Derby County return to Pride Park Stadium for the final time of the regular 2022/23 Sky Bet League One campaign on Saturday when they take on Portsmouth (3pm kick-off).
Victory in this and the last game of the season on the road at Sheffield Wednesday next Sunday will guarantee the Rams a spot in this year's Sky Bet League One play-offs.
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
On-loan Norwich City winger Tony Springett remains out with an ankle injury he sustained in training last month and is set to miss the remaining weeks of the League One campaign, but could return to the fold should the Rams make the end-of-season play-offs.
Defender James Chester remains out after feeling some tightness in his calf following his comeback in the the 2-0 success at Forest Green Rovers on Easter Friday and the former Wales international is not yet back in training.
Warne's Words
Head Coach Paul Warne spoke to RamsTV to preview the penultimate game of the regular Sky Bet League One season.
He said: "I know how much this football club means to everybody but it seems here because of what happened last year, everyone is just so grateful to have a football club. You feel it when you come to Pride Park, everything about it feels like a real beating heart football club which is a real honour to manage.
"I appreciate this is League three football and not what Derby fans want to see particularly but there are moments in our play that are really enjoyable and I feel like the fans have a real affinity with the players.
"It's a really good place and I just hope we can fulfil the potential with a good end to the season and get into the play-offs. If we do then I'd fancy us against anyone.
"Hopefully the season can continue and hopefully everyone can still feel real proud to be a Derby County fan because it is a real club to behold."
From The Dressing Room
Midfielder Louie Sibley sat down with RamsTV to preview the Rams' final home game of the regular season.
He said: "We know it's in our hands and all the work that the gaffer, the players and all the staff have done this season, these are the games that it leads to.
"We've come this far as a team and as a club so we know we want to bring smiles to Derby County fans' faces. The aim is to get promoted. We've got a lot of experienced lads in there and I'm sure if we can get the win on Saturday, hopefully we can keep that going into the play-offs if we get there."
Ticket Information
There's still time to grab your ticket for the final home game of 2022/23 - but they're selling fast!
Ticket Prices
Behind Goal
£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)
Corner
£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)
Sideline
£8 - Child (Age 6-12)
£16 - Junior (Age 13-17)
£24 - Young Adult (Age 18-21)
£32 - Adult (Age 22-64)
£24 - 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.
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 [email protected].
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.
Match Officials
Lee Swabey will be the man in the middle for Saturday's game against Portsmouth.
Robert Atkin and Sian Massey-Ellis will assist him whilst Sam Purkiss is on fourth official duties.
Swabey has taken charge of 31 games so far in this campaign and handed out 120 yellow cards, four reds and awarded 16 penalties.
He last officiated the Rams earlier this year in the 1-0 defeat away at Ipswich Town.
Player Of The Year Presentation
Supporters have been selecting their Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season for the 2022/23 campaign in recent weeks.
As is customary at the end of each season, supporters are asked to pick their Jack Stamps Player of the Season and Sammy Crooks Young Player of the Season award winners and recognise their efforts over the course of the campaign.
The prestigious awards are handed out at the end of each season and will be done so once again this year with the presentations to be made to the winners on the Pride Park Stadium pitch prior to Saturday's game.
Matchday Programme
The Ram is back for the final time of this year's regular season on Saturday!
And what better way to savour the spine-tingling atmosphere once again than with a treasured copy of ‘The Ram’ in hand?
The club has teamed up with Ignition Publications to bring the programme back for the first time since the 2019/20 season and there is no more fitting accompaniment to a matchday than The Ram, which is packed with exclusive interviews, content, statistics and insight.
The A5-size perfect-bound editions will be available to purchase around the ground for £3, but you can also reserve every league edition from the campaign via a seasonal subscription with Ignition Publications.
The latest edition of The Ram includes:
- Head Coach Paul Warne assesses the latest Rams news
- An in-depth interview with midfielder Conor Hourihane
- From the press bench verdict with the Derby Telegraph's Leigh Curtis
- Background on Portsmouth
- The latest news from the Derby County Academy, including the Under-21s and Under-18s
- A quick round-up of the latest Club and Ticketing news
- A focus on the latest from Derby County Community Trust
- A round-up of the latest Derby County Women news
This edition can be purchased here:
Broadcast Information
Domestic Streaming
Saturday’s match is NOT available for live domestic streaming under the EFL’s streaming rights.
The domestic market comprises United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.
International Streaming
All 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.
Lap Of Appreciation
Derby's first-team squad
and staff would like to show their appreciation for the support they’ve
received during the 2022/23 season with a Lap of Appreciation following
the conclusion of Saturday’s Sky Bet League One fixture.
This will, however, only be able to take place if the pitch remains clear at the final whistle.
The club would like to remind supporters to stay off the pitch at all times and respect the ground regulations and consider the potential wider consequences to themselves and Derby County by failing to do so.
In the interests of safety and wellbeing for everyone inside stadiums, the pitch is for players, managers and officials, while the stands are there for fans to support their team.
At the end of last season, football witnessed some unwelcome scenes when fans entered the field of play without permission at several grounds. Even if this is done in celebratory fashion, any supporter who comes onto the pitch is breaking the law and putting the welfare of players, coaches, club staff and fellow fans at risk.
It should be noted that this unacceptable behaviour is carried out by a minority of fans, and their actions do not represent most supporters, but they risk ruining the fantastic experience of a football match for everyone.
At the start of this season, the Premier League, EFL, NLS Leagues and The FA worked with the Football Supporters’ Association to introduce new measures and stronger sanctions to tackle anti-social and criminal behaviours, such as entering the pitch and the use of pyrotechnics.
This includes automatic club bans and police action, and there have seen cases this season which have led to fans receiving criminal records. This can impact employment and education prospects, restrict ability to travel overseas, and could result in a prison sentence. Club bans can also extend to accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in this activity.
Those who encroach on the pitch risk facing banning orders as well as a criminal conviction, while the club could also face a fine as a result.
But our message is clear: fans must stay in the stands and avoid any unnecessary disruption at such a crucial point of the season.
Love Football, Protect the Game.