Fla Ram

I cannot put in writing what I wish upon Mel Morris, needless to say, it isn't upon a star.

2 statements in 24 hours, if only they had been this proactive earlier on in the administration process.
If only they had been this frustrated with their own inability to sort out the Boro and Wycombe 'claims'.
If only they had been this disappointed with one of their members threatening to sue them.
They really do disgust me.

Thank you @LeedsCityRam and @Brailsford Ram for these fantastic memories and such an uplifting thread.
Here's the BBC's take on it...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61272553

Monday 8th May 1972 & title D-Day for Derby, Leeds & Liverpool
A week after Derby finished their league campaign, Leeds & Liverpool played their final matches of 71/72 knowing exactly what they needed to do to win the title. This was a massive advantage both had over Derby & something that would never be allowed to happen in the modern era because of the risk of ‘result manipulation’ – something it later emerged Leeds had attempted to do…
The permutations on the night were straight forward;
·        Derby would win the title if Leeds lost & Liverpool didn’t win
·        Leeds needed only a point away at Wolves to win the title
·        Liverpool needed to beat Arsenal at Highbury & for Leeds to lose
Leeds were therefore favourites going into the evening & 2 days after winning the FA Cup, were in confident mood to secure the double - as per below sycophantic back page. Wolves however were not straightforward opposition – they had reached the UEFA Cup Final & were particularly strong at home, as Derby had found out the previous November;
 

 
That evening, 55k crammed into Molineux with a further 40k at Highbury and thousands more listening on the radio, many of them anxious Derby fans. Onto the action & the timeline of the evening;
13 mins – Emlyn Hughes hits the crossbar for Liverpool at Highbury but the ball stays out – Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0
16 mins – Ray Kennedy of Arsenal plants a header against the post – still Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0
25 mins – furious appeals for a penalty at Molineux as Leeds claim Bernard Shaw of Wolves handled on the line. Ref unsighted & linesman doesn’t flag. Still Wolves 0 Leeds 0 - Leeds are top & heading for the title as things stand
43 mins – Wolves take the lead through Frank Munro. Wolves 1 Leeds 0 & Derby are back top of the table
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ArJjYAqxiHc?start=0&end=9
67 mins – Derek Dougan doubles Wolves’ lead – Wolves 2 Leeds 0
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ArJjYAqxiHc?start=10&end=19
68 mins – Billy Bremner pulls a goal back – Wolves 2 Leeds 1 & Leeds only need one goal to go back top. Don Revie sends Jack Charlton up front for the last frantic 20 mins
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ArJjYAqxiHc?start=20&end=30
88 mins – John Toshack puts the ball into the net for Liverpool at Highbury for what seems a late title winner….but it is ruled out for offside by referee Roger Fitzpatrick (he of the disallowed Kevin Hector goal late in Stoke v Derby match)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLcJX8yjUFs
90 mins – sub Terry Yorath heads the ball over Wolves keeper Parkes from 6 yards out but Gerry Taylor heads off the line – still Wolves 2 Leeds 1
Finally full time – Wolves 2 Leeds 1 & Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0. Derby County are crowned Champions of England for the first time.
 

 
Predictably both Revie & Shankly pointed to controversial refereeing decisions as key factors in their inability to get the results they needed. Brian Clough meanwhile was both elated & incredulous – here he is being interviewed by David Coleman the day after, whilst on holiday in the Scilly Isles;
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ke8457SVa48?start=57&end=167
 
And so the final table was as follows - one of the closest title finishes in history with the top 4 all within a point of each other. A high-quality title race too – the top 3 all won the league again over the next 3 seasons, 5th placed Arsenal had won the double the year before & Spurs in 6th won the UEFA Cup;

Spelling, Mr Jase, young man. "Ruining" is the correct spelling. See teacher after school.

Ahhhhhh good old personal responsibility………..or lack there of from these types!
He’s shafted the tax payer out of millions.
Owes money to a line of companies.
Is on the verge of destroying our club.
Etc, etc
Yet it’s their own personal wealth that needs to be salvaged as much as possible while all else burns!
If this was the average person in the street, they’d be told they are scroungers and need to face up to their mistakes and responsibilities, whilst being left to rot!
 

