leroyoftherovers

Matchday 25 – Saturday 8th January 1972 & a visit to The Dell, Southampton
The Saints started the day in 14th & firmly in midtable but had nicked a point off Derby back in August at the BBG. Happily, Derby’s poor away run was finally to end here with a 2-1 victory – with goals from John O’Hare & an Alan Durban injury time winner. Match report below;

 

 
Programme of the day from the South Coast;

 
Derby’s first away win since October kept them in 4th place but everyone above them dropped points - Leeds could only draw 2-2 at home with Ipswich & Man City were held to a 1-1 draw at Spurs. Man Utd’s poor form continued with a 1-3 home defeat to Wolves, their 5th game without a win & meant their advantage over Derby was cut to 2 points;

Tamworthram kind of agree with you he's been with us for a while now and has developed into a really tidy player, not saying he has no loyalty to the rams but he's a Man u fan and like others he will want to play at the highest level he can, just really hope that's with us.

Agreed. Last thing we need is injuries to key players. Perfect opportunity to give fringe players a game (Sibley) those needing fitness (Shinnie) and further blood a few more youngsters.(Cashin). 
Whilst we still have a chance we need to play every card carefully, rest the older players and not overwork the youngsters who have been amazing. 
Hopefully agaisnt Reading we can play the same team again, safe in the knowledge they get a rest after. Come quickly out the blocks against a rusty Reading, knowing our subs are in the groove too. Big game. 

Matchday 24 – 1st January 1972 & we started the year with Chelsea at the BBG
Chelsea went into the game in 10th place but only 3 points behind the Rams. After a spell of poor away form, a win was vital to keep pace with the title contenders & ahead of Chelsea and others in the chasing pack…
 
Archie Gemmill’s second half goal giving Derby a much-needed win. Colin Todd was also able to start his first game since breaking his nose at Anfield

 
Pre-match edition of The Ram was unsurprisingly very concerned about the recent poor away form & carried a front page interview with Brian Clough, expressing his annoyance at the physical & mental weakness of some of his players;

 
Derby’s win saw them move back up into 4th place ahead of Sheffield Utd, who were held at home by Leicester. Leeds continued their excellent form against the top 6 with a 0-2 away win at Anfield but the most surprising result was Man Utd getting beaten 3-0 at West Ham, meaning their advantage over Derby was cut to 4 points;

No way Sage, think he's the best of the young lads, have for a long while,just pointing out what he's previously said, I would be gutted to see him leave.

This man is a superstar 

Not sure it has been all that different in my lifetime - most clubs have operated at a loss most of the time.  Where it is different is in the size of the numbers, from players and staff wages to cost of running stadia and training facilities, from income to the cost of watching.
Where it is hugely different is the disparity between the top few clubs and the lower majority caused by the unequal distribution of (largely) TV money. That unequal distribution is what has ruined football and made it the unequal contest it currently is. 60 years ago it was a much more equal contest that allowed dreams to be realised.  Now it is biased against anyone from outside a select group wanting to break up the cartel.
And where it is even more different  is in the competence at world, european and country level of football administrators. The people of vision, leadership and love of the game have been replaced by incompetent money men full of self interest. So it ain't going to change any time soon.

Matchday 23 - Monday 27th December 1971 & Derby finished the year with a visit to Elland Road

Leeds started the day behind Derby on goal average but Don Revie's side had shown themselves to be particularly strong against the better sides in the division - beating Man Utd at Old Trafford & Man City comfortably at Elland Road in recent weeks. Sadly that knack & Derby's poor away form were to collide with Derby turning in their worst league defeat of the season. Match report below;

 
Derby's task wasn't made any easier with the continued absence of Colin Todd, still recovering from his broken nose at Anfield. He was replaced by Tony Bailey, who was not only making his first start of the season but unbelievably also his league debut in such a crucial game. He never played another league game for Derby.

