S75 Ram

Have you had a personalised email from the Club telling you how many minutes of football you've watched, and various other stats from home and away? 
It's a brilliant touch, and a reward for those fans who put in some hard miles.
I won't spoil it for anyone, but read right through to the end! 
Here's a snippet from mine. Not bad for saying I cracked an ankle bone and was in a brace for several weeks mid-season.
I'm bet @Foreveram has a better one though.
 

Hi all,
I just wanted to pop on and say congrats on a successful season and well deserved promotion. I know there's been some ill feeling between fans, mostly on the toxic social media platforms (not helped by a large number of idiots of which we at Bolton have f****** loads). I've scanned through your forum and a few others to regularly to check in on the thoughts of some of our promotion rivals over the season and as forums go, this one is generally positive and full of good and honest opinions. We have another fan called Wanderlust who often peruses the various forums and I feel he is a good fan for honest opinions too. I hope we can join you, I'm sure there's plenty of you hoping we stumble and end up stuck in L1 for at least another year, mainly for the fans who've been making stupid excuses for us not winning points this season. Reality is, you and Pompey were the most consistent teams over the season and thoroughly deserve your promotion, so well done and good luck in the championship next year. With your stadium and fanbase and what your fans have been through (trust me, I know what it feels like too), you deserve some good times now!
 
All the best gents (and ladies)

Last seasons thread seemed fairly popular with over one hundred thousand views so I thought I’d try and find out a bit of what we can expect for next season.
As we know, because they told us so, nobody has more away fans than Leeds so I have looked at their away ticket allocations and prices they were charged for the season now ending.
Interestingly they had a reciprocal agreement with a few clubs to set the price for both sets of fans so I have noted this accordingly.
Obviously we don’t know exactly who we are playing yet but I will try and amend this when we have the final tables.
 I have noted the full allocation and adult and over 65 price.
Leeds I have based on what Southampton fans are paying.
Ipswich. 2,000.  £34/ £27
Leeds. 2.018. £47. Cheaper with clubs with reciprocal deals.
Southampton. 2,825. £30/ £25.
Norwich. 2,022. 36/26 reciprocal.
WBA. 2,009. £28/ £23.
Hull. 2,083. £24/ £16.
Middlesbo. 2,571. £29/ £ 21.
Coventry. 2,529. £37/ £32.
Preston. 5,644. £28/ £20 reciprocal.
Bristol City. 3,000. £30/ £26.
Cardiff. 3,213. £21/ £16 reciprocal.
Swansea. 1,971. £34/ £21.
Watford. 2,104. £20/ £10.
Sunderland. 2,000. £29/ £26. reciprocal.
Millwall. 2,008. £32/ £22.
QPR. 1,816. £31/ £22.
Stoke. 2,604. £25/ £19. reciprocal.
Blackburn. 7,337. £30/ £24.
Sheff Wed. 3,869. £36/ £26.
Plymouth. 1,734. £26/ £21.
Birmingham. 2,227. £30/ £25 reciprocal.
 

Sadly this will be my last match today. My first was in 1956 as a 13year old, My dad used to take me before that but he stopped going when we went down to the third division north. My mate and I would catch the 12 oclock bus from Melbourne and be the first in the ground. We stood in the Normanton end pigeon loft, I think it was 3 shilling. To this day I remember that team. We were champions in 1957 and I ran onto the pitch after the last match against Southport, Ray Straw scored 37 goals that season, The next ten years saw me start work, get married and have two children, I had moved to Derby, and after my family, the Rams were the most important thing in my life I never missed a home game in those ten years even though we were only an average second division side. And then in 1966 after England won the world cup my mate and I decided to have a season ticket, Little did we know what would happen that season, I was at work one day and a Rams supporting work mate told me we had signed a player from Bradford Park Avenue, his name was Kevin Hector I'd never heard of him but he was without doubt the most wonderful footballer to grace the Baseball Ground I had ever seen, and because of this we wanted to see more players like him which led to Tim Ward getting the sack and BC becoming Manager, what followed was ten years of unbelievable success and enjoyment. And then things started to go wrong off and on the pitch and I stopped being a season ticket holder during Peter Taylors time as manager, i still loved The Rams of course and when I turned 65 and retired my old mate from Melbourne and I bought season tickets again. But sadly covid left my best friend of 80 years with a dementia problem and he know no longer knows me. For the last two seasons I have been going alone to the match but its just not the same for me. Therefore I am calling it a day, as I write this I am welling up as I will do this afternoon. Thank you Derby County for every thing I will love you till I die.     

I definitely recommend SW corner.  I’ve been in South Stand near SW corner since SS opened to home fans.  This season more than ever before, SW corner fans join in the singing and have often started chants - including the excellent “south stand, south stand start a song”!  Get on the ticket website early when it opens for general sale and you’ll have a good chance.

Absolutely. I’m 59 (today) and was lucky enough to witness from 1969 onwards. As I’ve told my sons, wring every ounce of celebration because success is rare in football. It’s just that we had a glut of it in the 1970’s. So, celebrate hard when it comes @DarkFruitsRam7. 