He is not a Derby County fan. He isn't going to help us. 

Hi legacy is far far worse than Maxwell, he has single handedly strangled the life out of DCFC.
The fact he has the audacity to claim to be a Ram absolutely astounds me, you caused this now only you can resolve it Mr.Morris.
You get to be the centre of attention once again, do the right and proper thing and never darken our door again ???

Final standings for the 2021/22 Prediction League, I'm sure there's a way of determining a winner between @Premier ram and @TheHospitalier but i cba to sort one, so congratulations both..
 
Premiership
Premier ram    59
TheHospitalier    59
BodminRam    57
Cisse    57
Kenavo    57
ilsonram12    55
LeedsCityRam    55
rammieib    54
timlondinium    53
r4derby    49
SKHunter    49
Wolfie    49
DCFC1388    48
rynny    48
AndyB    47
BOB BIGGS    47
ramant62    47
REDCAR    47
harwich ram    44
jimtastic56    44
 
Championship

Fla Ram    43
Jase116    43
mozza    43
Asanovic70    42
samwcave    42
TexasRam    42
europia    41
JMC    41
Brammie Steve    40
ColonelBlimp    40
Lurky    40
Ramifications    40
dcfc the 1 4me    39
Parsnip    39
Rich84    39
Jimbo Ram    38
leroyoftherovers    38
dabber    37
Miggins    37
Woodley Ram    37
BramcoteRam84    36
California Ram.    36
WharfedaleRam    36
hydraulic ram    34
 
Div1

TimRam    34
DCFC Kicks    33
OohMartWright    31
BucksRam    30
gccrowdpleaser    30
Jourdan    30
JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta    30
Yani P    30
DesertRam    29
Mckram    29
CBRammette    28
Chris_Martin    28
Foreveram    28
JarodyDCFC    28
Mick Brolly    28
MidWalesRam    28
BathRam72    27
swansea ram    27
Turk Thrust    27
Elgin_Ram    26
RadioactiveWaste    26
taffyram    25
Amberram    24
Dethorn    24
 
Div2

lukedcfc    24
Malty    24
StevenageRam    24
Ted McMinn Football Genius    24
angieram    23
86 Hair Islands    23
True Ram    23
Addingham Ram    22
Rampant    22
BriggRam    21
1967Ram    21
StrawHillRam    21
cstand    20
Dean (hick) Saunders    20
Van der MoodHoover    20
Wolfie20    20
BarrowRam    19
ramit    19
Ramsamwidge    19
Topram    19
hintonsboots    18
Wistaston Ram    18
kash_a_ram_a_ding_dong    17
Simmo's left foot    16
 
Div3

Dordogne-Ram    15
chewbacca    14
Eargasm    14
Kernow    14
PendineRam    14
Ram-a-lama fa fa fa    13
devonram1980    12
Kinder    12
Marriot Ram99    12
Mucker1884    12
erathirea    11
Leeds Ram    11
Rampage    11
Steve Buckley's Dog    11
Angry Ram    10
CumbriaRam    10
Johnnyoj    10
StarterForTen    10
HonitonRam    9
Blondest Goat    8
BrudeRAM    8
Maharan    8
niram    8
glyn1957    7
 
Div4

Carnero    6
Makedoh    6
Ramrob    6
Saul    6
Steve How Hard?    6
Theres's Only Wan Chope    6
WhiteHorseRam    6
Dinnitdough    5
Finch    5
LazloW    5
mwram1973    5
oohmarkwright    5
Ram_in_Cumbria    5
atherstoneram    4
bucktwo    4
Crewton    4
Diego    4
Eddie    4
Magicman    4
minesahartington    4
Remy the hare    4
RodleyRam    4
Abu Derby    3
B4ev6is    3
 
