IslandExile

I have loved this season so much. Last year was surviving in adversity, keeping the faith. The lead weights on our shoulders were enormous but the togetherness it created will be an abiding sporting memory for the rest of my days. We carried some of that over to this year, the crowds have been tough and resilient, no spoilt brat entitlement. This is our team, we have been through the brown stuff together, you fluffed it ? So what .. we are behind you. The roar after we have gone a goal down hasn’t been there for a while, but it is now. That comes from being together Team and Fans .. it is what makes sport for me. 
The newspapers made a big thing of Manchester City getting 25k crowds in the 3rd division in the days of Sean Goater. .. well if that is worthy of note in Manchester the industrial capital of the world in another age ..  .. what the efff has Chad, Spondon, Allestree and Normanton done this year ? Legendary that’s what ! . I’ve  Seen more goals than the last couple of years, I’ve seen boys become men, old men re light fires and find almost forgotten skills of youth. I’d love to go up but you know what ? We have a club, a team and fans all pulling in the same direction. That is what counts. It isn’t about win and lose, it really is about how you play the game. … We … Clowes, Warne, The Lads, The fans .. have played a blinder.
There is nothing like that Saturday morning feeling with “the game” coming up. .. We’ve got it tomorrow morning so all is right with the world … but we need goals ! 

I was reading the clickbait thread about Pride Park a few weeks back, and it got me thinking.
The area where I sit/stand, is pretty grubby to be honest.
Cobwebs and years of grime baked into the surroundings, I've often thought of taking some cleaning wipes in and giving it a good going over, but matchday probably isn’t the time to do it.
The summer break though, could be the perfect time!
We could show our appreciation, by devoting a few hours of our time one weekend of the clubs choosing, and descend on PP on mass with our dusters, polish and swiffers. 
Sunderland did something similar, when they engaged volunteer fans to fit new seats, so it is possible. 
Maybe the club could utilise us in a different way, as they see fit.
Even if only 1% of ST Holders responded to the cause, that would still be 200 people. Pledge 4 hours each, and that's 800 hours of free labour, more than enough I'd have thought to get the place spick and span. 
We could bring our own materials, and take away the used products, to save the club even having to hire disposal facilities or purchase equipment.
Get the tannoy playing out some tunes, to keep us entertained whilst working, and we could have a great community day out, helping in a practical way the club we all love.
We can't match the owners financial commitment to the club obviously, but we can show how much we appreciate his involvement by using our free time to help the club.
What do you guys think? 
Maybe @angieram could sound out the Ramstrust membership, to see if there's any merit in the idea?
 

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

Oh it is "grounds team" so is more related to the pitch than the whole thing. Apologies.
And congratulations to the staff involved and the support they get from Sir David.

1. Driving up to Bradford for the first friendly; my hubby was umpiring but I couldn't miss being there to clap out our team, our club, we still had a club! ⚽️🐏
Massive support that day, we couldn't quite believe we were watching football again. I remember Didzy gave away the ball for about ten minutes, then didn't give it away again after that. NML looking fit and confident. Little Oduroh,  looked like he'd wandered over from the under 16s game, but showed great skill against men twice his size. Rosenior, so pleased to be given his chance and very appreciative of the fans' support. 
2. So many new grounds to visit, such contrasts between the welcome of some clubs and downright hostility of others. Thank you Exeter, Port Vale, Morecambe, Accrington. 
Least said about Wycombe, Lincoln, Bristol Rovers the better! 
3. Just the people I share awaydays with, we're a band of brothers and sisters who have travelled many miles, laughed and cried over the performances but always been there again next week. Some I know well, others are just familiar faces, but we smile and nod to each other as we know we have walked the walk together this season. Long may it continue.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

We have a club.
From now on, every season will be a great season.
The flowers will smell nicer, the sunsets will be more glorious, food will taste better and life will just feel good.

For me the highlight has been the stability of the football club. Perhaps not as exciting as some of the excellent goals scored, but it's something of value that has been absent at DCFC for some time, prior to the arrival of Mr Clowes. 

I think its been an emotional season but I am soppy generally!
1. The first league game back at PP - very emotional as at times really didnt think it would happen
2 Didzy's penalty last week to put us back in sixth - felt really significant and the singing just me think of it at Wembley. Again welled up
3. Hope still to come

European Cup Semi Final 2nd leg – Wednesday 25th April 1973 & the return leg against Juventus at the Baseball Ground
After their 3-1 defeat in Turin two weeks earlier, Derby needed a 2-0 win as a minimum to progress to the European Cup Final but knew that an away goal for Juventus would mean they’d have to score at least 3 to take the tie to penalties & 4 to win the tie outright. The task was made harder by the suspensions of Archie Gemmill & Roy McFarland after their farcical bookings in Turin – Clough also dropped Alan Durban to the bench & started with Roger Davies, Peter Daniel & the fit again Alan Hinton. Juventus meanwhile were unchanged from the first leg.
The Baseball Ground was again packed to the rafters & the early signs looked good as Derby camped in the Juventus half with Hinton particularly prominent. The Italians were clearly hanging on around the 30 min mark & in trying to get a foothold in the game were becoming increasingly violent – John O’Hare was targeted in particular.
Highlights of the match;
Link for the full 90 mins below & a real treat for those of who never saw the 70s side in the flesh – goals & highlights are one thing but seeing their class throughout an entire game proves what a team they really were;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldL0YsVnTXo
Sadly Alan Hinton’s penalty miss on the hour mark & Roger Davies’ red card a few mins later were self-inflicted wounds that made an aggregate victory even more difficult. There were still chances when down to 10 men (Daniel, Nish, O’Hare & Hector all had opportunities) but none were taken & Boulton did well on a number of occasions late on to stop the Italians sneaking a late goal on the night. A bitterly disappointing end to a wonderful campaign & a real chance of European glory.
 

 

 
Pre-match copy of The Ram;

 
In the other semi-final, Gerrie Muhren’s goal in the Bernabeu gave Ajax a 0-1 win on the night & a 3-1 win on aggregate so setting up an Ajax v Juventus final in Belgrade on May 30th;

Ajax went on to lift their third consecutive European Cup in Belgrade – Johnny Rep’s goal after 5 minutes proving the difference in Johan Cruyff’s last European game for Ajax before leaving for Barcelona;
 
 

Always good to beat the Dirties 🐏

I am talking to the players one last big push and we could be in the play offs on saturday it is all In our hands all we need to do is win the game against Portsmouth.
Now I am calling derby fans to very very very best voice let's make pp the loudest it has ever ever ever been please turn pp into a sea of black and white we need flags scarfs and balloons and banners let players let go for it. 
They stuck by us all season let's get promation and pay them back even now they are still fighting for this great club and for us. So let's do this.

I hope lifts confordance for young rams as been tough old season for them but to be fair all instucher had been ripped away last season so no surprise that they have struggled but hope recovery will start now for young rams for next season.

Always good to beat the Dirties 🐏

Always good to beat the Dirties 🐏