Derby County will be looking to make it three wins in a row for the first time this season when they take on Cambridge United at Pride Park Stadium in Sky Bet League One action on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
The Rams go into the game off the back of two 2-0 victories over Lincoln City and Carlisle United, in the EFL Trophy and League One respectively, and will be looking for a similar outcome against Mark Bonner's side.
In the lead-up to the game getting underway, dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you need to know...
Rams Team News
Midfielder Max Bird (ankle) has resumed training after over a month out of action and is set to be available for selection on Saturday.
Midfielder Liam Thompson (quad) remains out after picking up an injury in training towards the end of August.
On-loan midfielder Elliot Embleton has returned to his parent club Sunderland for rehabilitation after picking up a long-term quad injury in training last week.
Captain Conor Hourihane (hamstring) is close to a return to training after two weeks out but Saturday will come too soon for him.
On-loan Arsenal striker Tyreece John-Jules (quad) remains out as he continues his recovery from an injury he picked up in training earlier this month.
Right-sider Joe Ward (heel)
remains on the sidelines but he is also making steady progress in his
rehabilitation work and should resume training next month.
Defender Jake Rooney (knee) has undergone surgery on his damaged ACL and is
set to be out of action for a lengthy period of time.
Pre-Match Thoughts
Head Coach Paul Warne spoke to RamsTV on Thursday morning to preview Saturday's match.
He said: "Mark Bonner has built a new team this summer, recruited really well and got some really good experience along the back line. The two games we had with Cambridge last year were really tough and they will come here with a real confidence.
"We will have to be at our very best, possibly better than we have been so far at home, to get a win."
Defender Eiran Cashin spoke to RamsTV ahead of the side's return to Pride Park this weekend.
He said:" Hopefully it can be a really good period for us with three games this week."
"Recovery and everything around that is massive so hopefully we can get a win on Saturday and then we need to focus on doing the right things off the pitch as well as on it to make sure we have the right numbers and energy to keep going."
Match Officials
Ollie Yates will take charge of Saturday's fixture between The Rams and The U's.
He will be assisted by Grant Taylor and Ollie Williams whilst Conor Brown has been appointed as Fourth Official for the contest.
Yates has taken charge of seven games so far this season and distributed 22 yellow cards across those fixtures and awarded three penalties. He is yet to send anyone off in this campaign.
Ticket Information
There's still time to secure your ticket for Saturday's game on home turf.
Off Sale Details
Tickets will go off sale ONLINE two hours prior to kick off
Tickets will go off sale via TELEPHONE one hour prior to kick off
Tickets will go off sale IN-PERSON 15 minutes after kick off
Ticket Prices
Behind Goal
£5 - Child (Age 6-12)
£10 - Junior (Age 13-17)
£15 - Young Adult (Age 18-21)
£20 - Adult (Age 22-64)
£15 - Senior (Age 65+)
FREE - Infants (Age 2-5)
Corner
£6 - Child (Age 6-12)
£12 - Junior (Age 13-17)
£18 - Young Adult (Age 18-21)
£24 - Adult (Age 22-64)
£18 - Senior (Age 65+)
FREE - Infants (Age 2-5)
Sideline
£7 - Child (Age 6-12)
£14 - Junior (Age 13-17)
£21 - Young Adult (Age 18-21)
£28 - Adult (Age 22-64)
£21 - Senior (Age 65+)
FREE - Infants (Age 2-5)
Please Note: Proof of age may be requested on entry for age-related concession tickets. Infants, Children and Juniors aged 2-15 must be accompanied by an individual aged 18+/Parent/Guardian. Disabled Supporters’ information is available by Clicking Here.
Tickets are limited to one ticket per Fan ID and are non-refundable.
How To Buy
Online (Subject to £1 per ticket Booking Fee and available up to TWO hours before kick-off)
Visit dcfc.co.uk and click ‘TICKETS’ then, under the ‘TICKETS’ section, click ‘HOME TICKETS’.
Use your Fan ID and password to log into the system. If there’s an issue, click the ‘forgot password’ link on the login page. If the issue persists, email Ticket.Office@dcfc.co.uk.
Phone (Subject to £1 per ticket Booking Fee and available up to ONE hour before kick-off)
Call 0871 472 1884 * between 10am-4pm on Monday-Saturday and select Option 1. Ensure your contact details are readily available including Fan ID, Full Name, Full Address and Date of Birth.
Tickets can either be posted up to 72 hours before matchday and are subject to £2 per Transaction Postage Fee or can collected from the Ticket Office, presented by Seat Geek, which is open 10am-4pm from Monday to Saturday and at least THREE hours before kick-off and up to half-time on home matchdays.
* 0871 numbers are charged at 13p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
In Person (No Booking Fee)
The Ticket Office, presented by Seat Geek, is open from 10am-4pm between Monday and Saturday and at least THREE hours before kick-off and up to half-time on home matchdays.
Matchday Programme
There is no more fitting accompaniment to a matchday than the club’s official programme.
The universally adored ‘The Ram’ is back once again to track Paul Warne’s side’s progress throughout what promises to be another exciting League One campaign.
Rammed with exclusive content and features, including insights from both Head Coach Warne and the dressing room, in-depth player interviews, opposition analysis, Derby County Women, an Academy round-up and historical dives, issues will be available for sale around the stadium - as always - with all sellers armed with contactless payments units.
If you can’t make every matchday this season though you can still make sure you keep your treasured collection up to date with a full season subscription.
