HuddersRam

Hey all,
As some might know, I've put together a couple of books about Derby in the past couple of years, in Pride and Groundwork. Okay, that's the awkward bit out the way.
Just piping up as it might be of interest to some, Derby Book Festival are running a series of talks over the course of this month, and a bit alarmingly they've asked me to do one. But essentially, I wanted to make it more interesting to Derby fans and so I'm pretty excited to say that I've got a couple of very prestigious guests to join me up on stage.
Commentary titan Graham Richards will be making what I think is his first live Q&A appearance since his BBC Radio Derby days, alongside another Derby media giant in the form of Colin Gibson. It should be a really nice nostalgia trip of an evening, going primarily through the Jim Smith years but also delving back to Graham and Colin's time under, well, an absolute host of managers through the years. Had a chat with Graham last week on it, and he's still in absolute top form. There may also be a couple of surprise guests as well from life on the BBG pitch, but I'm just waiting to confirm on those. 
In case it's of interest, tickets and info about the evening on 30th November can be found: bit.ly/3UdV76h.
There'll also be a few of the aforementioned books around as well to buy/steal (there won't be security on the doors tbf), so you can probably get Graham to sign them and give them out as Christmas presents. There's also free parking. Might also be beer as well. Have I sold it yet? Any questions just let me know, but hopefully it should be a good evening!

Hey all,
As some might know, I've put together a couple of books about Derby in the past couple of years, in Pride and Groundwork. Okay, that's the awkward bit out the way.
Just piping up as it might be of interest to some, Derby Book Festival are running a series of talks over the course of this month, and a bit alarmingly they've asked me to do one. But essentially, I wanted to make it more interesting to Derby fans and so I'm pretty excited to say that I've got a couple of very prestigious guests to join me up on stage.
Commentary titan Graham Richards will be making what I think is his first live Q&A appearance since his BBC Radio Derby days, alongside another Derby media giant in the form of Colin Gibson. It should be a really nice nostalgia trip of an evening, going primarily through the Jim Smith years but also delving back to Graham and Colin's time under, well, an absolute host of managers through the years. Had a chat with Graham last week on it, and he's still in absolute top form. There may also be a couple of surprise guests as well from life on the BBG pitch, but I'm just waiting to confirm on those. 
In case it's of interest, tickets and info about the evening on 30th November can be found: bit.ly/3UdV76h.
There'll also be a few of the aforementioned books around as well to buy/steal (there won't be security on the doors tbf), so you can probably get Graham to sign them and give them out as Christmas presents. There's also free parking. Might also be beer as well. Have I sold it yet? Any questions just let me know, but hopefully it should be a good evening!

Hey all,
As some might know, I've put together a couple of books about Derby in the past couple of years, in Pride and Groundwork. Okay, that's the awkward bit out the way.
Just piping up as it might be of interest to some, Derby Book Festival are running a series of talks over the course of this month, and a bit alarmingly they've asked me to do one. But essentially, I wanted to make it more interesting to Derby fans and so I'm pretty excited to say that I've got a couple of very prestigious guests to join me up on stage.
Commentary titan Graham Richards will be making what I think is his first live Q&A appearance since his BBC Radio Derby days, alongside another Derby media giant in the form of Colin Gibson. It should be a really nice nostalgia trip of an evening, going primarily through the Jim Smith years but also delving back to Graham and Colin's time under, well, an absolute host of managers through the years. Had a chat with Graham last week on it, and he's still in absolute top form. There may also be a couple of surprise guests as well from life on the BBG pitch, but I'm just waiting to confirm on those. 
In case it's of interest, tickets and info about the evening on 30th November can be found: bit.ly/3UdV76h.
There'll also be a few of the aforementioned books around as well to buy/steal (there won't be security on the doors tbf), so you can probably get Graham to sign them and give them out as Christmas presents. There's also free parking. Might also be beer as well. Have I sold it yet? Any questions just let me know, but hopefully it should be a good evening!

