Last Update:
September 27, 2024
The Club moved to Pride Park in 1997 after spending 102 years at their former Baseball Ground home. The stadium, which was opened by Her Majesty the Queen, is enclosed with all corners being filled. One corner is filled with executive boxes, giving the stadium a continental touch.
The large Toyota West Stand which runs down one side of the pitch is two-tiered, complete with a row of executive boxes. The rest of the ground is smaller than the West Stand, as the roof drops a tier to the other sides, making it look unbalanced.
It is a pity that the West Stand could not be replicated throughout the rest of the stadium as this would have made it truly magnificent. An unusual feature inside the stadium is a statue of former player Steve Bloomer who overlooks the pitch next to the home dugout.
On one corner, a statue of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor is outside the stadium.
Away fans are located in one corner of the stadium, between the East and South Stands, where up to 2,700 fans can be housed. The facilities within the stadium and view of the playing action are both very good. This coupled with normally a great atmosphere and a deafening PA system, make for a memorable experience.
Entrance to the stadium is via electronic turnstiles, meaning that you have to insert your ticket into an electronic reader to gain entry.
Available on the concourse are a selection of pies, pasties, burgers and hot dogs. There are televisions on the concourses showing the game going on inside, with commentary, so that you don’t have to miss anything while waiting for your half-time cuppa.
Pride Park is in an industrial estate so there aren’t too many pub options in the vicinity. The closest pub to the stadium is a Harvester which usually accepts away supporters. Other pubs to consider are:
- The Merlin – 1 Orient Way, Derby DE24 8XL
- The Brunswick Inn – 1 Railway Terrace, Derby DE1 2RU
- Exeter Arms – Exeter Pl, Derby DE1 2EU
At pride park tonight 😍🐏 @FootyScran pic.twitter.com/Oz1jJYuxJP
— DCFC_Banter_Page (@PageDcfc) December 30, 2022
The main entrance to Pride Park is in front of the West Stand. Once inside the ground of Pride Park, home fans are able to enter the stadium via all available turnstiles with the exception of those found in the corner between the East stand and South stand. This part of the ground is considered the entrance for away fans.
Derby County have some of the most devoted fans, noting that the club had a record away attendance last season. Earning promotion back to the Championship means we are likely to see a full Pride Park stadium every matchday.
During cup fixtures, the away section at Pride Park can accommodate up to 5,500 fans, beyond the usual 2,700 visiting fans on regular matchdays.
From the M1, exit at Junction 25 and take the A52 towards Derby. Pride Park Stadium is signposted off the A52 after about seven miles.
There is a designated away fans’ car park located at the Derby Conference Centre on the A6 London Road (DE24 8UX), which costs £5 per car. After parking up there, you need to go into the Conference Centre Reception to pay for your parking.
They will then give you a ticket, which then be displayed on your dashboard. The Centre is handily located near to the Navigation Inn, which is a popular pub for visiting supporters. It is then around a 10-15 minute walk to the away turnstiles.
There is also a fair-sized car park at the Derby Arena (DE24 8JB), which has a capacity of around 1,100 vehicles and is situated next to Pride Park.
There are also a number of businesses located off the main A52 near the stadium that offer parking.
Steve Cocker, a visiting supporter to Pride Park informs us: ‘There is free street parking available on Downing Road on the West Meadow Industrial Estate (DE21 6HA), which is off the A52. It is then about a 10-15 minute walk to the stadium. Make sure that you get there in plenty of time before the kick off, as the road fills up quickly.’
Post Code for SAT NAV: DE24 8XL
Pride Park is about a 10-minute walk away from Derby Railway Station and is signposted.
If you want the pubs by the station, turn left at the top of the stairs from the platform, and on exiting the station entrance, turn right. Further down on the right, just past the Brunswick, cross over the road, descend some steps, use the underpass, and follow the fans. Using this route, the stadium is about a 20-minute walk in total from the station.
