RebelScum

Derby-born, Hampshire-raised Pompey fan here, still feeling a bit groggy after our promotion celebrations last night but hoping the Rams will be joining us in the Championship next season.
We came to Derby quite regularly to see my family when I was young and were fortunate to go to the Baseball Ground many times in the late 1960s and 1970s in the Clough and Mackay years.
I was on the Popside in 1975 against Carlisle when the second title was celebrated, there when Roger Davies got sent off against Juventus in the European Cup semi-final, at the 4-4 drew with Man United on Boxing Day 1970.
But the most vivid memories are of the home wins over Liverpool and, particularly the Easter Saturday 2-0 win over Leeds in that 1971-72 season. Men with Pack’Em In boards urging people to move forward to let more into the ground, a guy who walked around the ground with a bell before the match to gee up the crowd and another with dozens of rosettes inside his coat doing the same. “Programmes, get your programmes”, Hot Love blasting out over the PA system at the end of games, incessant shouts of “Derby, Derby” urging the team on. 

Against Leeds Alan Durban came over to our section of the paddock beneath the main stand to take a throw in, grinning all over his face with a two goal lead and not long to go. Everyone around us screamed at him to take the smile off his face and concentrate; the game wasn’t won yet.
Hector, Hinton, O’Hare, the magnificent McFarland and Todd (jumpers for goalposts). My first game was a 4-0 win over QPR in Feb 1968, seen from the seats in the upper Normanton End, my second a 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough on Boxing Day 1968. I stood on a milk crate at the front of the middle tier of the Osmaston End.
One traumatic memory is the sight of Bob Wilson standing there in just his jock strap after ripping his shorts playing for Arsenal at the Baseball Ground. After that Easter Saturday victory over Leeds in 1972 I seem to remember watching Derby lose at home to Newcastle on the Easter Monday and thinking they had thrown it away.
But then came that win over Liverpool and Leeds tripping up. My Dad, who grew up reciting the names of the 1946 Cup winning team, had new heroes. And so did we, until living our lives in another part of the country meant going much more regularly to Fratton Park (or The Dell in my brother’s case, sadly).
But we still look out for Derby. We took my Dad to the Charlton game at Pride Park last season and I’ve been to see Pompey this season and before.
Wishing you every success and the hope that you all will have similar fond memories of Pride Park.
 
 

Just got home. Story of our season tbh. Didn't play that well but somehow still came out with the three points and the title.
 
Appreciate the kind posts from the posters here. Bolton drew again so hopefully you guys will be joining us next season. You deserve it. 

Thank you for the gracious comments.  I'm a bit *ahem* tired and emotional - it's been a relatively long wait for us to get back in to the second tier.  I'm rooting for you to get over the line and other results this evening appear to have been in your favour.  Good luck and raising a glass to B4.

Colours mean nothing, blame less so.
When we recall, 35 years ago.
The 97, who no longer cheer,
The grace of God, keeps the rest of us here.
It could have been you.  It could have been me.
Que sera, sera, it wasn't to be.
So spare them a minute.  Spare them respect.
For the family of football, for the families since wrecked.
Just one minute, to remember those lost.
Whatever the cause, T'was one hell of a cost.
Never forget the 97,
As they look down, from their Kop up in heaven.
 
xxx

 

Shrewsbury with one of the all time great club badges - the lion watching his house burn down 

Looks like you're stuck in reverse, wheel-spinning in 3ft of mud, never mind turbo!  👀

Stipud thread - got me brain working turbo now...
... The Tomorrow People!
 
I'll be posting all night

Agree re Children of the Stones!

Hope you good people make it back .✊

Any Smiths fans in Derby ranks? I always find myself singing: 'He was a sweet and tender Hourihane.'
 

Can’t you put him in the away end ?

What size is your screwdriver. Is it a left or right handed one?

Bristol Rovers vs Derby County
Saturday 9th March KO 3pm
Memorial Stadium (BS7 0BF)
 