Hey all,
As some might know, I've put together a couple of books about Derby in the past couple of years, in Pride and Groundwork. Okay, that's the awkward bit out the way.
Just piping up as it might be of interest to some, Derby Book Festival are running a series of talks over the course of this month, and a bit alarmingly they've asked me to do one. But essentially, I wanted to make it more interesting to Derby fans and so I'm pretty excited to say that I've got a couple of very prestigious guests to join me up on stage.
Commentary titan Graham Richards will be making what I think is his first live Q&A appearance since his BBC Radio Derby days, alongside another Derby media giant in the form of Colin Gibson. It should be a really nice nostalgia trip of an evening, going primarily through the Jim Smith years but also delving back to Graham and Colin's time under, well, an absolute host of managers through the years. Had a chat with Graham last week on it, and he's still in absolute top form. There may also be a couple of surprise guests as well from life on the BBG pitch, but I'm just waiting to confirm on those. 
In case it's of interest, tickets and info about the evening on 30th November can be found: bit.ly/3UdV76h.
There'll also be a few of the aforementioned books around as well to buy/steal (there won't be security on the doors tbf), so you can probably get Graham to sign them and give them out as Christmas presents. There's also free parking. Might also be beer as well. Have I sold it yet? Any questions just let me know, but hopefully it should be a good evening!

Hey all,
As some might know, I've put together a couple of books about Derby in the past couple of years, in Pride and Groundwork. Okay, that's the awkward bit out the way.
Just piping up as it might be of interest to some, Derby Book Festival are running a series of talks over the course of this month, and a bit alarmingly they've asked me to do one. But essentially, I wanted to make it more interesting to Derby fans and so I'm pretty excited to say that I've got a couple of very prestigious guests to join me up on stage.
Commentary titan Graham Richards will be making what I think is his first live Q&A appearance since his BBC Radio Derby days, alongside another Derby media giant in the form of Colin Gibson. It should be a really nice nostalgia trip of an evening, going primarily through the Jim Smith years but also delving back to Graham and Colin's time under, well, an absolute host of managers through the years. Had a chat with Graham last week on it, and he's still in absolute top form. There may also be a couple of surprise guests as well from life on the BBG pitch, but I'm just waiting to confirm on those. 
In case it's of interest, tickets and info about the evening on 30th November can be found: bit.ly/3UdV76h.
There'll also be a few of the aforementioned books around as well to buy/steal (there won't be security on the doors tbf), so you can probably get Graham to sign them and give them out as Christmas presents. There's also free parking. Might also be beer as well. Have I sold it yet? Any questions just let me know, but hopefully it should be a good evening!

Hey all,
As some might know, I've put together a couple of books about Derby in the past couple of years, in Pride and Groundwork. Okay, that's the awkward bit out the way.
Just piping up as it might be of interest to some, Derby Book Festival are running a series of talks over the course of this month, and a bit alarmingly they've asked me to do one. But essentially, I wanted to make it more interesting to Derby fans and so I'm pretty excited to say that I've got a couple of very prestigious guests to join me up on stage.
Commentary titan Graham Richards will be making what I think is his first live Q&A appearance since his BBC Radio Derby days, alongside another Derby media giant in the form of Colin Gibson. It should be a really nice nostalgia trip of an evening, going primarily through the Jim Smith years but also delving back to Graham and Colin's time under, well, an absolute host of managers through the years. Had a chat with Graham last week on it, and he's still in absolute top form. There may also be a couple of surprise guests as well from life on the BBG pitch, but I'm just waiting to confirm on those. 
In case it's of interest, tickets and info about the evening on 30th November can be found: bit.ly/3UdV76h.
There'll also be a few of the aforementioned books around as well to buy/steal (there won't be security on the doors tbf), so you can probably get Graham to sign them and give them out as Christmas presents. There's also free parking. Might also be beer as well. Have I sold it yet? Any questions just let me know, but hopefully it should be a good evening!

