IslandExile

Kevin was The King - my favourite player of all time, too.
Was lucky enough to see his whole career and he was a sensation right away when he joined Derby.
A complete player - skill, speed, balance, grace, great temperament - and a fantastic finisher. A thrill to watch him, every game.
2nd only to Bloomer of course in the pantheon of DCFC strikers; if only we could find his like again (fat chance!)
We had a great wave of heritage recognition in past decades (Clough & Taylor, Mackay & Bloomer monuments); after the crap we've been through as a fanbase for several years, we could well do with some renewed focus on celebrating our history in the new era. 
Speaking of paltry wages for stellar players, as we were - I had occasion to liaise with World Cup hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst, along with his England teammate Martin Peters, in the mid-1980s, during my time in vehicle dealership operations - they were sales representatives for a national used car warranty company.
I'd guess Harry Kane might get paid for endorsing a car manufacturer or auto product - but I doubt whether he would have to man the phones and arrange documentation as well!
 
C O Y R

Thank you so much for that. Really glad to hear.
Played in midfield mostly in that second spell and I remember his last game, the 3-2 against Watford.
https://www.11v11.com/matches/derby-county-v-watford-15-may-1982-120285/
Even in 76/77 when the crowd sang "Charlie's the king of Derby", Kevin was always my first love. (Charlie was great aswell though)

Kevin Hector looks great for 77 especially when you compare him with much younger retired players.  In the pictures above you can see from his waist size that he is looking after himself. I've known a few postmen and I think all that walking has tremendous benefits. One of them told me he was being paid to keep fit.
I was behind the goal at the Normanton End when Kevin made his wonderful home debut against Huddersfield and I can remember one of his last games at the Baseball Ground many years later when it looked as if he was going to race through the defence and score but alas his speed had gone. In fact, I was surprised he lasted so long because when I watched him in a charity game at the Osmaston Sports Ground in the mid or late 1970s he looked completely knackered. There was a tiny attendance and standing on the touchline I had very close view of the players. He looked as weak as a kitten. Perhaps this is just my imagination but in my mind I can see Archie Gemmill laughing as Kevin struggled to reach an easy pass. It could be that he was ill or just recovering from illness.
He might have ended up with a nice house but he deserved to have made as much money from football as any of them are getting today. We know that the TV companies got away with paying peanuts but where did all the gate money go? They didn't spend much on ground improvements. Someone was making money but it wasn't the players. 

I have a feeling it will be black shorts and a white shirt……?

So Kevin Hector will always be my favourite ever Derby County player - favourite ever footballer.
I've written on other threads how I won a school essay competition in 1970 "Who I would most like to meet" and wrote about Zak and why. My prize was to go to the BBG to watch a training session, get a tour of the ground, meet the players and even Cloughie in his office. Cherished memories.
So it makes me very sad that he chose not to participate in the 1972 celebrations. Yet from the reports of today and other days, he looked well, was happy to meet fans and talk about the old days. The club is - or will be soon - under new ownership. So why is there still this breakdown in relationship between the great man and the club? Or is it actually with former team mates?
As for being shy, not liking the limelight, surely walking onto the pitch with 10-15 others would not be so bad for someone who played in front of crowds of tens of thousands in the past. He could do that without having to make speeches or being in an individual spotlight.
I just wish he still felt part of it.

I have insomnia.
So August then.

Thank you so much for that. Really glad to hear.
Played in midfield mostly in that second spell and I remember his last game, the 3-2 against Watford.
https://www.11v11.com/matches/derby-county-v-watford-15-may-1982-120285/
Even in 76/77 when the crowd sang "Charlie's the king of Derby", Kevin was always my first love. (Charlie was great aswell though)

Thank you so much for that. Really glad to hear.
Played in midfield mostly in that second spell and I remember his last game, the 3-2 against Watford.
https://www.11v11.com/matches/derby-county-v-watford-15-may-1982-120285/
Even in 76/77 when the crowd sang "Charlie's the king of Derby", Kevin was always my first love. (Charlie was great aswell though)

