3/1 To Win
Robin van der Laan is undoubtedly a player that falls into the category of ‘cult hero’ for many Derby County supporters.
On this day in 1996, the midfielder scored the goal which took Derby County to the promised land – the Premiership.
Van der Laan netted the winner as Derby defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Baseball Ground in the First Division on Sunday 28th April 1996.
Dean Sturridge had put Jim Smith’s side ahead early on before a full house at the Rams’ former home, but Kenny Brown levelled for the Eagles soon afterwards.
Derby needed all three points that afternoon to secure automatic promotion and avoid a nail-biting final day of the season clash across the Midlands at West Bromwich Albion.
Palace were breathing down their necks for second spot and the respective positions of the two clubs added further tension to the occasion.
Van der Laan, signed from Port Vale in the summer of 1995, stepped up when Derby needed him most just after the hour mark.
A corner to the far post picked out the Dutchman, who rose highest to plant a firm header low into the back of the Palace net beyond the reach of Nigel Martyn.
Smith’s players saw out the rest of the game, despite a few tense moments, to claim the three points that they needed.
As the final whistle blew, Derby’s squad threw their arms up in the air and hugged in celebration – while supporters flocked onto the pitch to celebrate with their heroes.
It was a moment which saw van der Laan go down in Derby County folklore as he delivered, arguably, the last iconic moment at the Baseball Ground ahead of the club’s move to Pride Park Stadium in 1997.
“It was a fabulous day for everyone involved,” van der Laan, how is now 51, said in his RamsTV Meets interview.
“The build-up was big, so to get the win we needed left everyone ecstatic.
“It’s at the top of what I achieved in my career; to score a goal to take a team into the Premiership, as it was then, is a memorable moment and you don’t get many occasions like that in your career.
“I think you have to be lucky to have moments like that in your career and it was my day. I have scored many other goals in my career, but none as significant as that. The significance of it makes it the main one, even if I scored others that were better.”
Draws in their previous two games, 0-0 at Charlton Athletic and 1-1 at home to Birmingham City, left them knowing they needed to beat Palace to avoid slipping into the play-off spots.
Casting his mind back to before kick-off at the Baseball Ground on that afternoon, van der Laan admits everyone in the dressing room knew the importance of the game and what was at stake.
“I don’t remember anything about the team-talk on the day, but we knew it was big,” he said.
“Everyone had their own rituals and routines, so it was all a bit of a blur to be honest with you.
“I was probably just so focused on playing my own game and, as a team, our jobs on the pitch. We tried to play like we had been doing in the months leading up to the match, as we knew it was a huge one in the club’s history.
“The whole season hinged on the game.”
Van der Laan’s decisive goal came after 66 minutes.
Paul Simpson’s pinpoint delivery from the right-hand side with his trustworthy left foot was exemplary.
The Dutchman’s movement allowed him to lose his marker in the box at the far post to generate just enough space to leap into the air unopposed and power his header low into the net.
An explosion of noise followed, as well as almost another half hour of tension.
“I was just in the right area,” he admitted.
“I don’t remember too much movement; it was just that the ball in was perfect. I managed to head it down and it found the back of the net past Nigel Martyn.
“I always fancied myself in terms of getting goals from corners; I wasn’t a giant player or anything, but I felt I was quite decent in the air.
“I thought at the time it could be my moment when I was going for the header.”
With promotion secured, it was time to celebrate.
Looking back, as well as having undoubted quality throughout the side, van der Laan believes Derby’s team spirit 24 years ago also played a big part in getting over the line.
In their first season under Smith’s management, the Rams didn’t have the best starts to the campaign and by early November they had won only four league games.
However, from 11th November to 5th March they went unbeaten for 20 games.
During that run, 13 wins were recorded and that run of form saw Derby propel themselves up the table and into promotion contention.
With positive results came an upturn in confidence and belief, aided by the signing of Croatian international defender Igor Stimac, and the mix of youth and experience provided a perfect combination on the pitch.
“The squad was fantastic and not just on the pitch, but off it as well,” van der Laan said.
“We had great team spirit and camaraderie; everything was in sync apart from the first few months of the season.
“We got on a great run from November time; we went on that unbeaten run. We were just above the relegation zone in the Autumn, but it was something that needed a bit of time and Jim brought a few players in and moved some on as well. Once things gelled, it was a fantastic period.