As I woke up tired and hungover this morning, I had a thought. While it's always great hearing stories about the glory days of the 70s, the iconic 80s and the fun 90s, there's a whole generation of Derby fans who have only ever known disappointment. I myself had my first season ticket in the 2006/07 Billy Davies season, but I was too young to properly appreciate it.
Since then, it's been a mix of hope, heartbreak and 'nearly' moments. Our generation of supporters have witnessed other clubs' fans celebrating siuccess (sometimes at our expense), but we find it difficult to fathom what it would actually feel like for Derby to ever get over the line.
Yesterday, as I walked back back to the bus with my arm round my mate's shoulder, belting Derby songs at the top of our voices, I had the first taste of what it might feel like to experience success as a Derby fan. This morning, I started making preparations for post-game jaegerbombs and cigars next weekend. And thinking about how I'll be raising a glass to the lad that we all miss. 
We're not over the line yet. But I'm well into dreaming territory. And for us fans who aren't old enough to know glory, it's going to be oh so sweet.
Up the Rams.

Nord airways flight set to depart. 

Cheering on the Rams from pitchside. 
I can't believe you let a birthday get in the way of our most exciting close to a season in years. B4 would be ashamed of you! 😂
Happy birthday for tomorrow. 🎉

For me, if your behaviour has a negative impact on others, that's where I have a problem.
If you want to stick a few lines of coke cut down with aerial non bio up your nose, risk a stadium ban, arrest and all the consequences that come with that, go for it, just don't be a knob to others whilst your ego has been artificially inflated for a brief period of time.
If you want to go punch someone after the game because they are from a different city and wear a different shirt, go for it, just find likeminded individuals and do it away from others where women and young fans are innocently just trying to get home after the football match.
Install big cages, load it with weapons and have fans sign waivers before entering, no use of medical services allowed and the coroner will come collect any bodies in the morning.
It's when that behaviour impacts others, reading situations from fans on this forum, especially older fans that have had dealings with other fans at away games really annoys me. 
Be it alcohol or drugs, if you can't control yourself then you should be in therapy, not a football stadium.

Cambridge Blue is the best pub in Cambridge. Great beer garden, beer and food.
I'm not sure if they serve whatever monstrosity you drink these days.

Hello again,
I had a great afternoon yesterday at Pride Park, obviously helped by the outcome. Absolutely brilliant support, underlined by the fact that a Premier League fixture down the road had a lower attendance, even with the decent following that the West Midlands sent over. Decent noise throughout the game too, Pride Park seems to work well with the crowd sound and atmosphere - some of the new stadiums get this wrong. I don't think anybody has managed to emulate atmosphere from the old stadiums that were touched by the hand of Archibald Leitch but Pride Park certainly has most of it and, of course, the people component. 
As for the game, it seemed to me that there looked to be a division between the two sides. I felt that the club, city and fan base seemed to be out of place at L1 level. 
Back soon.

Think Portsmouth and Derby going up is the best result judging the season as a whole. Both too big for this league anymore. Hopefully the draw we gave Bolton today (tbh they could be right to feel bad not to take all three points) will be enough to get you guys over the line. 
 
Good result for you guys. Hopefully see you in the championship next season. 

*scraves
B4 would be mortified at that spelling 😋

I miss chatting to Dan at away games and think of him often. He would be loving this run in, no wobbles for him! We'd discuss tactics in the concourse pre-game, how many we'll win by and possible goalscorers over a cuppa (me) and a pie and a pint (Dan) with much enthusiasm. 
I take my photocard of Daniel to every game, and feel he is still with us, willing us on. 
#bemoreB4

I was at Pompey the other night. Still buzzing from it; pure theatre. My lasting memory though will be the support in the Away end. Got to my seat 10 minutes pre-ko & the Rams were in full voice with a new song that was mesmerising & unusually had zero references to penises. The singing never stopped for the 98 minute duration and it was at times transcendental. Or summat. Made me feel very proud of Derbyshire. Hope we can keep that up in the last 4 fixtures. We really need those flanges…almost like @B4ev6is is conducting events - because it’ll be a fantastic day if we do the …<fill in the blanks>. 

Nice and annoying to be proved right. At least one of your goals was result of LB going awol.
Told you! I also said one of main strengths was character.....not giving up. Few would have
predicted Moxon would smash ball in from 25 yards...not sure who was most surprised..him,
his team mates or the crowd. A long range shot into Fratton End goal is always cause for mad
partying..as long as it's Pompey who score.
Impressed with Derby generally and your support was great. 2-2 was fair although you guys were
probably annoyed at dropping 2 points.....was fine with us...another game ticked off list.
Good luck Rams...hope we go up together and.....one more message:
Hello Richard Haines.....Derby fan and dad...also my son. Love ya.

Probably the best away support I’ve seen at Fratton park this season. Draw was probably a fair result and I’d have taken that if you offered it to me before the game.
 