So Kevin Hector will always be my favourite ever Derby County player - favourite ever footballer.
I've written on other threads how I won a school essay competition in 1970 "Who I would most like to meet" and wrote about Zak and why. My prize was to go to the BBG to watch a training session, get a tour of the ground, meet the players and even Cloughie in his office. Cherished memories.
So it makes me very sad that he chose not to participate in the 1972 celebrations. Yet from the reports of today and other days, he looked well, was happy to meet fans and talk about the old days. The club is - or will be soon - under new ownership. So why is there still this breakdown in relationship between the great man and the club? Or is it actually with former team mates?
As for being shy, not liking the limelight, surely walking onto the pitch with 10-15 others would not be so bad for someone who played in front of crowds of tens of thousands in the past. He could do that without having to make speeches or being in an individual spotlight.
I just wish he still felt part of it.

Hinton will always remain my favourite player at the time...even after missing the penalty against Juventus?
Todd and McFarland were 2 Derby greats, Hector also, Being defenders and an attacker puts those 3 in a slightly different pigeon hole, Goal scorers will always get the vote and rightly so...goals win games, But McFarland's timing when heading a ball was supreme, Just gently nudge his marker when the ball is coming their way, Todd seamed to make his own time on the ball just wonderful to watch and would rather play darts in his local than turn out for England...wrote Neil Hallam many many years ago.
Hector, McFarland and Todd would be in the £100 million + bracket today, Earning well into the 6 figure sums of today, Grealish an example of the shear madness that clubs will pay for ordinary players.

I went to the Neptune yesterday to meet Kevin .He was really pleasant a really nice man very down to earth .I had a long chat to him a few of the things he said ,which I`m sure he wouldn`t mind me disclosing.
Were that TIM Ward was a real gentleman probably to nice to be a manager. How he was overlooked by leeds because Don Revie said he was too small,he talked about his second spell with Derby how he came into a poor side and in his last match how he gave away a penalty and scored aginst Watford.He never got sent off and only got booked for "silly" things like kicking the ball away He has lived in the same house for 50 years he even kept it while he was playing in Canada.And the ONLY reason he didn`t participate in 72 anniversary was he was on holiday in Spain else he would have attended he`s still in touch with the ex players especially Big Rog .He told me he ran the ex Rams but no longer since he has given up playing football even walking football.
There is a saying "never meet your heroes" NOT in this case.

Not sure why you would presume this given CK has been funding the club since May 7th as has been widely reported in the media and confirmed by Kirchner himself. This includes the May wage bill which was paid in full and on time. 

I first saw Kevin Hector play in 1969/70 season as a 9 year old. Up til then i thought the best players in the world were Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton. Hector was not far off that that level. A magnificent footballer, on the worst pitches, attempted murder with every tackle from the dirtiest players of all time (most of em played for Leeds), yet he glided over the field scoring and assisting goal after goal with a coolness and skill that would be worth £50m in todays football market.
Met him a few times and played against him once when he turned out for the DCFC old boys team. Absolute legend. Never a bad word to say against anyone.
He was quiet, polite, humble yet friendly and funny and more than ready to talk about the team that was the best in England for many years.
 

Not a player I know but congratulations @Owen87ITK
 

Legend, had a good chat with him. I asked him if he still played, he said not for about five years.no idea why the photo is sideways ??‍♂️

Mmmm Jaffa Cakes.

Well its safe to say that he doesnt use this forum then.

I don't know if he is on here to post it himself  but I am sure Kev wouldn't mind me sharing this with you all.
 

Yea he was 

Wikipedia:
"Blunstone later had brief spells as assistant manager of Derby County"
But successful playing career for Chelsea and England.

Most of the players appear to be on their second or third holidays so they'll only be going to Dubai or the Canary Islands.
They will be well briefed on the contract situation. If they're going to go, they're going to go, they're entitled to go. A few more days before a formal announcement won't make much difference.

If there was any hint that the deal might collapse, don't you think Nixon, Percy, Dorsset or the Daily Fail would gleefully be publishing it?
Chillax dudes, gonna happen. Be patient.

It's never enough for Mrs VdM. 
She's developed her own index of social and financial well-being which seems to be defined as... 
No of holidays * distance / what MoodHoover earns. 
If the answer is less than 1 I'm being a tight arse and need to purchase her a new car immediately.... ?