Ticket prices for Derby County for the 2023/24 season are as follows:
- Adults: £24-32
- Seniors: £18-24
- 18-21: £18-24
- 13-17: £12-16
- 6-12: £6-8
- 2-5: Free
The Rams initially held their games at the County Cricket ground but they shared the stadium with a cricket club. Eventually, Derby had one too many fixture clashes with the Derbyshire cricket club and for this reason they chose to relocate.
The Francis Ley baseball ground became Derby County’s stadium for over a century from 1895 to 1997. The Baseball Ground could hold up to 42,000 fans at its peak; Derby subsequently moved to Pride Park in 1997. All of Derby’s three home grounds have hosted England’s international matches making Derby the only team to host England’s international games at three different grounds.
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Derby County fans singing the praises of new signing Dwight Gayle ahead of their game at Barnsley 🎤
New fan favourite for the Rams…? 🐏#dcfc pic.twitter.com/ioMtRJI4nc
— FanHub (@FanHub) February 24, 2024
Record Attendance
At Pride Park:
33,597 England vs Mexico
Friendly, 25 May 2001
For a Derby game at Pride Park:
33,475 vs Glasgow Rangers
Friendly, 1 May 2006
At the Baseball Ground:
41,826 vs Tottenham Hotspur
Division One, 20 September 1969
Average Attendances
- 2023-2024: 27,278 (League One)
- 2022-2023: 27,259 (League One)
- 2021-2022: 22,041 (Championship)
- 2019-2020: 26,727 (Championship)
- 2018-2019: 26,850 (Championship)
- 2017-2018: 27,175 (Championship)
In 2017, the club applied for planning permission to extend the East Stand at Pride Park. The expansion would not only increase have increased the capacity at the stadium but also brought with it a new fan zone with bars and restaurants.
Seven years later and there have been no further developments which indicates that Pride Park will remains as it is for the time being, which is hardly a surprise when you consider the club’s recent financial troubles.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Derby County v Hull City
Championship
Saturday 18th January 2020, 3pm
Steve Andrews (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Pride Park?
It was a ground that I hadn't visited before on my quest to do the 92.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I made my way to Derby by train on a comfortable direct route from Cardiff to Derby. I researched this website and easily found my way to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went to the Brunswick pub. A real pub with proper and competitively priced beer, which was most welcoming. I made my way to the ground and had a drink in the fan-zone. There I had a beer in the ‘beer tent’ outside the ground. There was some great music being played in the fan zone, but it was not really that comfortable as there were no seats.
Then I discovered the ‘Yard’. A fabulous experience. Not only did it have the early kick-off Premiership game showing on tv, but the beer was also reasonably priced and the food was excellent. I had a seat in the restaurant area, that had waiter service which enabled me to order drinks from the table.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pride Park Stadium?
The ground looked far better than a number of ‘modern’ stadiums I’ve been to. I sat with the home fans in the Main Stand. It was comfortable with a great view.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was fairly good. Rooney’s reputation had more odds effect than what he did on the pitch.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy and very straightforward ten-minute walk back to the station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A really good day out. I was most impressed and would certainly recommend Pride park to neutral or away fans to visit.
Derby County v Barnsley
Championship
Thursday 2nd January 2020, 7.45pm
David Crossfield (Barnsley)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pride Park Stadium?
The game was originally to be played on New Years Day, but Sky television intervened in order to show Wayne Rooney's debut for Derby. I always book rail tickets well in advance to get the best prices, so my ticket for New Years day was useless. An evening kick off made it almost impossible to get home by train, so I had to go by the official club coach. I wasn't too fussed about seeing Rooney. It seems wrong to me that a betting company can pay some or all, his wages to advertise their service.
