Farmy army

That’s the position I am in. I was ‘around’ for the promotion in 96 but too young to remember or appreciate it. And although I’ve technically been to the BBG, too young to appreciate it again.
For those who witnessed previous successes, I have nothing but jealousy. But for people like me, my entire experience of Derby County has been misery, disappointment and heartbreak. Where I grew up, it was all Premier League clubs, nobody even supported the ‘nearest’ professional team because Plymouth was still too far away. I’d go into school on sports days in my Derby County shirt, and get laughed at by those wearing United, Liverpool or Arsenal shirts.
To experience success, an outpouring of joy and probably relief,  at Pride Park, is going to be special.
I’m sure lots of people here have other interests outside of football and Derby County, I don’t really. I’m not really into other sports, for me football & this club is everything. Since Covid really, it’s been hard. From not being able to go to watch, to then being plunged into administration & feeling like we were kind of Death Row waiting for the inevitable was very, very hard.
We’re going to do the job on Saturday and I can’t even begin to imagine how good that’s going to feel. 

Last week, I drove to Ilson and went in with my sister, who has a parking ticket at PP. That was great, because we got a lift directly to our turnstile at the ground on a golf cart. That's something that might work long term - doing it again for the Carlisle match.

I was at Pompey the other night. Still buzzing from it; pure theatre. My lasting memory though will be the support in the Away end. Got to my seat 10 minutes pre-ko & the Rams were in full voice with a new song that was mesmerising & unusually had zero references to penises. The singing never stopped for the 98 minute duration and it was at times transcendental. Or summat. Made me feel very proud of Derbyshire. Hope we can keep that up in the last 4 fixtures. We really need those flanges…almost like @B4ev6is is conducting events - because it’ll be a fantastic day if we do the …<fill in the blanks>. 

a tad frustrated that we lost a lead twice... but no way is a draw a bad result.  
A cracking first half as a spectacle, and an almost classic away holding job second half.  Nervy throughout, and kind of relieved in the end.
If I'd have read the script before kick off, and new the outcome, it would have got a massive thumbs up from me. We may not have strictly played for a draw, but that draw may be the point that takes us over the line.
A very, very good night.
Well done, Super Rams.
 