 
An unusually generous programme from West Yorkshire with our team photo dominating their front page

 
Derby's heavy defeat saw them slip to 5th place behind Leeds & Sheffield Utd. Elsewhere Man City won 3-1 away at Stoke but Man Utd could only surprisingly draw at home with Coventry, meaning the gap to the Rams was now 6 points. Full league table going into 1972;

 

Matchday 22 – Saturday 18th December 1971 & the visit of Everton to the BBG
Everton started the day in a surprisingly lowly 15th spot given they’d won the League two years previously & still had quality like Alan Ball, Howard Kendall, Joe Royle & Henry Newton in their ranks. Derby had won 2-0 at Goodison in September though & Alan Hinton's brace meant history was to repeat itself in the return fixture. Match report below;


 
Front page of the Ram highlighted the recent poor away form & asked whether that was going to mean Derby slipping out of Championship contention;

 
Derby’s victory moved them back into 3rd place, above Leeds who could only draw 1-1 away at lowly Palace. Man Utd also dropped a point in a 0-0 draw away at Ipswich to see their advantage over the Rams cut to 5 points;

Matchday 21 – Saturday 11th December 1971 & another clash with a title rival, this time with a trip to Anfield
Liverpool lay in 6th place before the game, just 2 points behind the Rams but were an obvious title challenger given they’d finished in the top 5 for the previous 6 seasons. 44,601 turned up to Anfield to watch this one;
 
In another case of shoddy 70’s recording, John O’Hare’s first goal (equaliser on 42 mins to make it 1-1) wasn’t shown by the cameras but Jack Whitham’s full hat-trick was. This game also marked the first league appearance of the season for Jim Walker, as a half time sub for Colin Todd.

 
Programme of the day from Merseyside;

 
Derby’s defeat saw them slide to 4th place behind Man City (who beat Ipswich 4-0) & Leeds, who got a point away at Chelsea. Man Utd were held to a 1-1 draw away at Stoke but stretched their advantage over the Rams to 6 points;

Matchday 20 – Saturday 4th December 1971 & the visit of title rivals Man City to the BBG
City started the day in 2nd place, two points ahead of the Rams & so a win was essential to keep pace with both Manchester clubs;
 
Goals there from Hinton, Webster & Durban securing a vital win. City’s goal not shown in the clip was a Franny Lee penalty – something that I gather was a fairly common occurrence in the early 70s

 
Front page of the Ram reported that Derby were jetting off for a winter break in Greece shortly but without Brian Clough, who felt he needed a rest (and the players from him). We were also scheduled to have a friendly against Olympiakos, to be managed by Peter Taylor. Speaking of Taylor, his pre match column (also below) singing the praises of Sam Longson seems surprising in retrospect;


 
Derby’s win saw them move back into second place, ahead of City & Leeds on goal average. Man Utd beat the ever hapless Forest to stay 5 points clear of the Rams;

Probably the highlight of the game that. The youth showed more movement than the entire first half 11. 

Probably the highlight of the game that. The youth showed more movement than the entire first half 11. 

Matchday 19 – Saturday 27th November 1971 & a trip to Leeds Road, Huddersfield
Huddersfield started the day 5th from bottom but Derby were to record their first genuinely poor league result of the season here, losing 1-2 in front of 15,329 – our goal coming from John McGovern. Incredibly, this was the last league game Huddersfield won this season & they duly finished bottom the following May. Match report below;



 
Programme of the day from West Yorkshire;

 
A poor day was compounded by everyone else in the top 6 winning – Derby dropped to 3rd with only goal average keeping them ahead of Sheffield Utd (who beat Ipswich 7-0) & Leeds. Man Utd won again (5-2 at Southampton) to go 5 points clear of the Rams;

The equivalent would be if you'd racked up a load of debt by extravagant spending and had a large mortgage that you were struggling to afford to pay as it was, then you lost your job and it all went south. Now, some people do do that but you'd usually say they were irresponsible and shouldn't be so silly. But that's usually a private affair that the family may admonish the responsible party for, but the difference is Mel did this with an institution almost 140 years old, an institution vital to the lifeblood of the city that it resides in that have had generations contributing to and being a part of. It's nothing short of an absolute disgrace that it's led to all of this. 

