Derby County return to Sky Bet League One action on Saturday when they welcome Wycombe Wanderers to Pride Park Stadium (3pm kick-off).
The Rams go into the game on the back of five successive victories in the league and know another win here could potentially further cement their spot in the top six in the lead-up to Christmas.
In the lead-up to the game getting underway, dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you need to know...
Team News
Defender Ryan Nyambe is expected to return to training next week after missing the last couple of games with a groin injury.
Striker Conor Washington underwent surgery on his damaged ankle at the beginning of last week and is expected to be out of action for a number of months.
Midfielder Liam Thompson (quad) and Callum Elder (ankle) have both returned to training and will be assessed ahead of Saturday.
Korey Smith (knee) is a more long-term absentee after being injured in the 2-1 home win over Bristol Rovers last month.
Long-term absentees Jake Rooney (knee) and Elliot Embleton (quad) remain ruled out of action for the foreseeable.
Pre-Match Thoughts
Head Coach Paul Warne spoke to RamsTV to preview the return to League One action against Wycombe after a week on the training pitch.
He said: "It's about the players. They've looked more driven, more athletic and results do give you that.
"They have a lot more belief in themselves and I just think with this group now, if they are to go behind in a game then no drama, they keep to the game plan. They are in a really good place."
Defender Curtis Nelson spoke to RamsTV to discuss Saturday's clash with the Chairboys.
He said: "Every team brings a different challenge. It's important we go into the match against Wycombe on Saturday with the same mindset as we did against Leyton Orient last weekend. We're in a good place, but it's important that we always turn up and we always perform."
Ticket Information
Tickets for Saturday are still available to buy - so don't miss out!
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.
Safe Standing
Safe standing will be in place at
Pride Park Stadium for the first time this weekend.
It was announced earlier this month that work had begun to install independent safe standing barriers.
The independent barriers have been fitted in the entire upper tier of the South Stand for a total of 2,767 supporters.
Work has also started in the upper section of the South East Corner for visiting supporters, with 2,341 spaces in total being allocated to take the total across the stadium to 5,108.
The existing seats have remained in place in the selected areas and the independent barriers have simply been an addition to the current set-up and should not be confused with rail seats.
Safe standing areas are licensed by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and fans must be able to sit or stand, while the seats cannot be locked in the 'up' or 'down' position. There must also be one seat/space per person and licensed safe standing areas must not impact the viewing standards of other fans, including disabled supporters.
Stewards and staff have been briefed and are being additionally trained to ensure that only relevant ticket holders are admitted to the licensed safe standing areas. In addition, CCTV will offer full coverage of the licensed standing areas to be closely monitored.
Season Ticket Holders impacted by the installation of the independent barriers have been contacted directly via the email address registered to their Fan ID.
As Saturday’s match will be the first at Pride Park Stadium with safe standing areas in place, supporters are advised to arrive in plenty of time to ensure they are in the stadium and in their allocated space for kick-off.
Supporters in the licensed standing areas will be required to follow a Code of Conduct, which can be found below, and continue to adhere to Derby County’s ground regulations, which can viewed here: dcfc.co.uk/media/get/Ground%20Regulations%2023-24.pdf.
Safe Standing Introduction
RamsTV spoke to Simon Wake from Stadia by GL events, who have overseen the installation process at Pride Park Stadium, and Wendy Harnan-Kajzer from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to discuss the installation of the independent barriers and what it will mean for supporters.
The video can be viewed in full below.
Attending A Fixture In Derby County’s Safe Standing Areas
Below is a short information guide for those supporters who will be situated in the safe standing areas of Pride Park Stadium.
Safe Standing Code of Conduct
Derby County Football Club (the “Club”) will introduce licensed standing areas for domestic fixtures.
All supporters wishing to attend domestic fixtures in licensed standing areas are required to comply with this Code of Conduct at all times, and we ask that you read all of the information below.
The Code of Conduct does not replace any other ground rules but shall include (but not be limited to) the Club’s Ticketing Terms & Conditions, which can be found here: dcfc.co.uk/page/ticketing-useful-information.
Any non-compliance with this Code may result in sanctions being applied, including but not limited to non-admittance or ejection from the stadium and/or the Club losing the right to maintain licensed standing areas.
When attending the match in licensed standing areas, please:
- Always have your ticket available for any necessary secondary ticket checks.
- Continue to follow the instructions of stewards and other staff, who are there to ensure your safety and an enjoyable experience for everyone.
- Behave appropriately in the stand and please be respectful to others. Anti-social behaviour or any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment will not be tolerated.
- Do not stand or climb on the independent barriers or seat. The licensed standing infrastructure is there to keep you and other supporters safe.