Pull up a chair, this will be a long one.
Me and my wife Leanne have been together 8 years and 5 months, we have been trying for a baby for around 6/7 years. Nothing happened. Leanne has been desperate for our own little baby and seeing friends around us start families has been hard for her.
It’s been hard for myself as I later found out it was probably my fault following a sperm test.
Just before Covid we went to explore IVF options where I was given a sperm test, the results were basically I have swimmers, just not enough to put me in the “normal” range. Not impossible I could get Leanne pregnant, just harder than it would be for others.
Covid landed, lockdown, all non essential treatment and hospital appointments were cancelled, so our doctors asked us to come back once life returned to normal.
Fast forward to August 2023, we returned to the doctors knowing the clock was ticking, Leanne turns 40 this year and would already be classified as a “geriatric”, whilst myself a slightly younger Des O’Connor.
Anyway, they started testing Leanne, she was all clear, I was given another tube to fill and arrange an appointment with the hospital. Contacting them I was told there is such a backlog, we would be waiting until the new year, side note, we’re almost April and I’m still yet to receive a call back.
As I have mentioned elsewhere, October 27th our great nephews moved in with us under an emergency kinship fostering placement, since then we have been undergoing various assessments and training.
We go to the fostering panel to be confirmed foster parents on April 11th.
We was also willing to go down the SGO (Special guardianship order) route which would see them stay with us until they were 18.
Now, this is an important bit. We live in a small 2 bedroom house, me and Leanne looked at it and said maybe this is our calling, maybe we just weren’t meant to have our own and threw ourselves into the boys creating a special bond.
Monday 12th February, 2024, Leanne woke me up in tears saying we need to talk. My eyes had barely adjusted to the daylight before a positive pregnancy test was thrust into my face.
What. The. f***.
We quickly went to Morrison’s to buy another one, just to double check, this time a digital one. Both ClearBlue so super accurate.
The pregnancy was confirmed, 2-3 weeks it said.
We hadn’t bothered to be “careful” as we figured it was never going to happen naturally, but it had so now we was left with a huge dilemma. The boys were meant to be our future now. But it’s a 2 bedroom house.
It completely took the shine off what should have been the happiest time of our lives, Leanne’s family were also not fully invested into the joy with concern over what would happen to the boys.
After a few emotional discussions into the early mornings, exploring all possibilities, we ultimately decided to let social services know that we cannot be considered as long term placement if needed.
At this point and to this day, their mum is still waiting on her assessment to see if they can ever be returned.
We could not abort, we could not move as we have a small amount of debt that would prevent us getting a new mortgage for a much larger house.
March 9th, we visited the midwife who dated the pregnancy from Leanne’s last recorded period December 18th. A 12 week scan was booked for 21st March however she was told that she would be 13 weeks by then.
Sickness, tender breasts, the lot, this was all very real.
The wait for the 21st March seemed like forever.
The weekend prior, Leanne had very very light spotting and discharge which freaked us both out, quick call to the midwife and told not to worry, just come in if it’s heavy bleeding and she’s in pain.
On the 20th, I had a tattoo appointment, super excited and determined to bring some positivity to a stressed out wife, I get “Daddy” inked on my neck, at the neckline of a t shirt.  I was uncontrollably excited by this point.
Next morning we go in, soon called into the Ultrasound room, I bounce in rubbing my hands joking just the one please.
Monitor boots up, Leanne laid back with the biggest smile on her face unable to see the monitor.
I look up and the gestation sac is empty.
All life inside me just melted.
The midwife asked when we last took a pregnancy test, to which Leanne responded and was then asked if she would be happy to have an internal scan.
Whilst the midwife left the room I was in a daze, taking pictures of the screens.
Internal scan complete, we was simply told to get ourselves ready and we will be shown to the counselling room.
Both in tears, we was led away and left to sit in this room for half hour or so before another midwife appeared giving us 3 options.
Let it come out naturally.
Take medication to force it out which can be super painful.
Or surgery, which is a vacuum basically which sucks it out.
Period of silence followed and we was shown out the side door, absolutely devastated.
We sat in the car park at a complete loss. I had the announcement board ready to go, bought the little lamb rattle, we had it all planned and it was over.
After an hour we went home, packed our bags and basically ran away for the weekend leaving the boys with their Nan. We couldn’t face being “parents” surrounded by toys at this time.
Work were great, signed us both off with paid leave.
The weekend was spent crying, drinking, walking, crying.
We returned Monday, still an emotional mess but able to function at least.
The hospital rang asking if we had made a decision, on Tuesday Leanne booked the surgery for the Wednesday. That Tuesday night went to visit a friend who was questioning the dates, could they be wrong, is it earlier than we think, ask for a second scan to confirm.
On looking at the scan, the gestation sac was 1D 25mm, 2D 29mm and 3D 29mm. I’m googling sac sizes at 1am and see that is 8 weeks. 5 weeks earlier than what we was told.
Leanne’s now questioning if she forgot to record a period I said look, we’ll ask for a confirmation scan to be sure.
That morning, we go into SDEC (Same day emergency care), nurse calls us in, Leanne breaks down so I take over asking for a confirmation scan. They were great and said of course, booking us in for April 2nd.
I would have declined the 1st for obvious reasons.
We’re sat here now 99% believing we’ve lost the baby, however we need that 1% of doubt clearing away with this confirmation scan on Tuesday. Even a scan at an earlier date should have shown more than just the gestation sac and yolk sac.
I’m back to work on Monday, needing some normality back in my life, although Tuesday after the scan won’t be much fun.
This week that’s just gone, Wednesday 27th, the Boys mum had her assessment heard at panel, we’re now just waiting to hear from the social services to see how that went and would they be returned or not.
We have some difficult decisions ahead if she doesn’t, as now Leanne’s “oven has been warmed”, we’re desperate more than ever for our own little baby, yet fully aware Leanne turns 40 in a couple of months and I’m 42 myself.
It really needs to happen now, or not at all. Seeing Cameron Diaz having her second at 51 years old the other week, not sure how I feel as the old you get the more our bodies begin to tire and develop issues where running after children becomes more difficult.
All family options for the boys have been exhausted, so it’s either us, their mum or adoption. Being 2 and 3 they are the prime age to be adopted yet we would never see them again and that would f’in hurt, especially if me and Leanne are not successful in having our own.
I'm sharing this as men don't like to talk and when 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, many men will have been in similar situations and struggle in silence. Whilst the woman will ultimately bare the most pain and need the most support, it still f'in hurts....a lot.
So yeah, coming on here reading how Paul Warne is a terrible football manager, being 2nd is pure luck and all the rest of the negative hyperbole just hasn’t been at the top of the list to absorb. 
More to life than football has never been more true.
You know the old saying though, behind every successful forum owner, behind him is a team of amazing moderators. Big thanks to them for carrying the load whilst I spend time supporting the wife.

