Fans not from Derbyshire...

[bristolram]

born Derby and lived there until 19, then went to Bristol, now in SW London. love going back to derbados regularly for the rams or a good walk in the Peaks

[LeedsCityRam]

On 08/08/2021 at 19:43, Detroit Derby Fan said:

Greetings from "Across the pond" in Detroit. It took me while to gather my thoughts on this topic and commit to posting them.  

My Derby fandom arrived much later in life, at 45 years of age.   I grew up in Detroit and have always supported Detroit sports teams, as well as Michigan State and Notre Dame University.  I grew up playing soccer, as did my father, who emigrated from Croatia, as well as two of my three boys.  My middle son and I started following the club in the 2013-14 season. We were interested in finding an English team to follow and knowing Andy Appleby as a fellow metro-Detroiter we started to follow Derby, originally only through the team's twitter feed and the occasional broadcast on BEIN network.  We watched them through the playoff victory against Brighton, then the calamity against QPR.  

An additional Detroit-Derby link is through Roger Faulkner, a Derby supporter who was one of the co-owners of Detroit's 1970s NASL team, the Express.  

As we are acclimated to unfortunate twists of fate with our Detroit-area teams,(ie the Detroit Lions NFL team)  the playoff final defeat cemented our support of Derby County.  In the years since, we are charter subscribers of RamsTV  and are now able to follow a number of games on ESPN Plus.  I also follow this forum on a daily basis and do admire the folks who frequent this Board, such as B4 and David.  Your deep, heartfelt support of the club, usually with a healthy dose of humor, is a joy to peruse through these cyber-pages.   

Other random observations from the Motor City:

 - Whether my son and I ever get to Pride Park remains to be seen, it is definitely on our bucket list.  If any forum goers are in the neighborhood, I would be delighted to treat you a Detroit City FC soccer game.  They are our local team and have a game atmosphere that supporters such as yourselves can appreciate. 

- While Mel Morris has his detractors these days, in my view he was spot-on with regard to EFL television rights. They are tremendously undervalued.  The Championship is the most entertaining overseas league to watch, in my view.  The Premier League top clubs are usually the in the same group of 4-6.  The Bundesliga, La Liga, League 1 and Serie A are all dominated by super clubs, with the remaining teams just trying to stay up. What fun is that? The Championship season is a rock-fight every year. Evenly matched teams with historic rivalries.  A crabs-in-the-bucket attempted escape through either the untold fortunes of promotion or the richest game in football.  Conversely,  the trap door of relegation immerses a club in financial quicksand, without parachute payments to assist out of the morass.  

-  In a way, the reduced expectations of this year may make for a more enjoyable season than chasing promotion.  If the club average one point a game, they will be in a position to stay up at the end, which is the goal of this year.  In any other recent season a home draw to Huddersfield would be met with concern from Derby supporters. This year, it feels like a win. 

- Thank you for your contributions to the forum, which I have enjoyed reading through the years. I hope to meet up with some of your some day either at Pride Park or the next time Derby launch a summer tour of the US. 

- COYR

 

 

Brilliant post & welcome to the forum

Detroit such a fascinating city - massive similarities with Derby with being a automotive manufacturing city but Derby never had Motown ?

Sorry to say though I'm a massive Wisconsin sport fan - I'm all about those Green Bay Packers & Milwaukee Bucks ??

[DarkFruitsRam7]

On 08/08/2021 at 22:33, uttoxram75 said:

We must have shared the same train a few times. Always a group of us got on at Uttoxeter station back then.

Do you still get the train from Utch? 

[Boycie]

8 minutes ago, DarkFruitsRam7 said:

Do you still get the train from Utch? 

A yellow mini bus collects them all and takes them.  Not sure if it’s yellow anymore though?

[EtoileSportiveDeDerby]

On 08/08/2021 at 19:43, Detroit Derby Fan said:

Greetings from "Across the pond" in Detroit. It took me while to gather my thoughts on this topic and commit to posting them.  

My Derby fandom arrived much later in life, at 45 years of age.   I grew up in Detroit and have always supported Detroit sports teams, as well as Michigan State and Notre Dame University.  I grew up playing soccer, as did my father, who emigrated from Croatia, as well as two of my three boys.  My middle son and I started following the club in the 2013-14 season. We were interested in finding an English team to follow and knowing Andy Appleby as a fellow metro-Detroiter we started to follow Derby, originally only through the team's twitter feed and the occasional broadcast on BEIN network.  We watched them through the playoff victory against Brighton, then the calamity against QPR.  

An additional Detroit-Derby link is through Roger Faulkner, a Derby supporter who was one of the co-owners of Detroit's 1970s NASL team, the Express.  