Safe journey back gents if you’re heading back tonight. I have a four hour plus drive to Norfolk now 🤣🙊. 

Just landed back in Leeds thoughts - overall, really pleased with that point & an enjoyable away day even if it absolutely hammered it down throughout. Obviously would've liked us to have held onto the lead but that was a big dog contest in front of one of the most vociferous home crowds in the country in atrocious conditions. It was vital we didn't get beat - mission accomplished & our destiny is in our own hands which with only 4 games to go, is a fantastic place to be.
Was impressed with how we handled the conditions & after a ropey first 10 mins, we definitely adapted better than Pompey - shifting the ball with purpose & seemed to relish the physical nature of the contest. It felt like a breakthrough game for Blackett-Taylor - he was electric at times & Pompey struggled to keep him under control. Obviously his run led to the first goal but he made a couple of breaks second half which nearly yielded a breakthrough, one of which needed excellent speed & control to retrieve an overhit ball from Wilson(?). Liked him rousing the away fans too & he deservedly got a rapturous ovation as he walked past the away end after being subbed. Same could said of Joe Ward too, another lad with serious potential & last night he stepped up with one great finish & one great hit that got the luck it deserved. The conditions screamed out for potshots at goal & Ward was intelligent & gifted enough to capitalise.
If I'm being ultra-critical, I thought Collins was on the field maybe 10 mins longer than he should've been - the lad had run himself into the ground but overall a pleasing pragmatic performance by management & team. Also bit confused by criticism of Mendez-Laing - he's coming off a recent injury, has had a long season & was always going to find it difficult on a pitch like that. I really like him & CBT as twin options - Pompey struggled with our counter attacking threat & I'm confident our remaining 4 opponents will do too.
Thought our away support was excellent - certainly made plenty of racket throughout & traded well with an excellent home support. Am pleased for Pompey finally going up after so many years in the bottom 2 divisions & whilst Fratton Park has its limitations, its a true football theatre with all the magic of a big game under the lights that you'd want.
A much needed 8 day break before we face the Waitrose parasites. Come on Derby 💪🐏

We’re on our way, we’re on our way…

Hi Rams fans,
Have been following your forum for a wee while and thought I'd stick my nose in.
Registering took a while but I got there in the end, so.
To quote Neil Young, 'Tonight's The Night'. I guess tonight's game isn't pivotal, but things might be a little clearer..
Last night's results didn't help either of our clubs, in the end it's in our own hands.
Main reason for joining Rams board is the family split that exists....I am Pompey, my son is Derby., He and I have had
little contact due to past ructions between his mum and I...Last time I saw him he was a part time Celtic fan. (He was
born in Scotland, where I lived and was married for some 20 years. I took him to see a couple of Pompey games but
he wasn't impressed, took him to my school where I was a goalie...unimpressed. It was only when my ex remarried that
the Rams bug seemed to bite. Dunno if picture will show on this thread.
Tonight will be interesting, even if it's a dull game. A draw would suit us fine and I have to say that our final games fill
me with some dread. We had a 'blip' earlier in the season and recovered. This time, any blip will not be recoverable.
I have followed Pompey for over 55 years (youngsters refuse to believe me when I tell them we have an innate ability
to mess up just as we're about to cross finishing line. (I guess this is what attracted me to Hearts when in Edinburgh,
very similar ground, fan base and fatal flaws!) How you can beat us....classified I'm afraid but we have some very obvious 
weaknesses you can exploit. Don't go into game looking for a point, teams that have done well at Fratton have come out
and taken game to us.
Why are we top of the league? Many fans mutter 'They're nothing special..have seen much better' These fans are often right.
Many of our performances have been sub-optimal BUT the one aspect that has run through most games is a newfound
belief that, even if we o 0-2 down, the situation is recoverable. Games last 95 minutes or so these days...we manage to keep
believing the situation is retrievable. It's this that has sent us to the top...plus a pretty stingy defence, a creative midfield
and strikers who, on their day can tear any League One side to shreds. Last game against Wycombe their left back wanted
to go off suffering from 'twisted blood'. (Gag borrowed from Man Utd, George Best joke.) On their day, Kamara and Yengi,
supported by Bishop and Saydee are a real handful.
Lat night's results went pretty much according to form but previous games have shown all the maths and super computers
in the world simply cannot predict what will actually happen.
I hope you guys go up....Derby are a 'proper' club, part of the game's history BUT...so are we. Nobody has a divine right to be
'top of the tree'.....Anyone else remember the hushed tones from tv pundits when the mighty Man Utd were relegated?
It was as if there had been a death in the family.
Treat both success and failure as imposters....keep supporting your club. Good luck to all Rams making the journey down..
I see a few travelled down over the weekend and have already sampled some of our local beers.
All the best Rams...., Nick 
 
 

We’re on our wayyyyy, we’re on our way…

All going enjoy, and get behind the team, they need us every game now, if we turn up play our game, we will win,  I wil be watching this on Rams tv, as I could not get a ticket, think our wide players will be key in this one. Once A Ram Always A Ram. 

Can't believe it's ten years!