Snapshot In Time: The Baseball Ground Gets Set For Top Flight Football Once Again

Whilst circumstances currently mean there’s no live football to enjoy, dcfc.co.uk is delving into the archives to feature a photograph from Derby County’s illustrious history.

Every day for the foreseeable future, we’ll provide you an image for supporters to enjoy and reminisce.

Derby’s Former Home Hosts Its Final Pre-Season Friendly

Pictured here is Derby County’s former home, the Baseball Ground, in August 1996 in the lead-up to the 1996/97 campaign.

Derby hosted Dutch outfit Sparta Rotterdam in a pre-season friendly on home turf as part of their preparations for the upcoming Premiership season.

Jim Smith’s side had gained promotion to the top-flight at the end of the previous campaign and were gearing up for their first-ever season in the newly formed Premiership.

They were beaten 1-0 on the night, with the Dutch side grabbing the only goal of the game after 15 minutes through former Manchester City midfielder Alfons Groenendijk

The 1996/97 season would also prove to be the Rams’ last at the Baseball Ground ahead of moving to Pride Park Stadium ahead of the beginning of the 1997/98 campaign.

Derby finished the 1996/97 campaign in 12th place in the Premiership and brought down the curtain on the Rams’ 102 years at the Baseball Ground. Ashley Ward scored Derby’s last league goal at the venue in a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal on 11th May 1997.

Look out for tomorrow’s Snapshot in Time across dcfc.co.uk – and remember you can suggest an image by getting in touch via the club’s social media channels.