love you though mate. 

That’s me on the left. 

Scuse the language but what a **** **** **** service. Sort your problems out Derby. I notice you keep taking money from me monthly.

Scuse the language but what a **** **** **** service. Sort your problems out Derby. I notice you keep taking money from me monthly.

Reduced to watching live text on BBC

Sounds exciting. I'm not sure what half of those things are, but good on you!

I was fortunate enough to watch our second title win as a youth on the 'pop side' I'll always remember a midweek game towards the end of that season against man city, which we won 2-0 (I think) with Rioch scoring an absolute screamer! The other game that always stands out is our FA Cup quarter final victory over Newcastle...... The goals..... What a game, Charlie George, Kevin Hector, never reach those heights again, I consider myself very fortunate to have witnessed that era........ You Raaaaaaaaams!! 

One of several excellent books about Derby County's history that were brought out around the same time.

There was a lad nicknamed " Spands"... Never knew his real name. Wore New Romantic clobber top to bottom complete with Martin Kemp hairstyle... Quite often walked up Osmaston Rd with him from The Spot to BBG. He talked a good fight and often got stuck in. 

Ahhhhhh where to start. Read this post yesterday and decided to have a good think first.....
Opening match for me is 1970 freezing cold 4-4 draw with Law; Best n Charlton...Les Green in goal for us and Ive read in later years that this was the game that Peter Taylor decided Les had to go..... I dont remember this day in colour at all. Me and my grandad on the corporation bus from Breadsall Hilltop into town....my grandad with his park drives non filter smoking on the bus.... fish cake and batter bits on Shaftsbury Street for the first time but most certainly not the last.
Another one sticks crazy in the mind is the fog v Burnley..night game...Mark Patterson scores a screamer, goal of his career...then he breaks his leg, the fog descends and the game is called off. Poor lad cant even claim the goal.
Gazza kicking the buckets of water all over....
Penalty spot being re painted v Citeh..Big Joe Corrigan trying to argue the length with the ref....
In sheer awe of the class of David Nish.... Just about every game. 
Being REALLY REALLY glad that I never had to play v Mick Harford.
But I think the game that stays with me as one of the most amazing was a loss actually.... 89 or 90 Im sure... Derby 4 - Chelsea 6. And if my memory serves me correctly we were 1-4 down with 15 mins to go. Never for get that one.... 
Wouldnt sway my memories or supporting this club alongside you lot for owt.... its not being boring has it.
 

Ahhhhhh where to start. Read this post yesterday and decided to have a good think first.....
Opening match for me is 1970 freezing cold 4-4 draw with Law; Best n Charlton...Les Green in goal for us and Ive read in later years that this was the game that Peter Taylor decided Les had to go..... I dont remember this day in colour at all. Me and my grandad on the corporation bus from Breadsall Hilltop into town....my grandad with his park drives non filter smoking on the bus.... fish cake and batter bits on Shaftsbury Street for the first time but most certainly not the last.
Another one sticks crazy in the mind is the fog v Burnley..night game...Mark Patterson scores a screamer, goal of his career...then he breaks his leg, the fog descends and the game is called off. Poor lad cant even claim the goal.
Gazza kicking the buckets of water all over....
Penalty spot being re painted v Citeh..Big Joe Corrigan trying to argue the length with the ref....
In sheer awe of the class of David Nish.... Just about every game. 
Being REALLY REALLY glad that I never had to play v Mick Harford.
But I think the game that stays with me as one of the most amazing was a loss actually.... 89 or 90 Im sure... Derby 4 - Chelsea 6. And if my memory serves me correctly we were 1-4 down with 15 mins to go. Never for get that one.... 
Wouldnt sway my memories or supporting this club alongside you lot for owt.... its not being boring has it.