I’m going to this, my first attempt at an evening game since the brain haemorrhage 4 years ago.
if you’re in the west stand could you keep the noise down please? I’m usually barely awake by 8.30 so I’d be grateful if you didn’t wake me up just to watch a game of football.
Thankyou!

Tbf @angieram picking Ward was the action of someone who had watched the game. Sibley would have been the easy and not unreasonable pick, whereas Ward was the correct pick.
 

I was shocked today to hear that the lovely Dave Myers, one half of the Hairy Bikers, has died. Mr. Miggins and myself love this duo and have all of their DVDs. I hoped so much that he was on the road to recovery as he's recently recorded a series with Si King and was able to ride his beloved motor bike again after thinking his biking was a thing of the past. We went to see the pair at Buxton Opera House and it was a wonderful evening - you just felt like it was an evening amongst friends - so relaxed and very funny. Whenever I feel run down, tired, sad or poorly I wrap myself up in a fleecy blanket and watch the Hairy Bikers and it always helps to restore my spirits. Thanks for all the inspiration, love, friendship, warmth and laughs, Dave. You will be very sadly missed. Much love to Dave's wife, family and friends, especially the wonderful Si King. X

So brilliant to hear Ed's voice again on the airways, he's presenting Sportscene at six tonight.
 

We’re on our way, we’re on our wayyyy, who needs a striker, the style we playyyyy? 

Well that performance last night was an absolute tonic to me after a dreadful Christmas (my dad is terminally ill and has been in hospital throughout Xmas). I wasn't going to go , even though the Kassam Stadium is less than 2 miles away from where I live but my family persuaded me to so I went and apart from that first 15 minutes I had the best away day I've had for years. That second half performance was brilliant; relentless attacking pressure that blew Oxford away. The Rams fans last night were also amazing; you wouldn't have known we were the team 2-0 down. I couldn't speak at the final whistle from all the singing!
Its nights like that that make following this club so special. After what has been a rough few weeks personally I really needed that experience last night. 
COYR
 

It’s my birthday today and we do have some great games on my birthday 👍

It feels surreal coming on here and having so many other people ‘get’ Daniel and also feeling his loss. I’m having a bad day today with it hitting home that he’s gone. It’s a bit less lonely hearing others speak about him 😢

Heard the sad news earlier today, Daniel was a good friend of mine, saw him at many away games always wanted a chat about the Rams , like Angie said he had many health issues but his love for the Rams always shined bright , the Derby County family has lost another legend , I raise my glass to Daniel /B4 you will be missed mate , would also like to pass on my sincere condolences to his family at this sad time

Wow. Sad times.
He's been knocking around the old DET and other forums as long as I have (pushing 20 years). Back then he had a much longer name that was his full surname and first name punctuated by numbers. Thankfully it was shortened it to B4.
First thing I really remember of him was he used to make the craziest transfer suggestions.
One that sticks in the memory is when Chelsea were battling to sign Mateja Kezman as their new no.9/Hasselbaink's replacement, B4 decided he would probably prefer to come to us and help in a Championship relegation battle because he'd start more games and score more goals. In the next few years a number of similarly unfeasible suggestions were made, we need a left winger, how about this guy from Ajax, who promptly went to La Liga or somewhere else for £20m.
That sums up B4's love of football and his unbridled positivity and hope for me. He probably always aimed a bit too high, but that was an amazing belief to have and I hope he carried it through all aspects of life.
I think at first a few of us were like, what the heck is this kid on about, but he soon won us over with his pure love and enthusiasm, and was accepted as a part of those forums' familes. His confidence grew amazingly over time and he pretty much created himself a role as official cheerleader, not just for the team, but when the fanbase was growing tired of poor football or bad results he would pep us up too and make us smile. I will also commend him for doing brilliantly to overcome his dyslexia, the improvement in his posts was monumental.
I'm not sure over the past 20 years I've seen a page on any main Derby forum without one of his threads, he will leave a gap and any forum will be a little less bright without his input.
In his memory I'd love to see a pinned thread for positive stories and comments only, that would seem fitting as he always saw and hoped for the best...
...except for NIck Blackman, my god he hated Nick Blackman. LOL
RIP B4
 
 

Properly get pelters for this as 80% seem to have made their mind up over Warne, but anyone else just had enough with the constant negativity towards the players and staff? It’s relentless.
Even after last nights win I’m seeing people try and twist it negatively, overall last night we played faster tempo had chances and won end off, so why the negativity?
Warnes come out and said last night about blocking outside noise out, really think knocking them will help? It’ll only make it worse, 5 in 11 for Collins decent return, what’s booing him and giving him stick going to do? Why can’t we get behind them? We’re in league 1 we won’t have world beaters that will do everything so perfectly. 
 