As you may have heard on Saturday on Radio Derby, Tony Bentley had his last game as Burton summariser - according to him on Twitter it was down to new BBC policy. Steve Jordan who presents the weekend shows also suddenly left his role over the weekend. Then today, @Owen87ITK tweeted his sorrow to his BBC local radio friends on today's news. Basically all the different counties stations are having to merge for most programmes. Radio Derby's Sport at Six/Sportscene will be going with the cuts, to be replaced with a joint Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Lincolnshire programme. This is also happening with the non sport weekend shows, afternoon shows with the night shows being totally replaced with one national show. Rest in peace regional radio, what a loss this is. I really feel for everyone affected, especially the likes of Dominic Dietrich who's only just started with Radio Derby.
https://radiotoday.co.uk/2022/10/major-cuts-in-jobs-and-local-shows-planned-for-local-bbc-radio/

Great read and great insight into the behind the scenes activities going on under Jim Smith's reign and how Derby were at the forefront of new technology and coaching methods. Like Pride it's a book that I can relate to from the very first page having witnessed the playing side at least. Some great memories relived and some not so great brought back but within all that is the warmth and affection Jim was held in by all that contributed.
Just buy it.

It took a while but we got there with it! If anybody is extremely bored this Sunday, the club have asked me to come in for a signing session thing at the store from 1-2 (nope, me neither). I don't mean to beg, but I have visions of the below, so if you do have zero plans, please come along. I'll pay. 

Great to see the book in the club shop at last, bought a copy before the game yesterday and am now nearly half way through it. A lot of interesting stories from a great time in our recent history.

Apologies for not responding sooner! Looking it seems that it only feeds through to a Kindle version at the moment, so I'm not sure if it's on other e-book platforms...hopefully so though!

Who knows what's next; we'll see how this one goes down first! On the subject of that - if you are reading/have read it, I hope you're enjoying! 

Pride was great and I Just ordered this - really looking forward to it. Arthur Cox era next? That was my favourite time as a Rams fan. Could be a good book. The few years before would be interesting also, though for different reasons!

I will be adding more to this over the next few days but today we were very proud to unveil the lasting memory to Reg, it is now situated in the reception at pride park, we rethought the logic, the bronze bust will be placed there and a replica will also be installed at Field Land FC in Alvaston.
we are really proud to have got this over the line, planning permission and Covid 19 delayed matters but it is now in situ and for all to see.

Congratulations on the new book Ryan , its top of my xmas list, cant wait to read it

It will be, I've just not been home since it came out so not had a chance to order any yet! If you wanted one sooner though, Amazon or Waterstones is probably your best bet as there's another delay getting it into the club shop shop apparently

That's Sunday sorted. In bed with @HuddersRam

Hey everybody, just intruding to say that Groundwork is out now!
Was lucky to have some crazy support by the club in these past couple of weeks across the website and RamsTV, and it will be available in the Megastore early next week as well if it's of interest. But yeah - if you grab a copy, I hope you enjoy it! I loved working on this one, probably more than Pride, so hopefully the range of interviewees and behind the scenes bits do the Jim Smith years justice.
https://www.facebook.com/dcfcofficial/videos/739734390414440

Morning squad. I've been radio silence on here the last few months for two reasons:
I can't add anything on the situation between just sorrow I've been working on something new For those who don't know and for those who don't care (understandable, no complaints from me) I produced a book called Pride in 2020, which went into the last 20 or so years of the club. That was nice, but the issue is that for those 20 years we were pretty awful. So I wanted to work on something new and a bit more feel good. And so...
I'm really, really pleased to say that my next book will go live in Autumn of this year and it's titled: Groundwork: The Inside Story Behind Jim Smith's Derby County. 
Just like Pride, it's told from the behind the scenes perspective of those incredible few years and includes insight from around 60 former players, coaches and staff members at the club. From Igor, Eranio and Sturridge, through to Steve's McClaren and Round, it delves into what made that time so special. But more than this it focuses on the work of Jim as a manager and crucially, as a man. I've spoken with the creators of Prozone, the first sports psychologist in British football, the first fitness coach in the game, to evaluate how pivotal Derby (yes, Derby) were in the evolution of football in this country. And there is also a section remembering Jim himself, including thoughts from his family, as well as close friends like Harry Redknapp and Howard Wilkinson. There's even a Graham Richards cameo or two. 
I know there's a lot of continuing nightmares around us at the minute, but hopefully this brings a bit of joy and memories of what this club can be. ?
 