Matchday 18 – Saturday 20th November 1971 & Sheffield Utd were the visitors to the BBG
The Blades had a fantastic start to the season as a newly promoted club & led the division until mid-October – an impact not unlike Derby’s first season back in 1969/70. Although they had slipped off the summit since then, they came into the game in 4th place & only behind the Rams on goal average..
 

 
Pre-match Cloughie column ignores the game & gives his views on Muhammad Ali (or Cassius Clay as he insists on calling him) & politics instead…

 
Derby’s win kept them in 2nd place, goal average keeping them ahead of Man City who won at West Ham. Man Utd won again also, beating Leicester to keep the gap over Derby to 3 points;

Matchday 17 – Saturday 13th November 1971 & a trip to Molineux, Wolverhampton
Wolves started the day in a modest 14th place but that was misleading given they’d finished 4th the previous season & were to finish this season as UEFA Cup finalists. They were also unbeaten at home still & so the trip looked a tough one for Derby….
 

 
Programme at Wolves primarily concerned with excitement at facing East German opposition in the UEFA Cup…

 
Despite their defeat, Derby managed to hang onto 2nd place by dint of a superior goal average over Man City & Sheffield Utd, both of whom won. Man Utd also won, beating Spurs 3-1 to go 3 points clear of the Rams;

Morrison slows the play down too often for my taste that yes gives him a high passing% but becomes detrimental to a team relying upon pace, power and movement for their goals i.e., swift passing and counter attacks. It looks nice I guess but to me it almost looks like he's in love with his passing ability and having the ball at his feet for too long by which time the move has all but broken down and the opposition has plugged the necessary gaps. 

Matchday 16 – Saturday 6th November 1971 & Crystal Palace were the visitors to the BBG
Palace had been promoted alongside Derby in 1969 but unlike Derby, had largely struggled since coming up & came into this match 2nd bottom. Derby duly dispatched them 3-0 in front of 30,380 – goals coming from Bell (own goal), Frank Wignall & Kevin Hector. Match report below;


 
Pre-match edition of The Ram focused on fans fighting on the pitch at the previous home game against Arsenal & threatened to use cameras to identify & blacklist the ‘hooligan kids’

 
Derby’s third consecutive win consolidated them in 2nd place. Elsewhere, the Manchester Derby at Maine Road finished 3-3 meaning Man Utd’s advantage over Derby at the top was cut to a single point;

A very nice older lady customer got her photo album out yesterday and it was full of interesting pictures.
Mostly Forest as her brother was a friend of Brian’s and apparently she had lots of items from Brian that he gave him.  I told her she was probably sitting on a fortune, but this picture took my eye.
Id imagine some may remember this flower arrangement in Darley Park. You can see a little platform they built in the foreground so you could view the display a little higher up.
Id have been 1 year old.

I thought Bird played well last night, some good forward passes. a rare bright spark…

The story continued, up to and including Blackburn Rovers  match..
 
Premiership
Premier ram    25
jimtastic56    24
ilsonram12    22
rynny    22
BodminRam    21
Parsnip    21
Woodley Ram    21
Asanovic70    20
r4derby    20
Kenavo    19
LeedsCityRam    19
Wolfie    19
Jase116    18
leroyoftherovers    18
rammieib    18
TheHospitalier    18
ColonelBlimp    17
DesertRam    17
REDCAR    17
Turk Thrust    17
 
Championship

AndyB    16
BOB BIGGS    16
Cisse    16
DCFC Kicks    16
samwcave    16
timlondinium    16
Dean (hick) Saunders    15
gccrowdpleaser    15
JMC    15
Rampant    15
California Ram.    14
dcfc the 1 4me    14
WharfedaleRam    14
chewbacca    13
Jimbo Ram    13
Mckram    13
mozza    13
ramant62    13
Rich84    13
SKHunter    13
TimRam    13
BramcoteRam84    12
CBRammette    12
europia    12
 
Div1

Fla Ram    12
kash_a_ram_a_ding_dong    12
Kinder    12
lukedcfc    12
taffyram    12
DCFC1388    11
JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta    11
Leeds Ram    11
Marriott Ram99    11
Mick Brolly    11
OohMartWright    11
RadioactiveWaste    11
Ram-a-lama fa fa fa    11
Rampage    11
Steve Buckley's Dog    11
Brammie Steve    10
dabber    10
Dethorn    10
Eargasm    10
86 Hair Islands    10
Kernow    10
Chris_Martin    9
hydraulic ram    9
Lurky    9
 