This edition features:
* Exclusive interview with captain Conor Hourihane
* Head Coach Paul Warne's exclusive pre-match thoughts
* A closer look at Cambridge United and the test they'll post
* An in-depth chat with Derby County Women's Jess Camwell
* A review of the latest Academy news from Moor Farm
* A round-up of the news from Derby County Community Trust
* Expert insight from Derby Telegraph's Derby County writer Leigh Curtis
* A chance to test your knowledge with The Ram's Matchday Quiz
* And much, much more!
The treasured A5-size 52-page perfect-bound issues will be produced to a schedule that allows for a first-class mail out on the Friday before a weekend fixture, with midweek editions despatched on the day of the game, but this is not a pre-event delivery service.
The price to reserve this collection of memorabilia is £120, including post and packaging, or you can spread the cost by signing up to a half-season subscription for £64 until 2024 for the first 12 games.
You can pre-order now from the club’s official publishing partners Ignition Sports Media by visiting: ignitionsportsmedia.com/products/copy-of-derby-county-full-season-subscription-2023-24.
The subscriptions DO NOT include any additional domestic cup or play-off matches, which must be purchased separately.
* Please note that this subscription is not for supporters Overseas, but an Overseas Bundle is available for all editions for 2023/24 which will be despatched by international tracked courier on two occasions during the season
RamsTV Details
Domestic Streaming
This match is NOT available for live domestic streaming under the EFL’s streaming rights for the 2023/24 season.
The domestic market comprises United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.
International Streaming
All Sky Bet League One matches may be streamed outside of the domestic market irrespective of whether they have been selected for broadcast.
This means that they will be available both on a Match-by-Match basis and for monthly subscribers.
To buy the match as a Match-by-Match fixture, for £10 per match, or to subscribe to RamsTV on a monthly basis for £19.99 per month, click here.
Audio Commentary
Live audio commentary, provided by BBC Radio Derby, is available online ONLY on dcfc.co.uk.
A monthly audio subscription pass is available for £5 per month and purchases can be made by clicking here
Home Supporter Guide
If you're a Derby County supporter attending the fixture at Pride Park Stadium, you can find a wide range of details in our Home Supporter Guide by clicking here.
Visiting Supporters Guide
If you are a fan of our opposition at Pride Park Stadium, full information on visiting Derby County can be found in our Visiting Supporters Guide by clicking here.
Play Safe
Football at every level is joining forces this weekend to promote Play Safe 2023.
Play Safe is the Football Association’s national campaign to highlight the vital importance of safeguarding in the national game and it will be celebrated at Pride Park Stadium this weekend.
The campaign is officially supported by the Rams’ designated charity partner, the NSPCC.
In addition, Play Safe is backed by the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship and every level of the game, including grassroots, across England.
Derby County are once again proud to be working in partnership with Derbyshire Football Association to convey the importance of Play Safe to the local community and by making an online Play Safe Pledge.
The Derbyshire Football Association are also collaborating with grassroots clubs and leagues in the county to spread the key messages of Play Safe.
This year’s Play Safe weekend focuses on the safeguarding role EVERYONE has to play – coach, player, parent/carer, spectator or volunteer – to keep children and young people safe, no matter what the football setting. EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, EVERYTIME is encouraged to WATCH, LISTEN, TALK and ACT if they have any safeguarding concerns.
Derby’s fixture against Cambridge will see the following at Pride Park:
- Derby’s players wearing Play Safe t-shirts in the pre-match warm-up
- Head Coach Paul Warne and his staff wearing Play Safe pin-badges
- Derby and Cambridge’s captains wearing the Play Safe armbands
- Play Safe messaging and artwork appearing on the LED boards and Big Screen
- Play Safe editorial featuring in The Ram, Derby’s Matchday Programme
Of course, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If you haven’t already, why not make your own Play Safe Pledge? We encourage you to do so!
To find out more about the FA’s Safeguarding FREE Awareness Course for Parents and Carers, click here.
Safeguarding At Derby County
Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The club has systems in place to ensure that the welfare of vulnerable groups is dealt with appropriately and sensitively.
Everyone working at the club has a duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and young people by creating an environment that protects them from harm. Our standards of practice ensure all staff are fully aware and understand their responsibilities under safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
All staff are alert to signs of abuse or maltreatment and will refer concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead using the agreed safeguarding procedures.
The club ensures that all staff that have a direct responsibility for children, young people or vulnerable adults (vulnerable groups) have been subject to the most stringent of recruitment practices which include Enhanced Criminal Record Checks and reference checks.
Find out more at: dcfc.co.uk/page/safeguarding
How To Report A Safeguarding Concern
If you are a parent/carer, make yourself familiar with your child’s club welfare officer. Keep their contact number in your phone, along with the number for the NSPCC, which is 0808 800 5000. Keep up to date with the club’s safeguarding policies and procedures and check in with your child to see what they are enjoying and what they are not, and why.
If you are worried about a child, it’s vital you report your concerns. Doing nothing is not an option. It’s also important you stay calm, and if any child is present, reassure them they are not to blame. But don’t make promises of confidentiality or outcome.
If you have a safeguarding concern, there are five ways to report it:
1. To your club or league designated safeguarding officer – please find out from your club who these people are
2. To your County FA designated safeguarding officer. Jenny Blewitt is Derbyshire FA’s Safeguarding and Equality Manager
3. By emailing The FA safeguarding team at safeguarding@TheFA.com
4. If urgent and you cannot contact your club, league or County FA designated safeguarding officer, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline for expert advice and support on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk
5. If it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the Police or children's social care in your area
Football for children should be about having fun, making friends, and creating memories. Do your part, take responsibility, and help us change lives positively through football.