I was at Derby on the last day of the 2017/18 season when Barnsley were relegated from the Championship. With a far better goal difference, we had to match Bolton's result. We got stuffed 4-1, but Bolton were losing 2-1 at Forest and so we were safe. Bolton made a late comeback and won 2-3. At the time I thought fair play to Bolton, but we now know they weren't playing fairly financially. There demise came to late to save Barnsley. Derby fans gave us a lot of abuse about relegation, especially as they were in the play offs. I think the chant was " we'll never see you again', but we were back. The Reds were in the relegation zone, but on a five-match unbeaten run. Derby were also struggling, so we were hopeful of getting something from the game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was an easy journey down the M1 on the club coach. It took about 1.5 hours. The away coach park is very close to the away turnstiles.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
My plans to have a couple of decent pints at the Alexandra and Brunswick were scuppered by having to travel by coach. I didn't have time to walk to the pubs and back. I had a very average pint of Doom Bar in the Harvester. Fans of both teams were mingling without problems and I got served quickly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pride Park Stadium?
I've been twice before so I knew what to expect. It's a good ground with good facilities, unfortunately, it's too far out of the centre in the middle of a retail area and lacks any charm.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We took about 1200 fans. More than I expected with Sky covering the game and with tickets for adults costing £31. The away fans seats are located in a corner and are separated from home fans by an aisle, which was populated by stewards and even some police. Turnstile entry is via a bar code reader. As usual, I didn't eat or drink in the ground. Toilet facilities are good and there is a smoking area. My seat was two from the end of the row and quite close to the home fans. Unfortunately, stewards and Police standing in the aisle restricted our view when play was at the far end of the pitch.
Turning to the game; Barnsley's star player Woodrow wasn't in the squad with rumours rife that he was being sold. Rooney started and was made captain. He wore 32 as part of his sponsorship. Barnsley were awful in the first half and couldn't hold the ball. Our manager made a change after 25 minutes swapping Bahre for youngster Simoes. Rooney was hardly noticeable apart from taking free kicks. Marriott made a hash of three one on one chances for Derby, but he did finally score in the 45th minute, poking in a Rooney free kick. An awful time to concede, but Derby deserved the lead.
Barnsley were better in the second half and equalised in the 50th min. Simoes prodding home after the Derby keeper had spilled a shot. The lead lasted about 5 minutes. Waghorn scored from a low cross as the Barnsley defence stood like statues. Derby then put ten men behind the ball. Barnsley didn't have the creativity to break them down, despite 55% possession and 14 shots. Barnsley did have a strong appeal for a handball penalty rejected. We couldn't see it from our end of the ground, but I've seen replays. Let's say Derby were fortunate. Final score 2-1. A good crowd of almost 28,000.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It took a while for the coach to get out of the car park, but once we reached the M1 it was a decent journey home, arriving back in Barnsley at 11.15 pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good away day for me involves a decent train journey, time for a couple of pints of real ale and a decent performance from the Reds. The day failed on all three counts. I was glad I didn't let Sky put me off going to the game, although I'm fed up with them messing up my arrangements. I understand that those fans watching on Sky were heartily fed up of Sky fawning over Rooney, even focusing on him when Barnsley equalised.
Crewe away in the FA cup next. Another game put back a day to Sunday because of Sky's intervention for this game. The Reds mini-revival has taken a setback after cutting the deficit from a safety position from 8 points to 1 point. A poor performance after a win at Millwall and draws with WBA and Swansea.
Derby County v West Bromwich Albion
Championship
Saturday 24th August 2019, 12:30pm
Tim Joyner (West Bromwich Albion)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Pride Park?
I always enjoy the East Midlands fixtures. They tend to be lively occasions and are within easy travelling distance with good road and rail links.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Normally we'd travel by train for this one but decided on this occasion to use the Albion Official Supporters Coaches. The 40 odd miles from West Bromwich to Derby went very quickly and the Supporters Coaches parked up very close to the Away Supporters entrance about an hour and a half before kick off.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a walk around the stadium. It was an early kick off and everyone seemed fairly relaxed, and as with the majority of stadiums these days, you're fine going for a stroll with no issues at all with the Derby supporters. With just over an hour till kick off, it was into the stadium for a beer.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pride Park Stadium?
