11th May 1997.
The above date is one that will forever be embroidered into the history of Derby County.Today marks 20 years since the Rams played their last-ever league game at the Baseball Ground.
Over the course of this season, Derby supporters have been sending in their most iconic and unique memories of the club’s historic old home to our official matchday programme, The Ram, and today, dcfc.co.uk revisits them.
Below are the final seven memories to conclude our Baseball Ground remembered series…
MARTIN FISHER
Like many youngsters in this part of the world it was a dream of mine to play for Derby County and in a manner of speaking I did. I played RECORDS for the Rams in my role as stadium announcer at the Baseball Ground, a role I held between 1986 and 1988!They were great days as Derby won the old Second Division title and then safely negotiated that tricky first season back in the big time. My match seat was along from the dugout within ear shot of Arthur Cox, the manager, who once leant across to tell me not to shout so loud. That was rich coming from him!Just before half-time I would make my way to the mouth of the tunnel ready to be in my broadcast booth when the referee blew his whistle for the break. I was stood there when a young chap from Newcastle United called Paul Gascoigne was sent off. As he reached the touchline he saw Gordon Guthrie's magic sponge in its bucket of water… before I had the chance to duck he had booted the contents all over me. Two years later Gazza lit up Italia '90.
IAN GUILDFORD
Back in the day, so long ago that I actually had hair and a social life, I was fortunate enough to work within the inner-sanctum of the Baseball Ground as the club’s first Press Officer.When I joined, Arthur Cox was manager and Michael Dunford was chief executive, and I think the entire staff amounted to about a dozen people working from a rat-run of offices underneath the old B Stand. My office doubled up as the press room on matchdays, it had no windows and you could just about fit 10-or-so journos in there at a squeeze. Mind you, it did also have a well-stocked bar! The job did afford me close access to the players of the day, as well as to the manager and, while Arthur was hard work at times – he didn’t really like to share too much with the media – he was always very kind to me and I often shared afternoons chatting with him in the old board room (which he used as his office during the week) about anything related to football. It was during one such afternoon natter that the phone rang for Arthur and Kevin Keegan was on the other end of the line. He was manager of Newcastle at that time but still clearly held Arthur in high regard and was ringing for some advice about how to deal with his chairman over a broken promise on transfer funds. Arthur told him to stand his ground, walk out if necessary, and that the club would soon come round to his side of things. Those of you with a good memory will recall that is exactly what happened… 'King Kevin' walked out and, after a few days in the Florida sunshine, he was ushered back into St James’ Park no doubt with his transfer kitty suitably swelled. The other great character that lurked in the bowels of the BBG was chief scout Jimmy Sirrell, who knew everything about everyone. I do recall him telling me about a wasted trip to Ireland to watch a young player: “He doesnay do enough when he hasnay got the ball,” bemoaned Jimmy in his Glaswegian drawl.Sadly, the player dismissed was Roy Keane.
STEVE NICHOLSON
Famous Derby County victories under the floodlights are part of Baseball Ground folklore.Those who squeezed in to see the Rams leave the aristocrats of Chelsea battered and bewildered in a League Cup tie in 1968 will never forget the crackling atmosphere.Nor will those who were wedged in and witnessed the displays of startling brilliance that demolished European giants Benfica and Real Madrid in the Seventies.The 'traditional' football ground tended or tends still today to create and hold an atmosphere better than its modern counterparts - the Baseball Ground being an example - and I wish I'd have been in the Press Box on those nights mentioned above.I was on another memorable night in May 1986. To set the scene, it was the penultimate game in Derby's second season in the third tier of English football. They needed to find a route back to the top division and clawing their way out of the old Third Division would be a crucial first step.Rotherham United were the visitors and victory would secure promotion, behind champions Reading and Plymouth Argyle. Anything less would leave the outcome hanging on the Rams' final game at Darlington.This all added to the excitement, and to the nerves.The nerves eased when substitute Phil Gee rifled home a low shot after 77 minutes to put Derby ahead only for Rotherham to draw level two minutes later through Mike Trusson.Derby would not be denied. Only six minutes remained when the ball was on the penalty spot. All eyes were on Rams striker Trevor Christie and he mastered the tension to beat Kelham O'Hanlon comprehensively. Derby were up.Joy mingled with relief because the Third Division had been a long and hard road but now the impressive climb under Arthur Cox and Roy McFarland was well under way.The players returned to the dressing room after a lap of honour and I set about gathering quotes for the next day's Derby Telegraph.Phil Gee had recently broken into the first team after a goal-laden season in the Reserves. Part of my job in what was my first season at the Telegraph, 1985/86, was to cover the Reserves and so I was delighted for Phil. As I sat next to him, notebook and pen at the ready while he sipped champagne, it was Derby's experienced midfielder John Gregory who offered a quote, saying: "Gee-Gee thinks all seasons end with champagne!"The 2-1 victory over Rotherham was perhaps not as high-profile as the demolitions of Chelsea, Benfica and Real Madrid but it was still a night of high drama.All in all it was a 24 hours or so I will never forget.