1 defeat in 10 due to some terrible refereeing it’s not anywhere near as bad as people are making out, it’s as if we’ve won 1 in 10.
I can be as negative as anyone and as annoyed as anyone when we drop points etc but it’s the bigger picture move on we go again, It’s not an easy league like people expect, Sunderland sheff united Ipswich Bolton etc all got stuck for time, and probably only Bolton started in a worse rebuild situation as us… 
it’s absolutely draining all the constant ‘get him gone’ ‘whose next’ ‘he’s just a P.E teacher’ I’ve missed 1 away game and 1 home and it’s honestly making me not want to go, Blackpool people singing ‘warne your football is sh*t’ then 5 minutes later singing his name, honestly think if people stop over reacting and seemingly wanting Warne to fail we could get out of this league this year. Rant over roll on the draining stick that’ll come…

I was actually very encouraged yesterday even though we failed to score. 
Ball retention and passing was good .
Thought both teams defended well 

Performance was much better but the final ball and finishing was missing massively, on another day we win that 2 or 3 nil. Waggys header was a sitter, he had to score. We seem to have struggled vs half decent teams who just sit in at Pride Park, even under McClaren we had games like today.
The booing after the game was at the ref, there were chants to him after the boos & he was booed again as he walked down the tunnel.
As for Warne's post match interview, what he actually said was we was getting joy down the sides (which we were) but then decided to try & force passes through the middle (which we did) but thats where all Cambridge numbers were so it didnt work & that we should have kept going out wide as that was working....not sure how anyone can disagree with that? Everytime we went through the middle we lost the ball, Waggy barely madr himself available but we looked a threat when we got the ball out wide.
Nyambe & Nelson looked rock solid at the back & Fornah was brilliant in centre mid, the sort of player we have been missing. Id be tempted with him & Bird in the 2 with Hourihane in the 10 as he has the quality on the ball to score or create around the edge of the box.
1 loss in 7, 3 clean sheets in a row & the squad starting to get back fit - lets see how we look when we have the likes of Bird, Hourihane, Ward & JJ fully fit & available.
I do however think some fans wont be happy regardless of what happens on the pitch whilst Warne is in charge. Even if we won the league they would moan about something.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about Bloomers. 
Shrewsbury wore T-shirts with his, and another supporters’ name on, when they celebrated that promotion.
Fantastic broadcaster, wonderful bloke. I miss him. 

As many of you know I am one of the original trustees of The Rams Heritage Trust, we are a group of four like minded individuals who have put in a lot of hard work time and expense to try to preserve as much of the history of Derby County Football Club as possible for the next generations of Rams fans.
our wish to have a more permanent home to share this great collection with you all was strengthened when we were invited by the club to put on a display at Pride Park at the beginning of the month.
we were blown away by the interest and support, to say that it was a pop up display with no other events nearby and road closures due to the Ramathon we did not expect many to turn out but they did in their many hundreds over the two days.
we were further supported by the presence of David Clowes and his good lady wife and ex players.
it was hard work setting up and taking down in a short time but so worth it.
we will be doing another event at the Grand Slam Charity cricket match at Spondon Cricket club on the 16th July.
here is a small taster of the display. 👍🐏😍
 

I'm not gonna lie. Of all the crappy things happening in my life, yesterday gave me a much-needed pickup. 

Four beers before the game two in Brewery tap two in Smithfield four beers after the game in Derby. 
Happy ST George’s day happy 3 points happy everything to everyone.
Had enough time for bed.

I agree. I like pride park, I mentioned earlier that even though it's similar to the Riverside it is actually ten times better because it just has a better overall feel about it. For a modern ground Derby have got it pretty much spot on with retaining that history and tradition which makes it feel like a proper football stadium. Posters, signage, statues, even the lettering on the seats, it's all there. Pride park has a soul whereas many other modern grounds do not.

Warne has shown he’s very adaptable which is a good thing. .
Sibley has energy and Bird is just getting back to full fitness.
Always liked the the Irish lads .
What a difference a day makes .
Didzy is something else. 

I’ve never recovered from Attwell disallowing Addisons header v Forest for an alleged push.