Quartet Of Forsyth’s Former Team-Mates Set To Feature In Testimonial

Four former team-mates of Derby County defender Craig Forsyth are to play some part in his upcoming Testimonial Match this weekend.

Craig Bryson, Bradley Johnson, David Nugent and Martyn Waghorn have confirmed to Forsyth’s committee that they will attend his Testimonial against Stoke City at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 22nd July (3pm kick-off).

The game against the Sky Bet Championship outfit will serve as a pre-season friendly fixture for Paul Warne’s first team squad, although Bryson, Johnson, Nugent and Waghorn are due to come off the bench late on to play some part and feature alongside Forsyth on what will be a special occasion.

Bryson, 36, holds legendary status among Derby supporters following an eight-year spell with the club between 2011 and 2019. The popular Scotsman racked up 276 appearances in all competitions in a Derby shirt in total and netted 42 goals from midfield, including a historic hat-trick in the 5-0 home win over local rivals Nottingham Forest in March 2014.

Midfielder Johnson recently returned to the club in a Player-Coach capacity in the Academy for the Rams’ Under-21s side. The 36-year-old has amassed almost 700 career appearances in club football and his time with Derby spanned across four seasons between 2015 and 2019 after signing from Norwich City. He recorded 140 appearances for the club in the process, as well as scoring 14 goals.

Striker Nugent, now 38, spent two-and-a-half years with Derby after signing from Middlesbrough in January 2017. He scored 17 goals in 95 outings, including a hat-trick in a 4-2 home win over Fulham in April 2017, and also netted twice against near neighbours Nottingham Forest to enhance his reputation with the Rams’ faithful.

Versatile forward Waghorn, who is 33 and on the lookout for a new club after leaving Coventry City this summer, spent three seasons with Derby after signing from Ipswich Town in 2018. He recorded 123 appearances in all competitions during that time, scoring on 30 occasions. Waghorn scored a hat-trick at Pride Park in a 6-1 rout of Rotherham United in April 2019 as well as two crucial goals on the final day of the 2020/21 season against Sheffield Wednesday to help the side avoid relegation from the second tier.

About Craig Forsyth’s Testimonial

Saturday’s game will give supporters and everyone associated with the club the opportunity to celebrate Forsyth’s long service to the Rams. The defender, who joined Derby on a permanent basis from Watford ten years ago this summer, recently signed a new one-year contract until 2024 and he was also handed a special Long Service Achievement Award at the club’s End of Season Awards Dinner in May.

In line with putting pen-to-paper on his new deal and after submitting a request, the defender was granted a Testimonial to celebrate the achievement of ten unbroken years with the Rams. Forsyth, who is the longest-serving member of the Derby squad, arrived on a temporary basis from the Hornets in March 2013 before going on to sign on a permanent basis at the beginning of July in the lead-up to the 2013/14 season.

He has since gone on to record 308 appearances for the Rams, scoring seven times, and is one of only 30 players to make 300 or more appearances for Derby. In fact, he is only the second since the 1990s to achieve such a feat.

Forsyth made 52 appearances for Derby during the 2022/23 season and the vast majority came as a central defender, having spent most of his Rams career at left-back.

He’s also had to battle back from three long-term knee injuries, sustained in 2015, 2016 and 2018, but those injuries have not defined his time at the club. He has tackled every challenge head on and remained a vital member of the squad under each management team since 2013, highlighting his professionalism in varying circumstances.

Ticket Prices

£5 - Child (Age 6-12)

£5 - Junior (Age 13-17)

£5 - Young Adult (Age 18-21)

£10 - Adult (Age 22-64)

£5 - 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.

The South Stand and East Stand ONLY will be open for Derby County supporters and tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. Season Ticket Holder seat reservations do not apply. Away supporters will be seated in the South East Corner

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.

Hospitality

A matchday Hospitality package is available for the game.

The price of the package is £65 per person (+VAT) and includes the following:

- Reserved car parking
- Two-course meal
- Reserved match seating

Bookings can be made online by clicking here or by emailing [email protected].

A limited number of Executive Boxes are also available for eight or more guests. For those interested, please email [email protected] for more details.