Div5

Charliegeorge1962    3
davenportram    3
DerbyRam!    3
EraniosSocks    3
Penelope Pendrex    3
Reverend    3
scout's dad    3
ScubaRam    3
SWRam    3
Tamworthram    3
twinkletoes    3
Alan Ramage 4 EVA    2
Alty_Ram    2
Ambitious    2
BuckoBeast    2
Charlotte Ram    2
FindernRam    2
G-Ram    2
Half Fan Half Biscuit    2
ivo_knoflicek    2
Jayram    2
Joe     2
Jortat    2
MickD    2
 
Div6

Rab a dab doo    2
Ratpackram    2
Seths-cap    2
Sheff Ram    2
Simon Bradley    2
Sweetness34    2
The Scarlet Pimpernel    2
Tyler Durden    2
uttoxram75    2
Anag Ram    1
Animal is a Ram    1
Bubbles    1
Chester40    1
Coconut's Beard    1
DavesaRam    1
De22Ram    1
Donegal Ram    1
Foxy Ram    1
Fraser_23    1
Gordamn    1
handyill    1
Hathersage Ram    1
Ilkestonian    1
irobinson    1
 
Div7

Keepyuppy    1
kevinhectoring    1
MackworthRamIsGod    1
NottmRAM    1
Old Sawley Popside    1
Ovine_Interferer    1
PistoldPete    1
plymouthram    1
1977 Ram Raider    1
RamDotFi    1
RamontheMoor    1
richinspain    1
Robert Earnshaws Workrate    1
Scott129    1
Sean    1
Seaside Ram    1
secretsquirrel    1
sheeponacid    1
Sparkle    1
superzak    1
TomTom92    1
tomsdubs    1
twelveincher    1
whaley bridge Ram    
Wignall12    1
ziggyram59    1
 
DONE !!
 
 

Just one example of the damage one man has caused to this club. 
8 years ago we were demolishing BHA in a play off semi final.
We headed en masse to Wembley, hoping to gorge on the Premier League riches. 
Then the man with the reverse midas touch threw his hat in the ring, and look where it's led us. 
We've been relegated to Division 3, we don't own anything other than 5 contracted players, and if Rooney is to be believed we're in the most critical 24 hours of our clubs history, with no guarantees of survival.
Meanwhile, on Sky Sports, Brighton are finishing off their 5th consecutive season in the top flight with a humbling of Man Utd!
It's hard to imagine a starker contrast in the two clubs fortunes, and it's down to one person alone.
 

If, as it seems, Morris is refusing a deal for the stadium that allows CK to take over the club, then effectively he is deciding who does take it over.
Given that he put us into Administration in the first place, that doesn't seem right - to say the least.

Exactly what I'm thinking. The players are loyal to Wayne because he has been loyal to them. Shame Mel hasn't been loyal to our club. 

As kids, if we were too young to go to the away games we'd go to the reserves games and position ourselves around the Popside terracing to retrieve the ball for the players.
Great memories.

Matchday 42 – Monday 1st May 1972 and the title showdown with Liverpool at the BBG
After Derby’s defeat at Maine Road 9 days earlier, the equation was simple – anything less than a win & the title would be gone. That was easier said than done though against a Liverpool side in red hot form. On 8th January, Liverpool sat 9th in the table having been beaten at Leicester – since that day, their league record read Played 15 Won 13 Drawn 2 Scored 34 Conceded 3 – they also hadn’t conceded an away goal in that entire time.
The drama was increased still by the Leeds v Chelsea match being played the same night – with Leeds having a game in hand, Derby hoped Chelsea could do them a favour & stop Leeds picking up 2 points
Onto the action at a packed Baseball Ground, 39k there but thousands locked out. Action from Elland Road at the end of the clip;
 
One of the most evocative photos in Derby’s history - John McGovern’s second half winner giving The Rams a precious 2 points & keeping us in the title race;

 

 

 
Pre match edition of The Ram railed at the Derby Evening Telegraph for ‘rocking the boat’, especially the suggestion Clough & Taylor had been on the verge of joining Coventry – as per earlier posts this week, it came a lot closer than Derby fans probably realised at the time;

 
Derby’s win in their final match returned them to the top of the table but that was only really half the story. Leeds’ 2-0 win over Chelsea meant they only needed a point away at Wolves on May 8th to win the title. Liverpool still had a title chance but needed to beat Arsenal at Highbury on the same night & hope Leeds lost. Derby meanwhile headed off on their holidays knowing there was nothing else they could do but sit and wait for next week;

He sounds confident.... 