As we are acclimated to unfortunate twists of fate with our Detroit-area teams,(ie the Detroit Lions NFL team)  the playoff final defeat cemented our support of Derby County.  In the years since, we are charter subscribers of RamsTV  and are now able to follow a number of games on ESPN Plus.  I also follow this forum on a daily basis and do admire the folks who frequent this Board, such as B4 and David.  Your deep, heartfelt support of the club, usually with a healthy dose of humor, is a joy to peruse through these cyber-pages.   

Other random observations from the Motor City:

 - Whether my son and I ever get to Pride Park remains to be seen, it is definitely on our bucket list.  If any forum goers are in the neighborhood, I would be delighted to treat you a Detroit City FC soccer game.  They are our local team and have a game atmosphere that supporters such as yourselves can appreciate. 

- While Mel Morris has his detractors these days, in my view he was spot-on with regard to EFL television rights. They are tremendously undervalued.  The Championship is the most entertaining overseas league to watch, in my view.  The Premier League top clubs are usually the in the same group of 4-6.  The Bundesliga, La Liga, League 1 and Serie A are all dominated by super clubs, with the remaining teams just trying to stay up. What fun is that? The Championship season is a rock-fight every year. Evenly matched teams with historic rivalries.  A crabs-in-the-bucket attempted escape through either the untold fortunes of promotion or the richest game in football.  Conversely,  the trap door of relegation immerses a club in financial quicksand, without parachute payments to assist out of the morass.  

-  In a way, the reduced expectations of this year may make for a more enjoyable season than chasing promotion.  If the club average one point a game, they will be in a position to stay up at the end, which is the goal of this year.  In any other recent season a home draw to Huddersfield would be met with concern from Derby supporters. This year, it feels like a win. 

- Thank you for your contributions to the forum, which I have enjoyed reading through the years. I hope to meet up with some of your some day either at Pride Park or the next time Derby launch a summer tour of the US. 

- COYR

 

 

Great post and analogies, Crab-in-the bucket escape, financial quicksand etc...You should write a match report sometimes, that would be good. 

PS. At the moment it feels more like black hole than quicksand btw ?

[Crewton]

Born and raised in Derby. My Dad took me to my first game when I was 3, not sure exactly when (he couldn't remember either, nor who we were playing) or why he suddenly decided to take me, but I do have a dim recollection of standing on the stub wall around the pitch in the Vulcan hanging on to the red hooped railing and later being dumped at the back of the Popside while he watched the rest of the game (I assume I got bored). He didn't take me again until a preseason friendly vs Hearts in 1967 I think, which is when I started to take an active interest in the Rams. I got my first season ticket and started going regularly in 69/70 (glory hunter). 

Left Derby at 19 to go to Uni and over the next 40 years, living and working in various places across the South-East, the last dozen or so years in the Smoke. In the early years I probably went to as many away games as home games, and sometimes economics determined that I only went to a dozen games a season, but when Pride Park was opened I decided to bite the bullet and get a ST again and I've been in the East Stand ever since. 

I'm now retired back in Derbyshire and appreciating not having to travel so much, but the Rams have always been the constant that has maintained my connections with the County, the City and my family and oldest friends. 

 

[Woodley Ram]

born in Wirksworth, have lived all over the world as a child and adult, never really lived in Derby so do not have a Derby accent. The Woodley in Woodley Ram is for Woodley just outside Reading. 

As for supporting the rams......why wouldnt you some things are just black and white

[Ratpackram]

I started my love affair with the rams back in 76 as an 8 year old living near c Burnley because of players like Archie gemmil, Bruce rioch, David nish ..... Apparently I'm taking the blame as we haven't won anything since I became a fan ..... I'm really really sorry 

[uttoxram75]

3 hours ago, DarkFruitsRam7 said:

Do you still get the train from Utch? 

Now and again, usually it’s a minibus but we have a problem with it so looks like more games on the train this season!

 

[uttoxram75]

3 hours ago, Boycie said:

A yellow mini bus collects them all and takes them.  Not sure if it’s yellow anymore though?

We are rather special over here tbf…

[DarkFruitsRam7]

6 minutes ago, uttoxram75 said:

Now and again, usually it’s a minibus but we have a problem with it so looks like more games on the train this season!

 

I think I’ll be going via Sheffield for most games this season, but I’ll probably be going via Stoke and coming through Uttoxeter for the Forest game. Let me know if you’re getting the train for that one and I’ll say hi.

Edited August 13, 2021 by DarkFruitsRam7

[LichvegasRam]

Born in Lichfield and couldn't stand Villa like everyone else in Lichfield. My dad took me to Derby to get me to a family friendly club away from swearing brummie yobs!

Now living down in Borehamwood so if any other Rams fans are down here, let me know.

[Boycie]

19 minutes ago, LichvegasRam said:

Born in Lichfield and couldn't stand Villa like everyone else in Lichfield. My dad took me to Derby to get me to a family friendly club away from swearing brummie yobs!

