Dave Pearce (Bournemouth)
I was born in 1980 and didn't really take much interest in Football at a young age, probably due neither of my parents being in to football.
While at Primary school I played football at lunchtimes and in 1990 at the age of 10 I played in goal for my primary school. This was the time I started to get in to football in terms of following a team. My late Grandad, although a Dundee United fan (I believe) had adopted Derby as his second team and along with school friends who went to Derby games, there was no way that there would be any other team than the Rams.
Then of course was Italia '90 the first time I watched England properly on TV, and from this I learned a lot about football.
I have hidden away somewhere ,something called 'Back in the Big Time' which was produced after promotion to the old 1st division (198?). My first game came in 1989/90 I think and it was a reserve game at the BBG,I never got to see us in the old first division as my first game , 2-0 defeat at Millwall. I think once we were back in what was then the new first division, I watched a number of games that year as DCFC gave my secondary school (Sinfin Community) a number of free tickets. A game which stands out was a 4-1 victory over Newcastle where they had three players and their assistant manager sent off.
A number of games have stuck in my mind since, including the 2-0 defeat to F*r*st Charles own goal an' all. i was in the Popside brilliant atmosphere!
I got a season ticket at the end of promotion season and as they say the rest is history.
I can say , I was there for the Palace game ,the 3-2 Manure game, the Arse** game ,the Wimbledon game <the Boro' game and now the Bradford game.
Up the Rams Derby 'till I die.
c2001 Dave Pearce