IslandExile

Championship breakfast! 
 

I’d question if any Derby fan is actually human if they didn’t get emotional at least once yesterday. 
We nearly lost it all. Everyone has their ritual, whether it’s going with lifelong friends and getting on the beers, travelling from afar to visit home, seeing family they may otherwise rarely see… would be all gone  
There were kids that pitch who were probably too young to remember the Villa play off loss, let alone the QPR one, they wouldn’t have seen a single moment of success watching us. I’m 33 and don’t remember promotion in the 90s, all I have is 07. Suppose we could support Man City? Nah, never, that’s not football. That’s not belonging. That’s not family.  
There’s a lot of pain in the recent past, and yesterday was a stark reminder of what may never have been again. 

Not sure if I am alone in this today but I feel an overwhelming sense of closure after yesterday’s achievement. What a relief to be back in the Championship. But it’s more than that.
It feels like all the hurt over the last couple of years: the administration, the points deductions, the financial turmoil, the humiliation, the relegation; it feels like we can finally turn the page on that sordid chapter of our history. Like we can move on. 
I’m not sure why I’m sharing this, but it feels even more personal for me than that, too. In the summer of our relegation, I lost my grandmother to cancer. She was the major connection to Derby for me. My whole ritual of going to the matches involved staying with her for the weekend. For some reason Derby County, the city of Derby, the supporters bus that would pick my Grandad and I up from outside The Gate in Swanwick, the cone of chips before the game, all just seemed to have disappeared.
I know it sounds strange but I feel like I lost my connection to the club in so many ways that summer. 
Yesterday, watching everyone celebrating and the tears and David Clowes and Ed Dawe’s’ tears, just felt like closure. The end of the trauma and the start of something new. It felt like moving on.
Thank you, Mr Clowes, for all of that 🐏

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)

He's spending the summer learning several foreign languages to cater to our incredibly high number of overseas viewers

Just watched the game on Rams Tv and the celebrations afterwards which were very emotional. Need to say a huge thank you to Owen Bradley who I think has worked tirelessly this season to bring us superb coverage of matches, interviews etc. He gets better and better. Shaun Barker has also made a great contribution to the season. Please say thank you to the entire team that you front. Hope you are back next year(

I missed his commentary throughout his absence during the season
 

Play nicely @Mucker1884 🤭

B4 was Daniel Beavis. A lifelong DCFC supporter who died suddenly in November, just hours after attending the Crewe away match. He was only 38 and had held a season ticket for almost 30 years. B4 was his username on this forum where he was well know for his unique take on all things DCFC and his kindness to others. Despite the situation of the club or inconsistency of results, he was unbelievably positive. Dan had learning difficulties and despite what he may have typed on here at times, he was actually quite vulnerable and his world was quite small. His whole world revolved around his beloved Derby County. His death has been a shock to us but his passion and love for DCFC has left an effect on many who knew him, in person or virtually. He was also my brother. 
 

And sign Adams!!!

The people point scoring and ridiculing folks for having different opinions are no better than the strawman they are beating. There are legit concerns regarding the style of play and I guess a lot of unknowns regarding Warne having some money to spend. This idea that there are people that are unhappy that Warne succeeded is a pure fabrication.
Next season will be interesting because we won't be able to rely on the virtue of having better individuals 99% of the time like we have this season. Big test for Warne and i'm interested to see what type of players he signs. Like at every club there will be fans that will start to question things if we go on a bad run and looking terrible in games, that is totally normal. I questioned Warne when we had that bad run this season and it is not because I hate him. I actually think he's pretty sound.
Log off and enjoy the moment, if you don't have anything nice to say then don't bother.

just because i am not a fan of warne,it does not mean i am not a fan of dcfc,for now i am savouring the fact that we are championship rams,i'l worry about warne later,now is not the time

This was Dan at Wembley at the last play offs for Derby. Seems appropriate to repost it today 🐏❤️🐏

How’s everyone feeling today? It was real high at the beginning of the match and the second half. I did have walk around the pitch where I found some of my new DCFC friends. I shed a tear for B4 and sprinkled a few more ashes on the centre spot with my dad. We had several people come up to us to say hello and pass on condolences and congratulations for B4, which was lovely. 
I don’t want to sound like a party pooper but I’m feeling really flat today. Watching the football and the excitement of the race for promotion has been a welcome distraction and a tribute to Dan. It might just be my body and emotions telling me I need a breather over the summer. 
Maybe we need a thread with our highlights of the season and celebration pics? You all amazing at picking me up. I saw a post on another thread earlier that said ‘when are we signing Mbappe?’ 😂 That made me smile 

B4 believed when I, for one, had doubts and fears. He helped me through those dark days when I thought we'd lose the club. 
Thank you @B4ev6is.
Thank you David Clowes.
Thank you Warne, staff and players. 
Thank you everyone on here. 
B4 - we did it. The Rams are going up 🐏

And sign Adams!!!

Didn't notice it live, but just seen a video... The ref did indeed blow for the final whistle... as he was already heading full pelt to the tunnel... there was an air of "Look after number one, and sod everybody else" about it!  🤣

B4 gets a mention in the BBC comments section

Another game against Carlisle...

And sign Adams!!!

We should have had a thread for nice online messages from people! 
 
 

What a day! Just a great end to the season. How fitting that Max should score in his final game, I genuinely hope he enjoys the change he seems to have wanted. We must sign Ebou, he was absolutely everywhere today, and seemed to completely love the after match celebrations! I know this League has not been to everyone's taste, but I've enjoyed visiting new grounds and new cities. And of course spending time with my boy, and being able to celebrate with him today at an age that he will remember! Looking forward to seeing how Mr Warne gets on next season. When's the fixture list out?😁 COYR!