Pride Park is an impressive sight as you approach. It's very much a Premiership standard stadium. Going into the away end, the concourse didn't seem particularly large for a relatively modern stadium though certainly wasn't cramped. The service for beer and food in the concourse was very good. Our seats were virtually at the back of the stand and the view really was excellent. I'm not always a fan of the relatively new stadiums but do find Pride Park impressive and I am struggling to think of any negatives.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities, etc..
At times the early kick-offs can impact on the atmosphere but I didn't really feel that was the case here. The Albion support was very lively throughout, and although the Derby support did seem relatively quiet unless its for key matches that tends to be the case for most sets of home supporters these days. But you do get the impression it's a proper football town and that the locals are passionate about their club. As for the match itself, it ended 1-1 with both goals penalties (with Derby also missing one). I did feel Albion were the stronger team though it's goals that count, and we simply couldn't finish off our chances so no complaints.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was very easy, a 2 minute walk onto the Car Park to get on the Supporters Coaches and were on our way about 10 mins later.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I'd recommend an awayday at Derby. Very easy to reach via either your supporters Coaches, Car or via train. A very impressive stadium and a good day out.
Derby County v West Bromwich Albion
Championship League
Sunday, May 5th, 12.30pm
Kev and Jean (West Bromwich Albion)
Derby County v Millwall
Championship League
Wednesday 20th February 2019, 7.45pm
Ashley (Neutral)
Derby County v Swansea City
Championship League
Saturday 1st December 2018, 3pm
Tom (Swansea City)
Derby County v Aston Villa
Championship League
Saturday 10th November 2018, 3pm
Stewart Coniff (Aston Villa)
Derby County v Leeds United
Championship League
Saturday 11th August 2018, 5:30pm
Phillip Bell (Leeds United)
Derby County v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 28th July 2018, 3pm
Aimee Henry (Wolves fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pride Park Stadium?
Our second friendly in 4 days, and another relatively close trip. Having visited the Potteries on Wednesday night to play Stoke, it was the East Midlands on Saturday, to Derby. I’m not a massive fan of friendlies as a spectacle, they’re effectively a glorified training session. However, when you’ve not seen your team play since early May, by the end of July you’re having withdrawal symptoms. I’ve been to Pride Park on a number of occasions. I’ve seen Wolves lose 5-0, 4-2 and 3-1, but then last year we cruised to a fantastic 2-0 win in glorious August sunshine. It would seem that most people share my lack of enthusiasm for pre-season games, as a lot of the usual suspects turned their nose up at this game. Whether it was the football, or spending the day with me, that put them off, I’m not entirely sure. Eventually, after much persistence on my part, my brother agreed to go, and we purchased our tickets (£15 each) and travel.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
For the second game in a row, I opted to use the train. I managed to secure return tickets from Birmingham to Derby, via Burton, for a tad over £8. Bargain, I thought. What I hadn’t realised whilst booking, was that Derby station was undergoing major renovation, and so the journey from Burton to Derby would actually be by bus.
The buses ran quite regularly, and it took around 25 minutes to get from Burton station to Derby station, so if you are thinking about travelling to Derby during the renovations, don’t be put off. Once you are at Derby station, it’s a short 5-10 minute walk through a business park, and you are at the ground. I saw plenty of car parks around.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
With us not being sure about how long it would take to get there, with the extra bus journey, we played it safe and caught quite an early train. This meant we arrived at the ground just after 12:30, with 2 and a bit hours to kill before kick-off. We had a quick wonder round the ground, which included having a look at the Brian Clough and Peter Taylor statue. It’s a great tribute to two men who played a huge role in Derby’s successful title winning side. Clough himself is one of the enduring and endearing characters from British football history. There are some brilliant books and documentaries about him, I’d recommend any of them.
