WharfedaleRam

Am I the only one on here that really wouldn't mind if Forest win and actually go up at Bournemouth's expense?! We'll have no rivalry with them next season and we can both meet again in the Championship in August 23! 

Superb Sir! A very professionally presented, and beautiful piece, and emotionally moving when you know the treatment of our respective clubs by previous owners and the suits at the EFL. I was at the game and it will forever live in my memory as the model, the example of what football can be and how it brings together people in friendly rivalry. The atmosphere created by both sets of fans was goose-bumpling for 90 minutes. The friendly banter brought both smiles and a tear to my eyes and I know I wasn't alone in that. It was a celebration of what's good in football and why we do it, even in the face of extreme frustration caused by those who are supposed to know how to administer and run the game. Your piece captures all that so well. Thank you @LeeCharlesTV; I hope our feedback encourages you to share this around the wider football family. It will plant the key messages that you are conveying into the minds of fellow football fans and Clubs - laugh at clubs in peril at your own peril because what comes around goes around - and also that great connections can be made between clubs who support one another when the chips are down. All the very best to you and Blackpool FC for next season. I hope we meet again soon and not in league 1.      

F#CK THE EFL, DERBY & BLACKPOOL FANS CHANT TOGETHER TO SHOW WHAT FOOTBALL MEANS TO FANS  PLEASE SHARE
Hi everyone,
Blackpool fan here in peace and respect many of you will probably already have seen my video already but if you haven't I hope you do watch it.
You guys were absolutely unbelievable on Saturday and it was emotional to see you the true fans who partied and sang no matter what after all you have been through this season it was heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure.
Even though we wanted to win to stay above Preston not one Blackpool fan would deny you the WIN. Absolutely amazing support it was a very special day
I think this is the most important video that I have ever made. Blackpool fans suffered for years at the hands of disgraceful owners and the EFL stood by and did absolutely nothing! Derby County fans came to Blackpool and stood side by side with Blackpool fans durung their prematch demonstration against the disgraced Oyston Family who were found guilty of misappropriating the clubs funds and forced to pay around £34M to minority shareholder Valeri Belokon.
Blackpool fans have never forgotten what Derby fans did and yesterday was our chance to show our support for the way Derby County fans have been treated this season. Derby came to Blackpool to party and we joined in. 
This was a game that was bigger than football it was a statement to say Football without it's fans is nothing, the EFL fit and proper person test is a disgrace they approve these rogue owners and when they go rogue they punish the fans with points deductions the whole thing is wrong!
My hope is that this video gets shared to as many football fans as possible, doesn't matter which club, doesn't matter where in the world, just show it and let's make the people that run football realise that FOOTBALL WITHOUT FANS IS NOTHING
#ONEFOOTBALLFAMILY
Please feel free to share this and help me get this message out and let people see what Derby County means to you the fans your football world has been torn apart this season and did any of you do anything wrong? No you support your club just like every other true fan and you get punished because of the EFL approving an owner that has ruined everything for you! It's WRONG!!
Who knows which set of fans will suffer next?
Link to watch:
https://youtu.be/--G6PX6aEXA

