IslandExile

The Ram newspaper/ program used to include a colour picture of the visiting team.

Here are some 71/72 players, with Gordon Guthrie as a player. A lot of people won't know that Tim started the Ex-Rams charity games after he retired and also the Ex-Rams Old Players Association (together with Breedon Books who used to sponsor the evening). Third from right kneeling is Malcolm Edmondson and next to Kevin Hector is John Bowers Jnr in the tracksuit, both worked at the Telegraph. I think this is Northcliffe United?

Just caught up on the last 3 pages.
For someone who just missed out on the halcyon days (Technically, I didn't, as my first game in attendance coincided with the lap of honour with our second league trophy v Carlisle), this is turning into an absolutely bostin' scrap book!
Hat's off to all you old codgers (?), for not only remembering the many finer details, but also for being caring enough, and generous enough to share them.
 
Absolutely top drawer, this!

 

Middle name George?
 
Anyhow, big congratulations to @Yani P, partner and family.

You are so right about Derby and Derbyshire Brailsford. When I moved up I was immediately at home in a City with an identity. Much as I miss the coast and woods of Essex I was always associated as being from London. I moved up for college and have never left, Derby gave me identity in a way but more it gave me Derbyshire and it’s beauty. Whatever happens for the club, god forbid liquidation, it must not change from being County. 

Middle name George?
 
Anyhow, big congratulations to @Yani P, partner and family.

This is a wonderful thread bringing alive a time I only have vague recollections of from afar through the TV and newspapers. Living in Essex and never supporting a fixed team ( most of my friends supported West Ham) I recall being shocked as a 9/10 year old to see a team I had never heard of before suddenly at the top of the First division. I remember remarking on this to my Dad, who had no interest in football so could not help explain why this was. A friend had parents from Derby and although a Hammer explained they had been good in the past! I did not start supporting till I came to make Derby my home in 1980 and by then the decline was well underway but was in no doubt this was a football city to rival any. It is especially important at this time we remember the proud history we have keep the memories coming. UTR

Baby Joshua born just over an hour ago..Nice and healthy and the wife is fine too..couldn't be there as have 2 girls under 4 but they are excited..cheers for all the kind reactions..might find time for a beer ? 

Next generation? 

Let's give it Kirchner now and secure the (immediate) future of the club - before he changes his mind.

Andrew's not in a good way right now, dementia and cancer.

Another wonderful post @Brailsford Ram. Thank you so very much for these fantastic memories.
I am the same age as @uttoxram75 and, started supporting around Chrimbo 1968, only going to occasional matches during the next few years, and didn't go regularly to games until 1975-76. I agree it would have been better to experience the barren years before the successful ones. For me, the peak good times came first, and generally it's been downhill ever since, with the few highspots under Cox and Smith.
Anyhow, please keep posting. Your contributions are a fascinating read. A really great perspective from someone who was there.
Thank you so much.

Great stuff Brailsford, like you I am one of the lucky ones having first watched the Rams in the late fifties. My first match was a reserve game in '57 (Normo end upper tier) with my wonderful uncle Tom who was a Ram through and through. I graduated to the kids corner by '59 and barely missed a home game therefter. By 1960 I was going to a lot of away games and by '62 and earning a crust I hardly missed a game home or away (midweek fixtures like Plymouth being nigh on impossible for me in them days!)
Whilst the Clough/Mackay is obviously the highlight for me I have to say that I really enjoyed the early sixties. I remember those players (Parry, Powell, Oxford, Barrowcliffe, Young, Curry, Hall, Hutchinson, Davies,  Conwell, Upton, Hughes (Billy and Gordon), Swallow, Buxton, Moore, Adlington, Havenhand  etal) with much fondness! Linked with the 'swinging sixties' of the Beatles, mini skirts and cheap ale the early sixties were just incredible and the Rams at that time were, for me and my mates, a significant part of the whole package! Let's hope it can be repeated one day. 
For all that my departed father in law did even better! Having been demobbed from the Air Force he managed to get hold of a ticket for the Cup Final,  hitchhiked to Wembley and saw our famous victory!
So he saw us win the Cup and then experienced 2 league titles,  not bad eh! 

Frank was one of the players i went to see at his home when we did the "Legends" tour a couple of years ago, he was very chatty and remembered everything from his days at Derby, i dont want to hijack the thread with a long tale but one funny story i remember was that he said that on one of his first games they had travelled to London to play a game and on the morning of the match Cloughie took them for a walk alongside the Thames, Frank said that he managed to catch up with Brian at the front and wanted to make a good impression on him so engaged in conversation with him, after a couple of minutes Cloughie turned round to him and gave him the classic "Young man" "i have signed you to score goals for Derby County, i have not signed you to be my friend or to engage in idle chit chat now kindly leave me alone" 
he also told me how he had broken his leg twice, his previous manager had rushed him back after the first break and it was never right, he got into the England team when he broke it again, the player who replaced him was Geoff Hurst, he just looked at me and said "what could have been ".
Any how a lovely man who like the rest of those lads made no money from football and just has his medal to show for it, here it is in all its glory !!
one of the 15 that put DCFC on the world footballing map !

They just had a short section on Derby on talk sport including talking with one of the Easdale's
From 11.22am
 

Just seen this pop up:
 

The positive thing about this is that the administrators are obviously pushing any prospective buyers to get on with it.
They mean business, and want to ensure we are sold as a going concern, which pleases me.
That also still leaves Kirchner as our "millionaire in the hand" rather than "two billionaires in the bush"!

Another wonderful post @Brailsford Ram. Thank you so very much for these fantastic memories.
I am the same age as @uttoxram75 and, started supporting around Chrimbo 1968, only going to occasional matches during the next few years, and didn't go regularly to games until 1975-76. I agree it would have been better to experience the barren years before the successful ones. For me, the peak good times came first, and generally it's been downhill ever since, with the few highspots under Cox and Smith.
Anyhow, please keep posting. Your contributions are a fascinating read. A really great perspective from someone who was there.
Thank you so much.

Great stuff as usual BR. 
Anyone interested in learning more about Tim Ward should hunt down a copy of the biography written by his son Andrew, entitled "Armed With A Football" (Breedon Press I think). Tim fought in Normandy after D-Day and it's a fascinating and moving story. 

Let's give it Kirchner now and secure the (immediate) future of the club - before he changes his mind.

Great memories and inside knowledge there Brailsford. I was only a kid, 11 years old during the 71/72 season so find it really interesting to find out bits about the squad and players even after all these years. ?

Believe me, this really is a BIG deal.
Great move by the club and the Community Trust. It will really help folks.
Inclusivity
Thank you @angieram for posting.

Believe me, this really is a BIG deal.
Great move by the club and the Community Trust. It will really help folks.
Inclusivity
Thank you @angieram for posting.