Derby County's players and staff reported back to Moor Farm Training Ground last week to start preparations for the upcoming 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship campaign.
Paul Warne’s side will play six public pre-season friendly fixtures as they get themselves set for the season-opener at Blackburn Rovers on Friday 9th August (8pm kick-off) and beyond.
After sealing promotion from Sky Bet League One last term, the Rams are stepping up a level this time around as they look to establish themselves back in the second tier of English football.
Here, dcfc.co.uk have taken a look at what's to come over the course of pre-season.
Matlock Town Vs Derby County
Friday 12th July 2024
Kick-Off: 7:45pm
Proctor Cars Stadium
Derby will kick off their pre-season games programme with a trip to local non-league side Matlock Town for the second year in a row.
Paul Warne’s side were 2-0 winners at the Proctor Cars Stadium 12 months ago thanks to goals from striker James Collins and Under-21s player Ben Radcliffe.
Matlock, managed by former Chesterfield boss Nicky Law following his appointment in May, ply their trade in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and finished 15th in the table last season.
The Gladiators will no doubt provide a good test for Derby as they gradually step up their workload and return to match action.
The two clubs have formed a strong working relationship in recent years and the Proctor Cars Stadium was recently announced as the venue for Derby County Under-21s’ home fixtures for the next three years.
Please be advised that tickets for this match are SOLD OUT.
Derby County Vs Stockport County
Friday 19th July 2024
Kick-Off: 10am (UK TIME)
Pinatar Arena, Spain
The Rams’ squad will travel to Spain in the days following the friendly with Matlock for a week-long pre-season training camp.
During their time in Alicante, which served Paul Warne’s squad well last year, they will go head-to-head with last season’s Sky Bet League Two champions Stockport County in the Spanish sunshine.
Stockport romped to the fourth-tier title and are now back in League One following a rise from National League North to the third tier in recent years.
The Hatters are managed by Dave Challinor and their squad contains former Derby goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe and Academy graduate Jack Stretton.
The stadium hosting the game has a 3,000 capacity and supporters wishing to attend can buy them online from the Pinatar Arena's website.
Chesterfield Vs Derby County
Wednesday 24th July 2024
Kick-Off: 7:30pm
SMH Group Stadium
After returning from Spain in the middle of the month, Derby’s first match back on UK soil will see them make the short journey to North Derbyshire to take on Chesterfield.
The Spireites were National League champions in the 2023/24 season to secure their place back in the EFL.
Derby visited Chesterfield a year ago in a friendly fixture and they were 1-0 winners thanks to a fine James Collins header.
Paul Cook’s side will also face the Rams in competitive action early in the 2024/25 season when they visit Pride Park Stadium in Round One of the Carabao Cup.
Tickets are available from Chesterfield through their official website ONLY. These are on sale now and details can be found here.
Shrewsbury Town Vs Derby County
Saturday 27th July 2024
Kick-Off: 3pm
The Croud Meadow
Shrewsbury Town of Sky Bet League One will provide the Rams’ next test in pre-season with less than two weeks to go until the big kick-off.
The Shrews are managed by Paul Hurst and finished 19th in League One in 2023/24, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Derby tasted a rare defeat in their promotion-winning campaign when they visited Shrewsbury last term, going down 1-0 in October 2023.
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium in February of this year, with midfielder Max Bird on target for the Rams.
Tickets for the game are on sale now and details can be found here.
Barnsley Vs Derby County
Wednesday 31st July 2024
Kick-Off: 7:45pm
Oakwell
Another Sky Bet League One side will be Derby’s opponents in their penultimate pre-season fixture when they head up the M1 to visit Barnsley.
Darrell Clarke was recently appointed as the new Head Coach of Barnsley, who were beaten 5-4 on aggregate by Bolton Wanderers in the League One play-offs at the semi-final stage in May.
Clarke swiftly added former Rams skipper Conor Hourihane to his ranks as a Player-Coach last month, so there will be a quick reunion with the ex-Derby midfielder.
Derby were 3-0 winners over Barnsley on home turf when they met in League One in their promotion-winning 2023/24 season, while they went down 2-1 at Oakwell in February despite taking the lead through defender Sonny Bradley’s header.
Tickets for the game are on sale now and details can be found here.
Derby County Vs Real Valladolid
Saturday 3rd August 2024
Kick-Off: 3pm
Pride Park Stadium
Derby will round off their pre-season games programme on home turf at Pride Park Stadium in early August against foreign opposition in the form of Spanish top-flight side Real Valladolid.
Valladolid, who are 82% owned by former Brazil international striker Ronaldo, will be competing in La Liga for the 2024/25 season after finishing second in Segunda Division last term.
They won 21 of their 42 league matches to secure automatic promotion and finish just two points behind champions Leganes.
In their only run-out at their home ground before the start of the season, Paul Warne’s side will look to round off their preparations with a positive showing against a side that will be going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid and Barcelona during the 2024/25 campaign.
Ticket information for this match will be confirmed in due course on dcfc.co.uk.