BRIAN HARRISON
My favourite game from the Baseball Ground era was the League Cup tie against the mighty Chelsea in 1968. I was 13-years-old at the time and completely football-mad. Derby were my favourite team, but to see them in action against that Chelsea side from the First Division was a dream come true and a night I would never forget regardless of the result. Chelsea were a fashionable club from the Capital, whilst the Rams were just coming good in the Second Division under the one and only Brian Clough. The stadium was rocking with an attendance in excess of 34,000 and the atmosphere was electric. The team were on a good run of form and the promotion push was well and truly underway, but in this game, Chelsea’s all-star team dominated the early part of the game. They went ahead with a screamer from Alan Birchenall from fully 30 yards, but after that, the Rams held their own against the fancied opposition. Then in the last 15 minutes all hell was let loose. Willie Carlin back heeled to the mercurial Dave Mackay who hit a rasping, dipping shot from 30 yards. That was followed up with goals from Alan Durban and then ‘The King’ Kevin Hector finished them off. The crowd roared on the Rams and the victory went down in history. I was so excited as a teenager watching my team rattle the fancied team from London and went home to Belper feeling on top of the world! PETER BOOTH
The date: September 28th 1946, the scene: Baseball Ground, DerbyI am an eight-year-old boy and this was my first league match. I am with my dad; we have parked at the roadside not far from the ground and joined the hundreds and thousands walking to towards the turnstiles. After buying a matchday programme at one of the terraced houses, we enter through an iron turnstile that I can barely push, then up endless stairs to the Normanton Upper Stand, where we sit directly behind the goal.The view of the stadium was awe-inspiring at my age. Huge stands and terraces – mostly roofed, some with advertising – I remember Offilers’ Ales. Against the stark, dark, stands the emerald green turf (it is very early in the season!) was vibrant, and became more so when the teams emerged, the Rams, in their crisp black and white, and Blackpool in white shorts and vivid tangerine shirts.Some of the players are already legends, Stamps, Carter, and Doherty for Derby and Matthews and Mortensen for Blackpool. The match is a bit of a blur, but the end result disappointing {Blackpool won 2-1), but I was left with a compulsion to return as soon as possible. Seventy years on and I have returned many times, still feeling that same urge to return game after game. My memories of Derby County matches embrace every emotion, but I will never forget the excitement of that first big game at the good old Baseball Ground. PHILLIP JONES
I started attending matches back in December 1988 when I was just seven-years-old. I stood in the 'Key Club' area, which was accessed with a plastic key! For my first game, I saw Derby lose 1-0 to Luton Town and, mainly, I remember it being a dire game and not being the most enthralling spectacle to introduce me to the game of football, but I still loved it. From then on it was always me and my dad, come rain or shine, come day or night. That’s where my passion for the Rams started. I'll always remember excitedly walking through Normanton with a solid wooden box that I used to stand on in a corner next to a metal fence. I was high above everyone else and had a great view! For most kids, a milk crate was their pedestal for the match. The following season I decided to get closer to the action and gained my stance right at the front alongside many other kids whilst the parents stood back up the terrace. I even got my picture into a matchday programme once, when they ran a feature known as a 'Face in the Crowd'. Over the many years I sat/stood in different stands but you couldn’t beat the atmosphere of standing on the Popside. Those are my greatest memories of the old Baseball Ground, feelings and memories that just cannot be replicated.
MIKE FALLOWS
Derby County Vs Tottenham Hotspur; September 20th 1969. The day history was made.This game has to be my favourite memory of all time. The Rams were still unbeaten on their return to Division One. I was so excited I can remember going down to the ground as usual on the morning of the game and the crowd were queuing at the turn styles from about 12pm.Living so close to the ground, my dad brother and I always left at 2.40pm to walk down. On this day the crowds were incredible. The game kicked off the atmosphere was electric. There were 41,826 of us locked in which is still a club record to this very day. The Rams were soon 2-0 up kicking towards the Normanton End. Alan Durban and Kevin Hector were the scorers and the crowd was going mad. Then there was Jimmy Greaves, who hit a volley at the Osmaston End towards the top corner which Les Green dived to his right and caught. I still say that is the greatest save I have seen in a game. Just before half time Alan Hinton took a corner from the boys end and Willie Carlin the smallest player on the pitch headed it in 3-0 at half time I was in dream Spurs were in shock. After half-time the Rams scored goals four and five through Durban and John O’Hare. We won 5-0 against the mighty Spurs. The crowd were singing “when the Rams go marching in” and the ground was rocking. Spurs left the pitch shell-shocked. I could not wait for the highlights on Star Soccer on the Sunday afternoon. Derby were now 11 games unbeaten in Division 1, Derby County were a force and competing at the highest level in English Football.
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