Now living down in Borehamwood so if any other Rams fans are down here, let me know.

What’s the local league team to Borehamwood?

[sage]

2 minutes ago, Boycie said:

What’s the local league team to Borehamwood?

Watford or Arsenal. 

[OUTSIDER]

On 08/08/2021 at 23:02, Stagtime said:

It’s a pity the club doesn’t do a supporters membership for fans that can’t get to Derby. The club I follow here do one and send it around the world, usually a cap, a car sticker, lanyard etc. I’m sure they would sell well.

there is an international rams that is run by Bernadette and she has been great at helping with fans out side of GB top lady

[LichvegasRam]

31 minutes ago, Boycie said:

What’s the local league team to Borehamwood?

In fairness, I only moved here 2 weeks ago!

Borehamwood FC in the National League might become my second team when the rams aren't at home. Especaily with cheap tickets and a 5 minute walk from home

[Wistaston Ram]

1 hour ago, LichvegasRam said:

Born in Lichfield and couldn't stand Villa like everyone else in Lichfield. My dad took me to Derby to get me to a family friendly club away from swearing brummie yobs!

Now living down in Borehamwood so if any other Rams fans are down here, let me know.

Nice to hear from another Lichfield born ram. There weren't many of us at my school, vastly outnumbered by Villa and Man U fans. Still at least there weren't any forest or Leeds fans I knew of!

[Boycie]

55 minutes ago, sage said:

Watford or Arsenal. 

I never saw his lips move. ?

[ariotofmyown]

On 08/08/2021 at 19:43, Detroit Derby Fan said:

Greetings from "Across the pond" in Detroit. It took me while to gather my thoughts on this topic and commit to posting them.  

My Derby fandom arrived much later in life, at 45 years of age.   I grew up in Detroit and have always supported Detroit sports teams, as well as Michigan State and Notre Dame University.  I grew up playing soccer, as did my father, who emigrated from Croatia, as well as two of my three boys.  My middle son and I started following the club in the 2013-14 season. We were interested in finding an English team to follow and knowing Andy Appleby as a fellow metro-Detroiter we started to follow Derby, originally only through the team's twitter feed and the occasional broadcast on BEIN network.  We watched them through the playoff victory against Brighton, then the calamity against QPR.  

An additional Detroit-Derby link is through Roger Faulkner, a Derby supporter who was one of the co-owners of Detroit's 1970s NASL team, the Express.  

As we are acclimated to unfortunate twists of fate with our Detroit-area teams,(ie the Detroit Lions NFL team)  the playoff final defeat cemented our support of Derby County.  In the years since, we are charter subscribers of RamsTV  and are now able to follow a number of games on ESPN Plus.  I also follow this forum on a daily basis and do admire the folks who frequent this Board, such as B4 and David.  Your deep, heartfelt support of the club, usually with a healthy dose of humor, is a joy to peruse through these cyber-pages.   

Other random observations from the Motor City:

 - Whether my son and I ever get to Pride Park remains to be seen, it is definitely on our bucket list.  If any forum goers are in the neighborhood, I would be delighted to treat you a Detroit City FC soccer game.  They are our local team and have a game atmosphere that supporters such as yourselves can appreciate. 

- While Mel Morris has his detractors these days, in my view he was spot-on with regard to EFL television rights. They are tremendously undervalued.  The Championship is the most entertaining overseas league to watch, in my view.  The Premier League top clubs are usually the in the same group of 4-6.  The Bundesliga, La Liga, League 1 and Serie A are all dominated by super clubs, with the remaining teams just trying to stay up. What fun is that? The Championship season is a rock-fight every year. Evenly matched teams with historic rivalries.  A crabs-in-the-bucket attempted escape through either the untold fortunes of promotion or the richest game in football.  Conversely,  the trap door of relegation immerses a club in financial quicksand, without parachute payments to assist out of the morass.  

-  In a way, the reduced expectations of this year may make for a more enjoyable season than chasing promotion.  If the club average one point a game, they will be in a position to stay up at the end, which is the goal of this year.  In any other recent season a home draw to Huddersfield would be met with concern from Derby supporters. This year, it feels like a win. 

- Thank you for your contributions to the forum, which I have enjoyed reading through the years. I hope to meet up with some of your some day either at Pride Park or the next time Derby launch a summer tour of the US. 

- COYR

 

 

Loved that post! Hope you keep posting.

Interesting about your Croatia heritage as well. Surely we'll only become good again once we have a couple of Croatians back in our team.

Watching Asanovic play for Croatia in Euro 96, after we had signed him, must have been one of my best footballing memories.

[BucksRam]

Loving this thread - fascinating to hear people's stories and great so see Rams fans spread far and wide especially those of us that have no direct connection with Derby (that includes me being Bucks born and bred) yet have chosen to follow and support this club through thick and thin.