Well that was the best away day I've ever been on. Absolutely brilliant! Didn't leave Derby till 10.00 am because of duties elsewhere, and landed on holiday at 1.00pm, met up with my middle son and his mates outside The Castle. "Don't go in there" they said - the dj was positioned opposite the front door, taking the rip out of any Derby fan walking in, and he was merciless - unless you laughed at him, then he didn't know what to do next apart from pick on someone else. So at least 1 - 0 to Derby and we hadn't kicked off yet! Well done to James and his mates! So a swift pint on the pier and off to the ground.
What was weird was the joy of marching with thousands of our fans to the far turnstile, fighting our way through thousands of our fans going the other way! And then the portaloos! There were less than 20 portaloos for 4,000 fans. Come on Blackpool - that's taking the p*#ss too literally. Me and my entourage decided to wait until the match had started, and went down shortly after the first bounce, which if course was a very risky thing to do. The bounce, that is!
Blackpool worked very hard indeed, and were pressing and closing down all over the pitch, and edged things in the first half, although we had may be the better of the chances. And that peno - as soon as the ball broke into the box I knew what was going to happen - and that was before I saw it was Festy going in for the challenge. Rather clumsy, my boy! No wonder you hugged Roos after the save! I  was critical of him because he didn't seem to want to take his man on and get the afterburners lit up, but in hindsight that was because there were always three men  on him, all lined up so if he beat one man, another would pick him off. He didn't stop trying though, and got some good tackles in despite his penalty challenge.
We weren't quite up to Blackpool's level of tenacity, but thought that Plange was our most effective player, especially in the first half. As often happens, the introduction of Sibley changed things up because we now had someone who would go at the opposition given the chance. The debate about him rages on, but if he was given more than just the occasional bit part, and in the wrong position, maybe we would see a different Sibley. He worried and disturbed their defence for the first goal, and had another shot go close, and suddenly we had stemmed the flow, because Blackpool were still edging it. 
As is my want I was concerned that the ref might throw the match again, but his main weakness today was not keeping control of Blackpool's physicality, and missing/ignoring at least 4 blatant handballs right in front of him. And when you give the green light to the rough side of the beautiful game, it does, and did get dirty. And when Malcolm's shorts end up halfway down his thighs with no free kick given, you know the ref is having another bad one.
The banter between the fans was brilliant, with the "Jump Around" being a tremendous load of fun, and the player's response to the fans at the end was probably the best they have done this season, with good reason. Well Done You Fans!
One slight concern was Rooney, delighted for our first goal, saying "It was great for Malcolm to get off the mark. There's only one match to go, but he will score many more in his career". Was he talking about the season coming to an end, or Ebiowe's time with Derby coming to an end?
I don't know, but this has been one hell of a season.
What a team, what a manager, what an assistant manager, what a set of fans! And what a time to be a Ram!!!

Agreed, Would have preferred Bernard Manning.

WTF would you dress up as Chubby Brown, I guess it's reassuring to know we have dick heads among our fans as well....

Gotta say, we had a wonderful day out* for my/our first Rams away trip for a good while...
Early rise, away on time (That's a first for Muckerette, I hasten to add), and pulled up on our pre-booked rent-a-drive in the shadow of The Big One, bang on 10am.
Colours on full show, we took in a leisurely arm-in-arm promenade along the...erm... well, promenade, and feasted on Breakfast Baps (They're just cobs really, but with a fancy name!) and coffee, back-street side, before re-emerging seafront'ards and eventually joining the jet-set by about 12:30 at a hotel make-believe patio just a few yards down from The Manchester.  Sat in glorious sunshine, surrounded by the less energetic Rams (so, perfect company, I hasten to add v2!) supping a well deserved pint... a full one, I hasten to add v.3! ?
Arrived at the correct end of the ground(!) (How many didn't check their turnstile numbers on their tickets! Eh?  Own up!) around 14:25, horrified to see the extent of the turnstile queue!  Relief in the end however, as we reached our seats in good time, so a big up for the stewards.
From our vantage point towards the back of the nearest block to their North Stand, we fully witnessed (and appreciated) the camaraderie throughout the match, so another big up to both sets of fans.  The two way banter and respect, was a delight.
Portaloos at our end though... a bit tin pot that, in 2022!  (I can only assume they had proper ceramics for the Southern end of the away stand? ?‍♂️)
Missed the peno incident (See previous comment re portaloos!) but heard the obvious crowd interaction, and returned in time to see the save.
And if it wasn't clearly evident before, I now officially have a boy-crush on young Master Cashin.  He gets immenserer with every game, and if that isn't a real word, then it should be... and Cashin should patent it!  
The bouncing was a joy, and gave a whole new found appreciation of going down!
Was in no rush to leave, and was kind of great (in a respectful way) to see our own post-whistle celebrations somewhat dampen the Homer's attempt at an end-of-season-on-pitch awards ceremony!
Yet another leisurely stroll around, before returning to the car, a drive along the coast over to Lytham, Fish & Chips in the car, by the Windmill, and a steady cruise home... BUMP... REWIND...

