Baseball Ground Memories

[Ellafella]

I know...it's probably been done to death but...oh it was special...

How apt: the very final game at the famous old Baseball Ground was against the Arsenal. I am minded of a game some years earlier against the same opposition, for it was an occasion that really brought home to me just how special the place was; a true theatre of football:

The date: 8th September 1979. A sultry sunny September Saturday of an Indian summer. Sweat, cig-smoke and the smell of alcohol-breath fused with hot-dog onions filled the Pop Side air. Arsenal were in town, a side replete with silky, star-studded names that dripped from the tongue like golden syrup: Pat Jennings, Liam Brady, Sammy Nelson-the bum-show-er, O’Leary, Hollins, Rix, Talbot, Stapleton and Alan Sunderland, all perm and moustachioed; the latter two had, in May, ripped the FA Cup from Man Utd in the final of the century. For Derby there was no longer a Gemmill, a Hector, a McFarland or Todd, or even a Charles George. In rapt contra-distinction we had a ring of Irish: Aiden McCafferey, Vic Morland, David Langan, Andy Crawford, and a liquorice-assortment of stalwarts like David Webb, Steve Powell and Steve Buckley, all honest triers but in truth it was thoroughbreds v also-rans, giant oak trees against mere saplings.  We did though have John Duncan, Scottish International all handsome and broad, and neat, and the winger called Gordon Hill, who had killed Rams at Hillsborough in the FA Cup semi just 3 years before. The Baseball Ground was synonymous with trench mud but even that was no more. But there wasn’t a blade of grass either. Instead the surface was 35 tonnes of hard golden sand; had the ref entered the arena carrying a beach-ball nobody would have batted an eye lid. In the pre-match kick-in, wisps of disturbed sand danced on the air. The first half was a foregone conclusion long before 45 mins was up with Arsenal commanding a 2-0 lead.

Then during the break, something strange began to occur. As sun and heat and alcohol combined, the Pop Side found its voice and songs of deep Derby irony began to fill the air...”You need SAND to hold a lit-tul bay-bee, you need SAND to wipe away a tear...” and “Mr SAND-Man,  bring me a dream (bung, bung, bung bung...”). At first, it was a mere ironic acceptance of the Derby team’s fate, but as the 2nd half kicked-off, with Rams attacking the Ossie End, what started to unfurl was a truly remarkable 45 mins. If only we could get one back. Suddenly, Buckley, with lump-hammer left peg, drove the ball at Jennings from 30 yards. The ball, zipped, and dipped, and hit the ground, leather travelling and bouncing on sand, and, smacked the back of the net with Jennings flapping on the floor; 1-2, Pop Side all erupting in Vesuvian delight, a deafening Derbyshire din of high decibel noise. The sound became a continuous stream; the sun, sand and black and white, wall-to-wall volume, a crescendo-ing cacophony of a collective consciousness was stirring the Rams to gargantuan efforts. Arsenal began to cower and fear took hold. I don’t remember Vic Moreland’s equaliser, but I do remember the rocket-propelled roar and the terrace surge as pure pandemonium broke out in the Pop Side. Now, with clock ticking down, 43 minutes had flashed by, we sung to kingdom come. Last minute, Langan...to Carter...Carter in the corner, crosses to Duncan and bullet-header...Jennings’s dustbin-lid sized hand parries...on to the post... and out for a corner....Ohhhhhhh! How we re-coiled....

But wait...Carter’s corner, inch perfect...Duncan again...bullet forehead, ball bulges onion-bag...Goallllllllllllll, the roar again...3-2...mayhem....Final Whistle....Oh fffffff...foot-balll!

As I walked from the ground, outside an Arsenal fan exclaimed, “Liam Brady walks on water, but he can’t run on sand!”. I’d been to the Baseball Ground many times before, but now as a 14 year old, I properly realised how the combination of the architecture – tight, compact stands that trapped the sound, sending it ping-ponging around the entire ground, the proximity of the pitch, and how the fanatical Rams fans, touched by the memory of magic, Real Madrid floodlit nights, - could all combine to fuel an energy that transmitted from the terraces to the men in white just yards away.

Outside, I watched as the Gooners’ team coach drove away...Pat Jennings saw me stare from his front window seat and tipped me a wink. Monday’s Daily Mail match report described how Arsenal bemoaned that Derby had transmitted the sound of the 16,429 fans through the PA system, in amplification. As if... It was just a special place; and I was there.

What's yourn?

[Gypsy Ram]

All that i remember apart from getting pictures done with Craig Short, Paul Simpson, Tommy and Marco is the ironic: "Kitson, what's the scores", chant. For the life of me, i cant remember the game, but it was 3-1 to the rams.