Opponents Form: Decent recently with three wins in their last four matches including their last two. They currently sit 11th in the table albeit with no realistic playoff aspirations or relegation concerns. Whilst their home record in L1 this season is a reasonable W7-D5-L5 it should be noted that they have lost four of their most recent six matches on their own patch with wins over Carlisle (2-1) and Oxford (3-1) dampened by defeats to Blackpool (1-2), Exeter (0-1), Fleetwood (0-2) and Burton (1-2).
Opponents Bio: Rovers are managed by Matt Taylor who is in his third managerial role. After an impressive four years at Exeter he was the man chosen by Rotherham to take over the reins after the departure of our own Paul Warne to Pride Park. Taylor's spell there lasted 13 months before he parted company with the Yorkshire club in November 2023 as the Millers were struggling in 22nd place. Within three weeks, however, he found himself in the Bristol Rovers hotseat replacing the ever-delightful Joseph Barton. 
The club have played their home matches at the 11,000 capacity (3,000 seated) Memorial Stadium since 1996 after leaving their previous home in Eastville. They are officially known as the 'Pirates', reflecting Bristol's maritime history. Or because they just arrrr. Or maybe because their form is historically patchy. They are of course also known as the 'Gas', a nickname which was given them by opposition fans originally but was cheerfully adopted by the Rovers' followers who refer to themselves as 'Gasheads'. The name came about apparently due to their former stadium being sited next to a gasworks which produced a distinct aroma which would waft over the ground. Anybody who sits near a few of our more dedicated drinkers at Pride Park will no doubt relate to that.
Opponents Player Watch: Only one place to start here as the Rams go up against our former beau, Christopher Hugh Martin. The Wardrobe has scored 15 goals this season and is joint fifth in the top scorers chart for the division. Second top scorer after CM9 is Anthony Evans with half a dozen goals. Other notable players are ex-Rams youngster Luke Thomas, experienced former Swansea, Celtic and Preston man Scott Sinclair and Chelsea loanee Harvey Vale who I think we were linked with during the summer. I'm not sure if he's their number one or not but they also have a goalkeeper called Jed Ward who you can only sympathise with.
Rams Record vs Opponents: There have been three FA Cup ties between the two clubs but we'll focus on the 27 league matches there have been between Bristol Rovers and Derby County. The first meeting was on 29th August 1953 at Bristol so hats off to any Ram or Rover who remembers that match over 70 years ago. During the early years of the fixture it was Bristol Rovers who held sway with the Pirates winning the first three encounters, four of the first five and six of the first nine overall. Since then though it is the Rams who have had much the better of it. The overall league record for Derby against Saturday's opponents is as follows:
P27: W12-D7-L8
Away at Bristol Rovers our record  is: P13: W3-D4-L6   Whilst that isn't impressive it should be pointed out that we lost on our first five visits and since then we've gone W3-D3-L1 on their turf and are unbeaten in our last four visits.
Since our relegation to L1 for the 2022/23 season the Rams have recorded home wins against Rovers in both fixtures at Pride Park (4-2 and 2-1) whilst last season we conceded a debateable late penalty in a 1-1 draw at their place.
Other Saturday Fixtures Of Note: We will either be second or third going into the match depending on the outcome of Barnsley vs Bolton on Tuesday night. Peterborough are at home to Northampton on the same evening. On Saturday our priority is of course to earn three points in the south-west but we will be hoping for favourable results in at least one of the following games:
Blackpool vs Portsmouth
Exeter vs Bolton
Barnsley vs Lincoln
Burton vs Peterborough
Expected Team: My guess is that Derby will be unchanged from the 3-0 win against a desperately struggling Port Vale. With fit full-back options rarer than a salad in the City Ground boardroom I suspect it'll be a back three plus the two wing-backs who played well yesterday. 
 
Safe journey to those who make the trip and COYR.

We’re on our way, we’re on our waaaaayy!…

I quite like the fact that every year around March, April time we are record breakers 🙂 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68250675

Bet our scouts are watching 

Phil Gee is wearing my hat in the dressing room 😁

Phil Gee is wearing my hat in the dressing room 😁

Both true (used to have footage from Derby home games)... Also, Gary Holton (Wayne in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet) sang the theme tune & Mac Murphy was played by Ken Hutchison who was a Californian police detective in the 1970s 😆.

The play 'The Firm' - the original, NOT THE REMAKE deals with it very well IMO.
Directed by Alan Clarke and written by Al Hunter (an ex hooligan himself).
The character Dominic comes across slightly inadequate throughout. At the end he is ranting to the TV people "it's about belonging".
...It's also worth a watch for the nasty guy in Murphy's Mob playing a copper and dealing with Benny from Grange Hill who has just been cut up...
"come on the train from London did you?... Ah, hitch-hiked... And your name is (looks at statement), Michael Jackson... You're going to need some more plastic surgery Michael!"
😆

As a son:
My dad was "firm but fair" (in hindsight), with me and my 4 sisters.  (He was ex-army... the guy with the stick, doing all the shouty stuff on the parade ground.)
I pretty much disliked the guy until I started to mature at around 14.  I just about fell to love him dearly, and we started to get proper pally... when he died (I was 18... and probably only ever bought him one pint! 😢).
Fathers... think on!
 
 
As a father:
Keep it loving, obviously... but keep it practical.
Far too many kids nowadays haven't got a clue how to do their own breathing when they flee the nest!
As just one example, our two (boys) were ironing their own school uniforms throughout big school (from age 11?). And they were strict on appearance at Landau Forte back then!
The youngest even went on to "make a small killing" when he joined the army, as non of the other lads at the training camp knew where to start!  He thanked us in the end!  😁👍
 
Never expect two or more siblings to be the same... or even similar.  Think chalk and cheese, but with a mile wide river in between, and you'll get the picture.
 
Best o' luck!  👍
 

First things first this not a scam. Long time member - used to be a moderator - drifted away now slowly getting drawn back in.
In a story too long to tell I have a spare YL (youth Large?) away shirt (blue and black check)
Should fit an 8/9 year old.
anybody want it DM me - I should be at the game on Thursday if not I could arrange postage.
 
just thought there might be someone on here who could do with a little goodwill this time of year.
 
 

The book is great also

I quite like the fact that every March, April or May time we are record breakers again... gives me an excuse for a small celebration 🙂 🍾