*As we literally unwrapped our supper in the car, looking out to sea, the 'phone rang.
90 year old (91 on Thursday) F-I-L had gone awol on his mob-scoot!  He's not been particularly well of late, and has spent the equivalent of 85% of his time in either The Derby Royal, or a Heanor Care home, since the week before Christmas!  It's been a stressful and tiring few months for us all, in all honesty!
He was eventually found safe-ish and well-ish around 19:30, by two strangers on his local park, who had the sense and decency to rifle his pockets, and start ringing contacts.  It was getting later and cooler, and he was a tad confused!  Local Family went to rescue him, and eventually made the decision to call an ambulance at around 8pm.  Upon being told help would be with him "in around 6 hours", they took it upon themselves to drag him home, to a little more comfort.
Meanwhile, we departed Lytham with haste, By-passed Derby, and headed straight to his Ilson home, arriving around 22:40.  The ambulance arrived swiftly at 06:05 this morning!  I nodded for maybe an hour on his sofa, which is the extent of my sleep since my alarm went off at 5am yesterday!
His stats weren't great, but neither was he about to keel over (yet!).  The medics would have much preferred to take him in... obvs... but for once (and totally out of character) he was adamant and insistent that he (understandably) disn't want to spend any more time in hospital... particularly as it's his birthday week... and he's already missed Xmas, New Year, and Easter due to being stuck in there with just Muckerette as his sole allowed official visitor! (Big up to covid regulations... still!)
I suspect he'll be sleeping in his fancy recliner chair for the foreseeable, as there ain't no way he's making it up them stairs for at least a day or two... at best!   
 
We, on the other hand, arrived home from Blackpool at around 08:30 this morning... 25.5 hours after setting off!
Long days, these away days.  We may not be making a habit of them, despite the joy they can bring!
 
Regards,
The Derby Muckers
(Not to be confused with the Blackpool Muckers, who were... and may even still be?... very, very naughty people!)
?
 
 

If we copy and print this onto a bit of decent card, we could have 10000 Rams at the game by 3pm!!

If we copy and print this onto a bit of decent card, we could have 10000 Rams at the game by 3pm!!

If we copy and print this onto a bit of decent card, we could have 10000 Rams at the game by 3pm!!

If we copy and print this onto a bit of decent card, we could have 10000 Rams at the game by 3pm!!

A/  I have not been a big quaffer of ale since I wisely stopped trying to keep up with the big boys, c.40 years ago!  Preferring spirits.
B/  I am driving there and back on the day, which I'd hope needs no further explanation nor defence!
C/  I may add a large slug of Baileys in my Cocoa, once I'm home safe and sound in my slippers (depending on result/mood etc.)
D/  Mind yer own business!   
 
The above are posted in no particular order, despite appearances.
???

Tactics are vital for this one, if we are to return home with a smile.
 
I reckon the 3-2-1-4 formation will work best...
3 do-nuts on arrival
2 halves at lunchtime
1 half after the game
4 wee stops on the way home!
 

Last away game of the season... first for a few years, for this particular half-fan!
Alas, Old Mother Lardy has not only started singing, but she's finished her rendition of Don't stop believin', thrown down her mic, and stormed off stage!  Mardy Lardy!
But that's no excuse to suddenly draw the stage curtains closed, switch off the lights, take down the disco-ball, and remove that oh-so-tight sparkly party dress!
The party continues... Long into the night!  
A celebration of the fight, the spirit, and the dedication shown by each and every one of our players, coaching team, and all those behind the scenes.
A time to stand together, with pride, as we once again belt out our own "Fight Song", and take a bow in homage to those that have travelled the length and breadth of the country all season, with gusto, unending faith, and constant fortissimo, despite the shackles that have continuously restrained, and the tortuous sniggers that have occasionally riled.
We'll save the last dance until next week of course, but for Saturday, we party hard.  We party loud.  We party proud. 
Let it be others that rue our upcoming departure.  Let us wave a cheery "Duck You!" as we divert past the "Preston Gentlemens Club" on our way home for one last time.  Let us leave with heads held high, not with our backsides sat on high horses!
 