As it was 12:30, we decided to grab some food. There are plenty of options around the ground, including a Greggs built into the stadium itself! We eventually opted for a Subway (Steak, Cheese and Gherkins, lush!). Once the turnstile was open at 1:30, we went inside for a drink. It was great to see that Derby not only had cider, but fruit cider, in the form of Kingsbury Press Berry. It was a slightly sweeter version of Strongbow Dark Fruits, but still very nice, and at £4.20, around about the price you’d expect in a stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pride Park Stadium?
I quite like Pride Park. Built in 1997, it’s ironically now one of the older grounds in the Championship, but certainly doesn’t feel old. The away end is more of a corner, on the opposite side to the dugouts, but I’ve been before with a big away allocation and you do end up snaking across towards the goal. There is a large screen in the far corner, which shows highlights pre-match and during the game.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc…
For a pre-season game, it was fairly decent. Derby won 2-1, though all three goals were pretty scrappy. They created a few chances, and their energy levels were a good indicator that they were closer to the start of the season than us. We ourselves created plenty of chances but lacked a bit of cutting edge. It was a good workout for the players though, and all counts towards getting ready for the season’s start. The facilities at Derby are great, the concourse can get a bit squashed at half time though, so give yourself a bit of time if you’re going for a drink or the toilet.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As it wasn’t a packed attendance, it was easy to get out and back to the station afterwards. The bus was there waiting, and it wasn’t too long a journey home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A decent away day. Got soaked on the way back to the train/bus station, but otherwise the weather was great. Pride Park is a good place to watch football, facilities are good, you get a nice view from the away end, and there’s enough stuff around the ground to keep you occupied.
Derby County v Middlesbrough
Championship League
Saturday 21st April 2018, 3pm
Thomas Maggs (Middlesbrough fan)
Derby County v Leeds United
Championship League
Wednesday 21st February 2018, 7.45pm
Josh Townend (Leeds United fan)
Derby County v Leeds United
Championship League
Wednesday 21st February 2018, 7.45pm
Shaun (Leeds United fan)
Derby County v Norwich City
Championship League
Saturday 10th February 2018, 3pm
George Crisp (Norwich City fan)
Derby County v Aston Villa
Championship League
Saturday 16th December 2017, 3pm
Martin H (Aston Villa fan)
Derby County v Birmingham City
Football Championship League
Saturday 23rd September 2017, 3pm
Thomas Inglis (Neutral Visiting Dundee United fan)
Derby County v Preston North End
Football Championship League
Tuesday 15th August 2017, 7.45pm
Ian Robinson (Preston North End fan)
Derby County v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Pete Lowe (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
Derby County v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Football Championship League
Saturday 29th April 2017, 3pm
Harry Oliver (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Pride Park?
I was looking forward to this one as it was the last away day of the season and I had never been to Pride Park before.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got the train from Leamington Spa to Derby which was direct so no problems there. We just followed the crowd out of the train station and it was then a straight forward walk to Pride Park.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We got into Derby fairly late so didn't go to any pubs. But I did see a Harvester on the way to the ground which seemed to welcome away fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Pride Park?
Pride Park is on an industrial estate which was a shame because from the outside the stadium looked quite impressive, especially the two-tiered Main Stand. The view from the away section is brilliant as it is very steep, we were in block L Upper, Row S.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was very poor for us, we went 1-0 down early on and then had Ivan Cavaleiro sent off. We then went 2-0 down, subduing the atmosphere in the away end completely. Ben Marshall scored right on half time which gave us hope. We lost 3-1 in the end but in the second half the atmosphere in the away end was electric! Constant singing which caused me to lose my voice! The Derby fans were rather quieter which was disappointing.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was very easy and we didn't experience any problems.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A quality away day spoilt by terrible football. Pride Park is a nice ground with good facilities. But in a poor location and on this occasion quiet home fans. 8/10
Derby County v Fulham
Football Championship League
Tuesday 4th April 2017, 7.45pm
Tibbs (Fulham fan)
Derby County v Barnsley
Football Championship League
Saturday 4th March 2017, 3pm
Tom Bellamy (Barnsley fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Pride Park?