Great way to end our away season with that monkey off our back now for next year. Great support today but no different to the excellent support we've had all season and hope we continue that form in the stands in League One next year. Also credit to Blackpool fans, one of the few clubs in the league that has not gloated at our potential liquidation and demise and shown some support. A class showing and wish them all the best in the Championship next year, hope they can get promoted again to the Prem.

Richard Keogh started the bounce at the Derby County end and applauded the fans. He will always be a big part of the rams heritage and he gave all when he played for us.

We will not finish bottom of the table. Amazing given our circumstances. Thanks to the staff, players, fans and DCFC staff.? XX

Texaco Cup Final – Wednesday 26th April 1972 & the return leg against Airdrie at the BBG
The first leg finished 0-0 up in Scotland in January & this second leg had been re-arranged from the original date of March 8th because of an unplayable pitch. Airdrie were towards the bottom of the then Scottish Division One (SPL in new money) but the Anglo-Scottish element meant this was likely to be a testy affair

 
Although not a major tournament, just over 25k turned up at the Baseball Ground that evening & Brian Clough ahead of the title showdown with Liverpool, picked 7 first team regulars in the starting XI. He was rewarded with a 2-1 win & the first silverware of 1971/72 for the Rams, courtesy of goals from Alan Hinton (pen) and Roger Davies. Match report below;

 

 
Original matchday final programme;

 
And here’s Alan Durban (captain for the night) receiving the Texaco Cup from Len Shipman, chairman of the Football League – pic courtesy of Andy Ellis via @Brailsford Ram;

 
 
Small footnote on this night – back in the League, Crystal Palace got a crucial 2-0 win at home to Stoke which meant Notts Forest & Huddersfield were relegated to Division Two. Forest had been beaten the night before by Wolves in front of 16,889 at the City Ground;

Here they are. I wasn't going to post, but there are photos all over Twitter.
L to R: McGovern, Powell, Davies, Todd, Gemmill, O'Hare, Macfarland, Dawes, Gibson.

Quad sounds a fantastic night. And what an interview with Rams fan Gary Newbon and Cloughie before the Man City game. Great find, @LeedsCityRam.

Can you imagine the furore on here after those results? ?
Story of the night last night from Steve Powell, telling how Brian Clough popped into his school, to ask for him to be released as he needed him to play for Derby.
He had one start that season, in the next match, against Liverpool. Age sixteen.

Matchday 41 – Saturday 22nd April 1972 & the clash of the top two – Manchester City v Derby County
Man City’s defeat at Ipswich 4 days earlier meant they now needed a miracle to win the title but they still presented significant nuisance value to a Derby side desperate for the points to stay ahead of Liverpool & Leeds.
Here were Brian Clough’s pre-match thoughts;
https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-21041972-brian-clough-interview-championship-hopes
 
So onto the action at Maine Road;
 
Sadly for the Rams, City signed off their 71/72 season with a convincing 2-0 home win – Rodney Marsh playing a crucial role despite the oft-repeated claim he was a liability to Man City in the run in;

 

 
Programme of the day from Manchester;

 
City’s win in their final fixture meant they regained top spot from Derby but it was a most bittersweet accolade. Liverpool’s 2-0 win at home to Ipswich meant City now had no chance of winning the title (because of the upcoming Derby v Liverpool fixture) & hence had to watch as others passed them. Derby slipped to 3rd behind Liverpool on goal average whilst Leeds moved to within a point of the Rams with a 0-1 win away at West Brom;