Edit:

Also being taken to the front to watch games by fellow Rams as i was a wee short kid and couldn't see anything.

[sunnyhill60]

The BBG wasn't so special when I first started going to games in the 60s with plenty of empty spaces on the terraces, but I still loved going. How different it was standing on the Popside in the 70s on the European nights, they were the highlights for me. Beating Benfica, led by Eusebio, 3-0 was just one of the many magical nights. But it was the players on the pitch and the event -the European Cup - that made it special not the ground.

If we had now the players we had then Pride Park would be just as special. I don't miss having to arrive 45 minutes before kick off to get a good spot on the terrace, the struggle to get to the toilet or the crush on leaving.

When the fans decide to make it happen, as they have done the past 2 home games, the atmosphere generated at pride Park can be electric.

[Pearl Ram]

I remember Bob Wilson having to change his shorts as his original pair fell victim to the famous BBG pitch and were soaked and caked in mud,

The late Trevor Hockey a heavily bearded Sheffield United midfielder being snarled at werewolf style every time he touched the ball, Charlie George coming over to the Popside blowing us kisses after he scored for the Arsenal and just about everybody trying to gob on him. Not long after of course, we worshipped him haha.

Two Alan Hinton screamers in a 2 - 0 win over Everton, that night against Benfica...Ian Storey Moore signing for us on the pitch, live on ITV's On The Ball, a big deal in those days, if I had the time there would be loads more of course but I've got to get ready for work.

It's one of the good things about getting on in age, being at the Basie when the League Champions trophy was being paraded. Happy Days.

[Gritstone Ram]

6 hours ago, Ellafella said:

I know...it's probably been done to death but...oh it was special...

How apt: the very final game at the famous old Baseball Ground was against the Arsenal. I am minded of a game some years earlier against the same opposition, for it was an occasion that really brought home to me just how special the place was; a true theatre of football:

The date: 8th September 1979. A sultry sunny September Saturday of an Indian summer. Sweat, cig-smoke and the smell of alcohol-breath fused with hot-dog onions filled the Pop Side air. Arsenal were in town, a side replete with silky, star-studded names that dripped from the tongue like golden syrup: Pat Jennings, Liam Brady, Sammy Nelson-the bum-show-er, O’Leary, Hollins, Rix, Talbot, Stapleton and Alan Sunderland, all perm and moustachioed; the latter two had, in May, ripped the FA Cup from Man Utd in the final of the century. For Derby there was no longer a Gemmill, a Hector, a McFarland or Todd, or even a Charles George. In rapt contra-distinction we had a ring of Irish: Aiden McCafferey, Vic Morland, David Langan, Andy Crawford, and a liquorice-assortment of stalwarts like David Webb, Steve Powell and Steve Buckley, all honest triers but in truth it was thoroughbreds v also-rans, giant oak trees against mere saplings.  We did though have John Duncan, Scottish International all handsome and broad, and neat, and the winger called Gordon Hill, who had killed Rams at Hillsborough in the FA Cup semi just 3 years before. The Baseball Ground was synonymous with trench mud but even that was no more. But there wasn’t a blade of grass either. Instead the surface was 35 tonnes of hard golden sand; had the ref entered the arena carrying a beach-ball nobody would have batted an eye lid. In the pre-match kick-in, wisps of disturbed sand danced on the air. The first half was a foregone conclusion long before 45 mins was up with Arsenal commanding a 2-0 lead.

Then during the break, something strange began to occur. As sun and heat and alcohol combined, the Pop Side found its voice and songs of deep Derby irony began to fill the air...”You need SAND to hold a lit-tul bay-bee, you need SAND to wipe away a tear...” and “Mr SAND-Man,  bring me a dream (bung, bung, bung bung...”). At first, it was a mere ironic acceptance of the Derby team’s fate, but as the 2nd half kicked-off, with Rams attacking the Ossie End, what started to unfurl was a truly remarkable 45 mins. If only we could get one back. Suddenly, Buckley, with lump-hammer left peg, drove the ball at Jennings from 30 yards. The ball, zipped, and dipped, and hit the ground, leather travelling and bouncing on sand, and, smacked the back of the net with Jennings flapping on the floor; 1-2, Pop Side all erupting in Vesuvian delight, a deafening Derbyshire din of high decibel noise. The sound became a continuous stream; the sun, sand and black and white, wall-to-wall volume, a crescendo-ing cacophony of a collective consciousness was stirring the Rams to gargantuan efforts. Arsenal began to cower and fear took hold. I don’t remember Vic Moreland’s equaliser, but I do remember the rocket-propelled roar and the terrace surge as pure pandemonium broke out in the Pop Side. Now, with clock ticking down, 43 minutes had flashed by, we sung to kingdom come. Last minute, Langan...to Carter...Carter in the corner, crosses to Duncan and bullet-header...Jennings’s dustbin-lid sized hand parries...on to the post... and out for a corner....Ohhhhhhh! How we re-coiled....