This would be the second time I have visited Pride Park, the last time being in the 2013/14 season when Derby beat us 2-1 in the Championship League. They went on to lose in the Play-Off Final against Queens Park Rangers whilst Barnsley slumped to 23rd place and then relegated to League One having spent seven consecutive years in the Championship. I once saw Derby play at the old "Baseball Ground" back in 1975 when they beat Leeds Utd 3-2 (It is well documented on YouTube because of the famous 'Punch-up' between Francis Lee and Norman Hunter.)
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I set off to Derby at 12 noon and arrived there at 1.45pm. I travelled by car via the M1 South and then along the A52 straight into Derby, but instead of following the directions to Pride Park I continued to the Pentagon Roundabout and took the second left exit onto Chequer Road which is on a large Industrial Estate. I paid £5 for secure parking but noticed that if I had arrived earlier I may have been able to park on roadside. I noticed two other car parks in the area who were charging £6 and £3. Once parked it was a steady 10-15min walk to Pride Park.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I didn't do much before the game but passed a few mixed sets of fans drinking outside Frankie and Benny's just outside the ground. All appeared in good spirits. I went into the Stadium at the South East corner Stand where all the away fans are now housed. When I last came here three years ago we were all sat right behind the goals in the South Stand. Although I saw Stewards searching the younger fans, checking any bags and patting them down I sort of sailed through without a hitch.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Pride Park?
Like the last time I came here I was very impressed with the Pride Park Stadium. It's got to be one of the best in the Championship League. My seat was in the Upper Tier section above the corner flag and whilst there was plenty of leg room with a good view of the pitch I was sat amongst the younger fans who were stood up for all of the game. The Stewards didn't appear to get involved with making sure they all sat down so I went with the flow. I've been in this situation many times before and it will not be the last.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
When the game started the atmosphere was good with the Barnsley fans in good voice. Both teams were playing some good open football with Barnsley created some early chances but lacked the killer punch. The Rams were quick on the break but only had one decent chance which the Barnsley defence took care of. The first half ended 0-0 and so the game was there for the taking. Derby began the second half the stronger of the two teams, but it was Barnsley who broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute with a header from James following a long throw-in by Roberts, but the 1-0 lead was short lived when two minutes later Paul Ince for Derby tapped the ball into the net after the Barnsley defence failed to clear their lines. So at 1-1 and all to play for it was Derby who scored the winning goal with Nugent scoring his first goal for the club by hitting the net which took a slight deflection. It was Derbys first win in seven games.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I made my way back to the car park, and although I found myself amongst many Derby fans they were very friendly, as they should be knowing that their team had leapfrogged Barnsley and were now sitting in 10th place, with Barnsley down a place to 11th. My journey via the A61/A38 was very slow mainly due to the 2500 Barnsley fans making their way back home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Although I was disappointed with the end result and not getting anything from the game I did enjoy the match itself and accept we were possibly beaten by the better team on the day. The Barnsley players gave their usual 100% effort which is what the fans expect and we look forward to our next game with the usual enthusiasm.
Derby County v Bristol City
Football League Championship
Saturday 11th February 2017, 3pm
Jonny Shine (Bristol City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Pride Park?
Pride Park has a reputation as one of the best grounds in the division and so I wanted to experience it for myself. Also, Bristol City had just won our first match after a nine game winless run, so I was looking forward at the possibility of keeping that momentum going with a win away from home at one of the teams towards the top of the league.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
There is a dedicated away fans' car park, which is fairly clearly sign posted as you approach that area of the city, although we had to actively seek out someone in order to pay. The walk from the car park to the stadium isn't far at all (about 10-15 minutes, though it felt longer as there was some light snow), and there's not much chance of you going the wrong way. It was also a surprise to see a velodrome next to the stadium!
