DERBY DIARY: December 2024

We look at what events are coming up during the month of December for the Men’s first team, the Under-21s and Under-18s at Academy level, the Women’s first team, club events, community campaigns, and birthdays across Derby County.

November saw Paul Warne’s Rams side pick up their first away win of the Sky Bet Championship campaign, with a 2-1 win over Coventry City.

Craig Forsyth continued to make a significant impression in the Derby County record books when entered the top 20 in the club’s all-time appearance charts, finishing the month having taken to the field 357 times for the Rams.

Jake Buxton’s Under-21s side picked up their second win in their third Premier League Cup game of the season in an eventful 4-3 reverse over Chelsea in Matlock. They also took three points in Premier League 2 with as they swept to a 4-1 win against West Bromwich Albion, and continued their National League Cup campaign with a battling 3-3 draw against Maidenhead United’s first team.

The Under-18s tasted victory in an East Midlands Derby as they put three past Nottingham Forest without reply in the Under-18 Premier League - North.

Derby County Women went unbeaten in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division with an impressive 3-0 win over Stourbridge and a goalless draw against Sporting Khalsa seeing four points picked up at the Don Amott Arena - their final game of 2024.

December, one of the busiest periods in the calendar, sees a new month that has already begun in earnest, with 12 games lined up across the Men’s first team, Under-21s, Under-18s and Women’s first team.

Sunday 1st December - Collins’ birthday!

James Collins will celebrate his 34th birthday. The striker has racked up over 110 appearances and netted 31 times since joining Derby in the 2022/23 season - he finished last season’s League One promotion-winning campaign as the club’s top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions.

Sunday 1st December – Vickers’ birthday!

Derby County goalkeeper Josh Vickers will celebrate his 29th birthday. The shot-stopper has made 15 appearances and kept four clean sheets since joining the club at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, including a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at Pride Park Stadium in August.

Sunday 1st December - Men’s First Team Vs Sheffield Wednesday (H) 3pm

The Rams’ first Sunday kick-off of the 2024/25 campaign will see Sheffield Wednesday come to Pride Park Stadium for Sky Bet Championship action.

Tuesday 3rd December - New Exhibit Space Launch Event In Harrison’s Hub

Derby County Football Club are continuing to honour their rich 140-year history, with the opening of a dedicated exhibit space within Harrison’s Hub at Pride Park Stadium.

The space will house numerous pieces of memorabilia from the Rams’ past, including artefacts, programmes, kits and much more. The aim will be to showcase various points of the club’s history through a range exhibitions which will be changed throughout the season.

Beginning with a timeline, looking at the life of the club and all those associated with it from its very beginning in 1884, right through to today, the ‘Est. 1884’ exhibit will be on display until early 2025, before being updated to recognise the upcoming 50th anniversary of winning the First Division title in the 1974/75 season.

The ‘Est. 1884’ exhibition will be officially launched at a drop-in event for fans, running between 4pm and 7pm. Pre-registration is not required and free parking will be available on site.

Tuesday 3rd December - Under-21s Vs Wealdstone (A) 7pm

Jake Buxton’s Under-21s will head to Ruslip Manor Stadium for their third game of the National League Cup campaign when they face the fifth-tier Wealdstone.

Wednesday 4th December - Nyambe celebrates birthday!

Ryan Nyambe will celebrate his 27th birthday. The right-back had been a regular for the Rams this term and made nine appearances before a knee injury against Millwall in October saw him sidelined for a significant period.

Friday 6th December - Under-21s Vs Brentford (H) 7pm

The Under-21s Premier League Cup campaign will continue at Matlock Town's Proctor Cars Stadium when they go head-to-head with Brentford B.

Saturday 7th December - Men’s First Team Vs Leeds United (A) 12:30pm

The first of a December double-header, Derby will head to Elland Road to face promotion-chasing Leeds United in an early kick-off. This is the first time the two sides will have met in West Yorkshire since a 1-1 draw back in September 2019.

Tuesday 10th December - Men’s First Team Vs Burnley (A) 7:45pm

Turf Moor will be the venue for Derby’s twelfth away day of the season. The Rams last took to the field against the Clarets in January 2016, where Burnley ended the season as second tier champions and were promoted to the Premier League, where they remained for six seasons.

Friday 13th December - Under-21s Vs Fulham (A) 7pm

Premier League 2 action will beckon for the Under-21s when they head to Motspur Park to take on Fulham.

Friday 13th December - Men’s First Team Vs Portsmouth (H) 8pm

The festive fixture schedule will come into full effect as the Rams have a quick turnaround from their trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley when they welcome Portsmouth to Pride Park Stadium for a Friday night under the floodlights.

Tuesday 17th December - Under-18s Vs Sunderland (H) 7pm

Danny Maye’s Under-18s will play their only scheduled game of the month at Pride Park Stadium in an FA Youth Cup Third Round tie against Sunderland.

Wednesday 18th December - Goudmijn’s birthday!

Kenzo Goudmijn will celebrate his 23rd birthday. The Dutch midfielder joined from AZ Alkmaar over the summer and netted two goals in back-to-back games in August that saw the Rams pick up maximum points against Bristol City and Cardiff City at Pride Park Stadium.

Wednesday 18th December - Under-21s Vs Heanor Town (A) 7:45pm

Jake Buxton’s Under-21s will face Heanor Town in the Third Round of the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup.

Friday 20th December - Men’s First Team Vs Luton Town (A) 8pm

The second of back-to-back Friday night games will see Paul Warne’s side head to Kenilworth Road to face recent Premier League outfit Luton Town in their final match before Christmas.