But wait...Carter’s corner, inch perfect...Duncan again...bullet forehead, ball bulges onion-bag...Goallllllllllllll, the roar again...3-2...mayhem....Final Whistle....Oh fffffff...foot-balll!

As I walked from the ground, outside an Arsenal fan exclaimed, “Liam Brady walks on water, but he can’t run on sand!”. I’d been to the Baseball Ground many times before, but now as a 14 year old, I properly realised how the combination of the architecture – tight, compact stands that trapped the sound, sending it ping-ponging around the entire ground, the proximity of the pitch, and how the fanatical Rams fans, touched by the memory of magic, Real Madrid floodlit nights, - could all combine to fuel an energy that transmitted from the terraces to the men in white just yards away.

Outside, I watched as the Gooners’ team coach drove away...Pat Jennings saw me stare from his front window seat and tipped me a wink. Monday’s Daily Mail match report described how Arsenal bemoaned that Derby had transmitted the sound of the 16,429 fans through the PA system, in amplification. As if... It was just a special place; and I was there.

What's yourn?

So many to think of.

I remember the dark narrow streets around the ground. The packed popside on a fa cup replay in January with stream rising up from the crowd.

Footballing wise wasn't great to start with. My memories started around the time of the 3 - 2 victory v Arsenal. I remember a lot of fans favorites like Charlie George,  Archie Gemmill,  Roy McFarland and The King returning to the Hallowed Turf. They weren't the answer to our slide. Growing up through the years with Derby at the BBG was like a soap opera. With the crowd surrounding the pitch and legging up a Fulham player. Talk of having to replay the match and empty terraces. 

A slide to Division 3 then a climb back to the top flight.

I can remember our first season at Pride Park looking out of the West Stand concourse window and seeing the old BBG floodlights and thinking I miss that place already.

[Pearl Ram]

Gordon Bennett, how could I forget Norman Hunter being enlightened by Franny....

[loweman2]

This day was special !

[loweman2]

Promotion days were always special !! Oooh aaah Robin Van de Laan 

[Ellafella]

Brilliant pictures.  

[Ellafella]

7 hours ago, Gypsy Ram said:

All that i remember apart from getting pictures done with Craig Short, Paul Simpson, Tommy and Marco is the ironic: "Kitson, what's the scores", chant. For the life of me, i cant remember the game, but it was 3-1 to the rams.

Edit:

Also being taken to the front to watch games by fellow Rams as i was a wee short kid and couldn't see anything.

I suspect it was Newcastle if I remember correctly; Kitson moved to Geordies after Derby. 

[rynny]

9 hours ago, Gypsy Ram said:

All that i remember apart from getting pictures done with Craig Short, Paul Simpson, Tommy and Marco is the ironic: "Kitson, what's the scores", chant. For the life of me, i cant remember the game, but it was 3-1 to the rams.

Edit:

Also being taken to the front to watch games by fellow Rams as i was a wee short kid and couldn't see anything.

 

1 hour ago, Ellafella said:

I suspect it was Newcastle if I remember correctly; Kitson moved to Geordies after Derby. 

Kitson only played once at the BBG after leaving us, for West Ham, which is the game I always think of first when thinking about the BBG.

We won 1-0, Asanovic scored a penalty, as a 11 year old all I really remember was singing We are Derby, Super Derby for the whole of the second half, except from when the ref gave the penalty until we had finished cheering the goal then straight back into it.

[Belle vue ram]

The bar at back of key stand seemed cold grey and massive to me as a kid in 70,s remember t massive prints of players on the walls in black and white

[richinspain]

The smell! Having only been to a handful of games at Pride Park football for me is as much the "aroma" on a cold, damp Wednesday night. I can still smell without having to try too hard. That and my nana's homemade mince pies. Why have tears come to my eyes?  ?

[Papahet]

The last season at the BBG, we made so many good sides look very ordinary. The following two seasons at PP was even better, but we put in some pretty decent performances for a newly promoted side. These three games stick out the most from 96/97. I only properly started going the season before, so the Tranmere performance (Simmo hat trick), having got hammered at their place and the Palace promotion game also stand out.

 

[LesterRam]

I miss the BBG, I don't miss waiting 40 minutes after the game at the chippie 

[Curtains]

That's me and my son in Ossie Upper. 

[loweman2]

You can almost feel the hairs on the back of your neck start to tingle !!!

[loweman2]

[loweman2]

[loweman2]

18 minutes ago, LesterRam said:

I miss the BBG, I don't miss waiting 40 minutes after the game at the chippie