Pre-Season Recap: Derby’s Friendly Fixtures Ahead Of 2021/22 Season

Derby County’s players checked in for pre-season training at the beginning of July to begin preparations for the upcoming 2021/22 Sky Bet Championship season.

As a result of the short period of time between the 2019/20 season’s end and the start of the 2020/21 campaign, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was plenty of time for Wayne Rooney’s side to recharge the batteries over the majority of May and June.

Derby have four pre-season friendly fixtures lined up, which have been announced over the last few weeks, and dcfc.co.uk has wrapped up what lies ahead for the Rams.

Salford City Vs Derby County
Saturday 24th July 2021
Kick-Off: 3pm
Peninsula Stadium

Derby’s trip to Salford City will be the first of two meetings between the clubs inside a month after the Rams’ were handed a home tie against the League Two side in Round One of the Carabao Cup last week.

Salford are managed by former Rams Academy coach Gary Bowyer, who was handed the job on a permanent basis in May following an impressive short-term spell towards the end of last season.

They are preparing for their third season in the EFL after a rapid rise through the non-league scene and narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs last term.

Salford will be looking to make another push for promotion in 2021/22 and they will undoubtably pose a strong challenge for Derby.

There is a strong Manchester United connection for this game, as Salford are owned by former United legends David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville, as well as Singapore businessman Peter Lim.

Derby County Vs Real Betis
Wednesday 28th July 2021
Kick-Off: 7pm
Pride Park Stadium

Spanish top-flight side Real Betis will provide the opposition in Derby’s second pre-season friendly on home turf towards the end of July.

Betis finished the 2020/21 campaign in sixth place in La Liga and reached the Quarter Final stage of the Copa del Rey.

The Spanish side are managed by former Manchester City and West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Betis ended last season with just one defeat in 16 matches, which resulted in them achieving qualification for the UEFA Europa League.

Betis will be the latest Spanish side to visit Pride Park since its opening in 1997, with Girona and current Europa League holders Villarreal CF the most recent visitors over the last ten years.

Facing a side from abroad, and one of the strongest sides in Spanish football, will undoubtedly provide a good challenge for Rooney’s side and especially out of possession.

Notts County Vs Derby County
Sunday 1st August 2021
Kick-Off: 1pm
Meadow Lane

Derby’s pre-season games programme will come to an end across Brian Clough Way against National League side Notts County at the start of August.

Ian Burchnall’s side are preparing for their third season outside of the EFL after play-off losses to Harrogate Town and Torquay United in the last two campaigns.

Meadow Lane has been a frequent stop for Derby over the course of pre-season in recent years.

Derby 3-1 victors ahead of the 2014/15 campaign under Steve McClaren, with Chris Martin bagging a hat-trick, while they also registered a 4-1 success in the lead-up the 2018/19 season under Frank Lampard and were backed by over 4,000 supporters.

By the time Rooney’s side take on the Magpies, the new season will be just under a week away and therefore it will be intriguing to see how Derby are shaping up ahead of the big kick-off.

Notts will be slightly behind the Rams in their preparations, with the new National League season not getting underway until Saturday 21st August, but they will nonetheless provide a good workout.

Ticketing Information

The club is awaiting confirmation from the UK Government and relevant football authorities in relation to the admittance of spectators for the home friendly matches at Pride Park Stadium.

The club will communicate ticketing information and processes at the earliest available opportunity.