Chris Mitchell (Ashbourne ,Derbys.)
I was about 12 ,and my parents owned a shop on Nottingham Road near the Meadows.I didn't know anything about football apart from what we did in school PE lessons, because my parents weren't interested in football and my mates weren't really in to it either.
One day in 1967/8 I got invited to go to the BBG to see the Rams with some blokes who were neighbours and customers in our shop. As they were big 6 footers who could look after themselves, my Mum and Dad saw fit to let me go with them . We went part of the way in their old Austin A35 Van ,then parked and walked what seemed miles through the terrace streets towards the ground. I was fascinated by the banter that went on and the odd scuffles that broke out with rival fans on the way 9good job my Mum didn't know what went on!)
I remember standing on the 'Ossie' End terrace near the low wall behind the goal, seemingly knee deep in broken glass and bits of miss -thrown toilet roll, while the action on the pitch and the atmosphere in the ground was tremendous. One old bloke near me was memorable, as he was well drunk, had beer bottles in each pocket of his coat and tended to throw the empty ones at opposing fans, the rest of the time he was hurling insults at them!
The singing around the ground included "When the Rams go marching in"
and
"Zigger,Zagger, Zigger, Zagger Kevin Hector!"
The Skinheads had their bootlaces confiscated by the Police (neat idea I thought) and a dog was somehow smuggled in and ran around the pitch interrupting play until someone managed to grab it.
Things have changed a bit since then.
I can't remember which team we were playing that first time ,but,I remember our goalie was Reg Matthews (I thought he looked really old) and there was a god like worship of someone called Kevin Hector or 'Zak' as he was known.
Anyway ,the rest is history -the next season (68-69) I persuaded my parents to pay for a season ticket for me ,and the mighty Rams went on to win the second division championship. I like to think it was my patronage that swung it, but perhaps the other 36- 38,000 fans who packed in to the BBG for the matches that season had something to do with it as well.
I can still remember the names of the 1968/9 team members and their squad picture adorns the wall of my spare room (my 'office')- Walker, Durban, Green, (Matthews had gone by then) Robson , McFarland, Webster, McGovern, O'hare, Mackay, Hector, Carlin, Hinton Only one substitute was allowed ,no such things as big squads in those days.
Earlier this season TBE said that the players at Derby then (1990) were the best he had ever had .Well I reckon Dazzler Powell and Horacio aren't a patch on Roy Mac or Dave Mackay, even now Darryl's found out how to play proper football!
Maybe Brian Clough would have better tactics though.........
c2001 Chris Mitchell