Div2

TexasRam    9
Wolfie20    9
Angry Ram    8
BarrowRam    8
Blondest Goat    8
CumbriaRam    8
devonram1980    8
hintonsboots    8
Jourdan    8
ramit    8
swansea ram    8
Ted McMinn Football Genius    8
Topram    8
angieram    7
BucksRam    7
harwich ram    7
Johnnyoj    7
Malty    7
StevenageRam    7
Amberram    6
Carnero    6
Elgin_Ram    6
JarodyDCFC    6
Makedoh    6
 
Div3

Saul    6
StarterForTen    6
Van der MoodHoover    6
WhiteHorseRam    6
BathRam72    5
BriggRam    5
Dinnitdough    5
LazloW    5
MidWalesRam    5
niram    5
Ramifications    5
Ramsamwidge    5
True Ram    5
Yani P    5
Dordogne-Ram    4
Eddie    4
HonitonRam    4
oohmarkwright    4
1967Ram    4
Remy the hare    4
Simmo's left foot    4
Steve How Hard?    4
atherstoneram    3
BrudeRAM    3
 
Div4

bucktwo    3
Charliegeorge1962    3
davenportram    3
DerbyRam!    3
Foreveram    3
Miggins    3
minesahartington    3
Penelope Pendrex    3
Reverend    3
RodleyRam    3
ScubaRam    3
StrawHillRam    3
Addingham Ram    2
Ambitious    2
BuckoBeast    2
Charlotte Ram    2
Crewton    2
cstand    2
EraniosSocks    2
Finch    2
FindernRam    2
G-Ram    2
Jayram    2
Joe     2
 
Div5

MickD    2
Mucker1884    2
PendineRam    2
Rab a dab doo    2
Seths-cap    2
Sheff Ram    2
Sweetness34    2
The Scarlet Pimpernel    2
Tyler Durden    2
Abu Derby    1
Animal is a Ram    1
B4ev6is    1
Bubbles    1
Chester40    1
DavesaRam    1
De22Ram    1
Donegal Ram    1
erathirea    1
Fraser_23    1
handyill    1
Hathersage Ram    1
irobinson    1
MackworthRamIsGod    1
Old Sawley Popside    1
 
Div6

RamDotFi    1
richinspain    1
Robert Earnshaws Workrate    1
sheeponacid    1
Simon Bradley    1
Sparkle    1
superzak    1
Theres's Only Wan Chope    1
uttoxram75    1
Wistaston Ram    1
 
 
T.B.C.
 

Matchday 15 – Saturday 30th October 1971 & Derby day in the East Midlands as we visited City Ground, Nottingham
Forest came into the game 3rd bottom & had been destroyed 6-1 at Spurs the previous weekend – a game pleasingly captured in a ‘Right Hammerings’ compilation VHS I had bought for me as a kid. For those of you who think the City Ground is shabby now, you’ll be interested to learn the 1971 version mostly didn’t have a roof & their away end appears at first glance to have an electricity pylon plonked in it;
 
Goals there from Alan Hinton (pen) & a screamer from John Robson giving us the points in a game that saw Steve Powell make his first start for Derby, aged 16 years & 40 days. Forest’s penalty missed by Ian Storey-Moore, who infamously was on the verge of a move to Derby later this very season before Forest changed their minds & sold him to Man Utd instead. Bit more on that here;
https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-hero-reveals-embarrassment-4939829
 


 
Programme of the day from Notts;

 
A cracking day for the Rams who apart from local bragging rights, also moved up to 2nd after Man City could only draw away at lowly Huddersfield. Elsewhere Man Utd lost their first game for 2 months (at home to Leeds) meaning their advantage over Derby was cut to 2 points;

A question for the more informed, was this the first time the rams fans saw a young Steve Powell in the top flight? What a servant to the club he turned out to be.