“When we started moving up the league very quickly, I think the belief came too. We felt if we could keep it going that we would have a chance, and we did that. We were performing well and not scraping victories and the recipe for success was there.”
He added: “We had a lot of strength in the team and were one of the most powerful sides in the league.
“We had a mix of characters and qualities, especially going forward. It was a great combination in terms of youth, experience and players in their prime as well which was important.”
Van der Laan’s arrival in the summer of 1995 won’t be regarded as one of Derby’s most high-profile signings, but it was certainly a significant one.
The midfield general was keen to test himself at a new club after four years at Port Vale with his contract coming to an end.
A fee of £475,000, plus striker Lee Mills moving the other way, saw van der Laan trade Vale Park for the Baseball Ground and he was instantly installed as captain by the Smith – which quickly made him feel an important part of his new manager’s plans.
His debut, ironically, came in a 0-0 draw at home to Port Vale on the opening day of the season.
“Jim was an old-school as a manager,” he said.
“It was hard for me to leave Port Vale at the point I came to Derby; but I wanted to go for promotion and play at the top. I wanted a bit more than just enjoying my football.
“I had a few options, including a new four-year deal at Port Vale and Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth wanted me. I was close to joining West Brom, but Jim Smith came in with some money and also Lee Mills in exchange.
“Once I spoke to Jim, he said he wanted me to be his captain and that made me feel important. He explained he wanted me to be the captain and that was a massive incentive for me, so it was a big moment in my career.
“You don’t see too many captains sat on the bench; it was a big pull knowing that I would be playing. Jim believed in me and wanted me as his captain, so it was a big deal. I got my chance to play in the Premier League and that was down to Jim.”
After playing such a prominent part in the promotion campaign, van der Laan found himself out of favour at the start of the 1996/97 campaign.
In fact, his only action in the first half of the season was an appearance off the bench in a 2-0 loss at home to Aston Villa and a place in the starting line-up in a 1-0 home success over Sunderland.
He was so out of favour that he actually went out on loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers for two months before returning to the Baseball Ground.
But from the periphery, he quickly became a key player once again as he started 14 of Derby’s final 16 league games of the season – and he also scored his first top-flight goal in a 4-2 home win over Tottenham Hotspur in April 1997.
Derby had endured a tough winter period and when Smith needed van der Laan to stand up and be counted, offering his experience and leadership qualities, he delivered once more.
“After we went up, I didn’t feature too much early in the season and it was frustrating,” van der Laan admitted.
“I remember getting a call from Jim Smith in the summer and he told me that West Bromwich Albion had come in for me. He asked me what I thought, and I told him I wanted to stay. I really was determined to stay and fight for my place.
“I do understand that some players have qualities to help get a team promoted but when they step up a level, things can change.
“I came back into the side in the second half of the season. Both myself and Paul Trollope hadn’t been in the plans but as players were good talkers, experienced and organisers could help the team stay in games and keep things tight.
“We did that and stayed up too, which was pleasing ahead of moving to Pride Park Stadium ahead of the new season.”
One of the most memorable games in the club’s history came during the run-in on 5th April 1997.
Derby ran out 3-2 winners at Old Trafford against Manchester United and the game featured the stunning debut goal from Paulo Wanchope.
Van der Laan was in the team that day and believes that victory, with six games left to play and at home of the Champions, was huge in Derby’s quest to retain their top-flight status.
He said: “We had some great wins in the second half of the season.
“We had the game at Manchester United, which was crazy.
“I was the captain that day and Eric Cantona was the skipper for Manchester United, so I was stood next to him in the tunnel. It was a great day for the fans and the club, with Paulo Wanchope scoring that brilliant goal.
“I think that result would have had an effect on the teams in and around us. They would’ve expected us to get nothings, so when we got a win it would’ve had an impact on their mindset. “
Van der Laan remained with Derby for another season, playing in the first-ever competitive game at Pride Park against Barnsley, but injury limited his appearances to just 13 in all competitions and he left to join Barnsley in the summer of 1998 for £325,000.
He left Derby having played 77 games in all competitions and scoring 11 times.
It goes without saying, his name will forever be etched into the history books and the hearts of Derby’s supporters.
Want to hear more from Robin van der Laan on his time at Derby County and some wonderful stories from the past? Just sit back and enjoy the RamsTV Meets videos embedded in this article!
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