Was waiting for it to appear in the club shop but I have relented and ordered it on Amazon to be delivered tomorrow, enjoyed pride so I’m sure I’ll enjoy this.

Got the book onTuesday and started it last night - already loving it.

I picked up GROUNDWORK and PRIDE. Started with the former but I’m thinking I should have done it the other way around as it’ll all end on a downer now! ??
3 or 4 chapters in, it’s a great read already, and very hard to put down once you’re into it ??

Hi everybody, happy t̶a̶k̶e̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶ Monday. 
I've been waiting for a while to get official confirmation, but just a heads up to say that Groundwork is looking like it will be set for publication on 1st August! Admittedly that is two months earlier than I thought so I am mid-panic, but it's fine. Going over old ground but basically, I put the Pride book together which came out in 2020, and as much as I enjoyed it, the twenty years it covered were pretty terrible to be a Rams fan. So this book takes in solely the Jim Smith years.
There's around 55 contributors in total ranging from Steve McClaren, Steve Round and Bill Beswick through to Igor, Eranio, Wanchope, Sturridge and more. There's also a specific section just on Jim with contributions from some of his family, Harry Redknapp and Howard Wilkinson, and a BBC Derby bonus chapter with Colin Gibson and Graham Richards reliving those years.
I've been lucky as well to be able to confirm in the last couple of days that McClaren and Igor are both providing forewords, which is a nice little bonus! Somehow it's about 120k words and 330 pages, so hopefully it's a decent comprehensive account of the time from those who lived it.
ANYWAY - I don't have info on the pre-order side of things yet besides Amazon (but I'd always recommend not to Amazon because they're doing okay for themselves) and will provide those once I do have the proper links and everything, as well as the actual correct price because I don't think it's as much as the one it says - hopefully. But yeah, that's it essentially. If anyone did read Pride and enjoyed it, I'd 100% say this is a better read. And if you read Pride and didn't enjoy it, that's okay too, I apologise profusely. If you didn't read Pride, that is fine for a third time. I'm on here daily but usually just lurk, so hopefully it doesn't look like I'm only jumping on to promote.  Generally I live in the past and the present just confuses me. 
 

Morning squad. I've been radio silence on here the last few months for two reasons:
I can't add anything on the situation between just sorrow I've been working on something new For those who don't know and for those who don't care (understandable, no complaints from me) I produced a book called Pride in 2020, which went into the last 20 or so years of the club. That was nice, but the issue is that for those 20 years we were pretty awful. So I wanted to work on something new and a bit more feel good. And so...
I'm really, really pleased to say that my next book will go live in Autumn of this year and it's titled: Groundwork: The Inside Story Behind Jim Smith's Derby County. 
Just like Pride, it's told from the behind the scenes perspective of those incredible few years and includes insight from around 60 former players, coaches and staff members at the club. From Igor, Eranio and Sturridge, through to Steve's McClaren and Round, it delves into what made that time so special. But more than this it focuses on the work of Jim as a manager and crucially, as a man. I've spoken with the creators of Prozone, the first sports psychologist in British football, the first fitness coach in the game, to evaluate how pivotal Derby (yes, Derby) were in the evolution of football in this country. And there is also a section remembering Jim himself, including thoughts from his family, as well as close friends like Harry Redknapp and Howard Wilkinson. There's even a Graham Richards cameo or two. 
I know there's a lot of continuing nightmares around us at the minute, but hopefully this brings a bit of joy and memories of what this club can be. ?
 

Hey everybody, just intruding to say that Groundwork is out now!
Was lucky to have some crazy support by the club in these past couple of weeks across the website and RamsTV, and it will be available in the Megastore early next week as well if it's of interest. But yeah - if you grab a copy, I hope you enjoy it! I loved working on this one, probably more than Pride, so hopefully the range of interviewees and behind the scenes bits do the Jim Smith years justice.
https://www.facebook.com/dcfcofficial/videos/739734390414440