- Unless needing to use facilities, do not move around in the safe standing area – your ticket is for your allocated space only.
- Do not stand in the gangways or on the steps to watch the match – these are for accessing and leaving your seat only.
Safe Standing At Pride Park Stadium FAQs
What is safe standing and how will this work?
Safe standing areas are licensed by the Sports Ground Safety Authority and supporters must be able to sit or stand, while the seats cannot be locked in the up or down position. There must also be one seat /space per person and licensed safe standing areas must not impact the viewing standards of other supporters, including disabled supporters. This will be done by the installation of independent safe standing barriers.
Were supporters consulted regarding safe standing?
Yes, this was discussed at a Supporters Charter Group meeting earlier this year, that the club was involved in detailed discussions with the relevant authorities around safe standing.
What areas of the stadium will safe standing be implemented?
The whole upper tier of the South Stand and the upper tier of the South-East corner for visiting supporters.
What date will Safe Standing be available from?
The home game against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday 16th December 2023 in Sky Bet League One.
Will the capacity of the stadium increase with safe standing?
No, the capacity of the stadium will remain the same and supporters must stick to their allocated numbered place within their allocated block.
Is it still possible to sit in the proposed safe standing areas?
Yes, Pride Park will remain an all-seater stadium, but the club expects that the majority of supporters will stand during matches in these areas of the stadium.
Can I opt to move my season ticket out of the South Stand if I do not wish to stay in the safe standing area?
Yes, relocations are available via the Ticket Office. An additional charge may be required if moving to more expensive areas within the stadium.
I have concerns regarding safe standing, what can I do?
Supporters with any concerns about their seat or safety at Pride Park should contact the Ticket Office directly on Ticket.Office@dcfc.co.uk or the club’s Supporter Liaison Officer on SLO@dcfc.co.uk.
More Information
More details in relation to the Sports Grounds Safety Authority’s licensed standing at football grounds can be found at: sgsa.org.uk/licensedstanding.
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 the 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 defender Jake Rooney whilst on the road to recovery from injury
* Head Coach Paul Warne's exclusive pre-match thoughts
* A closer look at Wycombe Wanderers and the test they'll pose
* A review of Derby County Women's recent form in the FA Cup and National League Plate
* 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.
Order your copy by clicking here or pick up The Ram in-and-around Pride Park Stadium ahead of kick-off.
Match Officials
Anthony Backhouse will take charge of Saturday's game with Robert Hyde and Mark Russell his assistants.
Aaron Jackson has been appointed as Fourth Official for the contest.
Backhouse has taken charge of 11 games so far this season, the majority of which have been in the Championship. He's distributed 48 yellow cards, no straight reds and awarded two penalties.
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.
Rams Remember
Rams Remember, a service launched
by Derby County seven years ago, provides supporters with the chance to
remember and celebrate the lives of friends, family and fellow
supporters who have sadly passed away over the past couple of years.
As part of the club’s continued and long-standing relationship with preferred partner Wathall’s, the club will stage two ‘Rams Remember’ fixtures at Pride Park Stadium over the course of the 2023/24 season.
They are:
Vs Wycombe Wanderers, 16th December 2023 (Submissions NOW CLOSED)
Vs Leyton Orient, 13th April 2024 (Submissions will open on 13th March 2024)
The names of those who have sadly passed away will appear across the RamsTV production ahead of kick-off at their selected fixture. Supporters should note that there is a limited capacity for names per fixture.
The video will be played at Saturday's match at 2:37pm and again at half-time.
Memorial Bricks
Engraved memorial bricks can be purchased from Wathall’s.
These are an engraved memorial brick with black slate and silver engraving and take pride of place in a dedicated memorial area on the East side of Pride Park Stadium.
There is also the opportunity for ashes to be interred with the memorial brick.
For more information, please contact Wathall’s on 01332 345268.
About Wathall’s
Wathall’s, which is Derby’s longest established independent funeral directors, works in partnership with Derby County to enable Rams fans to have a unique and personal send-off.
Wathall’s, which has branches in Derby city centre, Allestree, Alvaston, Ashbourne Borrowash and Burton-on-Trent, give families special access to Pride Park Stadium following the funeral of their loved one.
Options include the chance to place a commemorative brick and ashes around the perimeter of Pride Park Stadium; using the club logo and colours for flower arrangements and coffins; inclusion in the remembrance book at the stadium and ashes interment gatherings.
These are available either as part of a funeral pre-payment plan for someone who is in the process of planning their own funeral or to the bereaved’s family after their death.
Managing Director Helen Wathall MBE is a lifelong Rams fan and the fifth generation of her family to run the funeral directors which has been serving local communities since 1858.
More information relating to Wathall’s can be found at wathalls.co.uk.