Oh yeah... something, something football too... something team selection, something tic-tacs, something, something whatever, etc, etc.
 
??
    

I’d much rather a public apology from the EFL for their venal, self interested failure to run a fair competition. In addition For their complete and utter lack of  understanding of sportsmanship, ethics , even handed neutrality, integrity and common decency. 

I was no Rooney fan when he became manager, really struggled with what we produced last season and felt that he got the job based on an owner who was checked out and needed the PR boost to sell the club. The whole thing stunk and before the season I had us down, that's prior to the knowledge of any point deductions or transfer embargos and everything else we've suffered. 
I would've been wrong, even with the transfer embargo, plus his conduct has been nothing but exceptional. He's brought players on, development players at an extremely high rate and managed to build an environment for players to develop correctly in an environment no player should ever have to play in. I don't think you can give him enough credit for that, honestly, especially when you look at the squad we have. 
Now, providing a takeover happens, I only want him here if we are giving him the tools to succeed. If we aren't in a position to do that then I hope he finds a good job for him to thrive. He's earned that much. 
Regardless of what happens, I just wish him well. I'd love to see him go to the very top!

For a club that has ended up in this position through the shameful and cowardly actions of a select few, the pride and courage shown in response has been extraordinary.
I don’t ever remember a club get relegated and receive a reaction quite like this. Despite everything we have been through over recent years, and however close we have been to success, it’s at our lowest point that we are the most together. For that reason, I’m confident that it won’t be too long before we come charging back.

And so we got what we 'deserved' in the eyes of a lot of our so-called 'rival' clubs. To me it is now going to be a time for reflection. Fantastic home games, drab 1 0 losses away from home. This last season has been so memorable in so many ways. But what comes out of all this is a 'unity' which,quite frankly, i am so proud to be a part of. The EFL tried to break us, Gobson and that Wycombe owner tried, but they haven't suceeded. The management,players and fans have been galvanised in such a way i really hope this continues into next season. Goodbye Championship, it was good while it lasted. We will be back stronger than ever in 2023. And to the complete toerags of other clubs who are currently revelling in our demise - you could very well be next! And a last thought to the EFL- if it wasn't for us being formed in 1884 with another 11 clubs you may never have existed!!!! I hope in the very near future you don't exist at all! UTR!

EFL instructions getting through to the ref early at Reading!

0-2 now. Gibbo your boys are taking one hell of a beating.

No. 
Imagine a normal relegation - the fans would be irritated, the players shells of themselves, the club in doldrums.
Last night was about - Pride.  
In the manager, who was the only one there for us in our darkest hours, in the squad, who didn’t give up and are fighting until the end.  In the fans, who are unified like rarely before .. and just maybe, in a new owner who saw what he might be buying!

Unreal. That must be enough encouragement for CK to get it done ASAP

That ref was desperate for Fulham to win it, Jobi Mcanuff had to severely backtrack after claiming Fulham would come and steamroller over us. 
Sky, the ref and the EFL we’re utterly desperate to see Fulham celebrating promotion on our pitch tonight. . . 
duck you, sincerely from all at Derby County. Hope your journey back is a ******* miserable one!

I think there’s a lot of scepticism following MM, and justifiably so.  He was the dream owner - local boy done good invests in his boyhood team.  What could possibly go wrong??!!
Likewise, I don’t meannyou but it could by any PB and there’ll be criticism from some quarters.  If it was Appleby some would say we were too frugal last time, lacked ambition, etc. (personally I think that was right and we had a well run club).  If it was Ashley others would say haven’t we listened to the Newcastle fans, look how he runs his business/treats his employers.  And we’ve seen the criticism of CK and he hasn’t even been a week since he was announced.
We have someone who’s prepared to save us and invest in what is a mess left behind by MM.  Wayne likes him, he’s got good footballing people behind him.  Garry Cook hasn’t just joined up with him in the last couple of weeks, he’s been there throughout.  He’s obviously had a plan to invest in a football club for some time and, by his own admission, has looked at a few options.  We’re not in a position to be choosy, so for now, until we know more let’s get behind him!!