3/1 To Win
Members of the Golden Rams met to reminisce about their years supporting Derby County at the inaugural coffee morning at Pride Park Stadium today.
Executive Chairman Mel Morris CBE launched the Golden Rams initiative last week at a luncheon to celebrate supporters aged 85 years and older to thank them for their long-standing support of the club.
The coffee morning, which will be held on the first Friday of each month, is just one of the ways Mr. Morris hopes will bring the older generation of fans together to share their love of the Rams.
An area set aside at the stadium’s Starbucks was filled with laughter and the chatter of people sharing stories and memories with each other as well as former players Roger Davies and Michael Johnson.
Mr. Morris also came along and was thrilled to see the enjoyment in room.
“This is what it is all about,” Mr. Morris told dcfc.co.uk. “Giving away a free season ticket was fine, but it was more about creating new friendships and it’s a great example of that, as you can tell by the noise levels.
“These people are some of our longest serving supporters so it’s fitting for us to have something to acknowledge that.
“Some of these have been watching the Rams since 1929 and can name all the teams, it is just incredible.”
Des Somerville has been a Rams fan since the 1970s after moving to the Midlands from Scotland. His love for the club was passed down to his son and now grandson, who he regularly attends matches with.
“I had to go up and thank Mel, it’s incredible what he is doing,” he said.
“Listening to the stories of the players [at the lunch] was great, I wouldn’t have missed that for anything, and just being able to talk to them today again is wonderful.”
Joyce Partridge, another guest at the coffee morning, said: “I think it’s a really good idea to get us all together, and the things we have been talking about from years back is amazing, you can only do that with people that are your age, it’s lovely.
“We’ve had a good laugh, we’ve been down memory lane, back up and round again.”
The next coffee morning will take place on Friday 1st June from 10am until 12pm at the Pride Park Stadium Starbucks.
Mr. Morris will also be setting aside an easily accessible area of Pride Park Stadium next season for the Golden Rams, so they can sit and enjoy matches together.