What you did before the game pub/chipp y etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We didn't go to any of the local facilities outside of the stadium, but we did do a lap of the ground and make use of the Starbucks underneath the North-West corner (mainly to warm up our hands) which was run very efficiently, with staff taking our order in the queue so the drinks were ready once we got to the front. We didn't interact much with the home fans but they seemed friendly enough; we were openly wearing club colours and there wasn't any issue.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Pride Park?
I have to say, for one of the largest grounds in the Championship League, it didn't look that big from the outside, but I was struck with the size of it once we climbed up to our seats. The away fans were in the South-East corner – mostly higher up – and the stairs were quite steep, though nothing silly. The leg room was less than at some of the ultra-modern stadia, but was sufficient. The West Stand was opposite us, and is quite an imposing bank of fans, particularly as it was more or less full. The concourse was a little small – I imagine it would be cramped for a team with a big away following like Newcastle United – though that did make for a better atmosphere during half time.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A dramatic game for a neutral. The first half was an absolute party from our point of view as new signing Matty Taylor scored on his debut start and Tammy Abraham found his shooting boots again and scored a brace to give City a 3-0 lead at half time. The Derby fans were understandably subdued during the first half, and there was widespread booing as the whistle blew. Unfortunately, as we have been somewhat wont to do recently, we threw it away second half. Tom Ince showed his class as they pulled it back to 2-3 with two headers – helped along by the miss of the season from two yards by Matty Taylor – and then 3-3 with a soft (in my, perhaps biased, opinion) penalty. Once they scored their first goal the atmosphere picked up inside the stadium, and there was some back and forth between the two sets of fans ('3-0 and you ****** it up' being met with 'You're nothing special, we lose every week'). Despite this, it never verged towards nastiness between the home and away supporters; perhaps this was helped by the fact that both teams were probably reasonably happy with the way the game went. The stewards were fine; they weren't really needed due to the pleasant atmosphere.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was no trouble between fans that I witnessed after the game, and I think it somehow managed to get warmer between 3 and 5. The traffic was perfectly fine getting away from the ground: we were back at the hotel in Nottingham by 5:45pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, it was a very good away day. Pride Park has a great combination of being a relatively modern and quite big stadium, while still retaining the charm and personality of a traditional football ground. I can't find any objection with the home fans, and my only real negative for the day was that we couldn't take h me the three points!
Derby County v Reading
Football Championship League
Saturday 21st January 2017, 3pm
Richard Stone (Reading fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Pride Park?
My brother and sister in law live near Burton-on-Trent so this was an opportunity to go the Derby game and stay overnight with them. I'd been to Pride Park some years ago – Reading's final game in the Premier League in 2008 I think.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We were quite early into Derby, so local knowledge led us to park in one of the city centre car parks. From there, there is a pleasant 20 minute riverside walk to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
In the centre, there are a host of independent/artisan bakeries and cafes around the Strand, I think it's called the Cathedral Quarter. We didn't bother with food at the ground but we did have some hot drinks at half-time. These were pre-packaged 'Douwe Egbert' brand and were particularly revolting, the 'hot chocolate' especially. Service though on the concourse was quite fast.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Pride Park?
Pride Park is situated in a big light-industrial area and it looked like there are many eateries and parking opportunities around. From the outside, the ground is quite impressive with several pop-up bars and fast-food outlets on the external concourse. For devotees of the sausage roll, There's even a Greggs built into the stadium outside. The away fans were in the curved quadrant in the south-east corner which feels a bit distanced from the game, although the view was pretty good. There was a good contingent of Reading fans, but home fans aren't too far away on both sides so it does feel a little bit intimidating. Our seats were at the front of the upper section, so we didn't have to stand – hooray! Unlike at Ashton Gate, my last away trip, signage at the Derby stadium leaves no doubt as to who plays there.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Continuing their passing-the-ball style, Reading had been on a good run, although we had lost our previous home game and had dropped to fourth place in the league – over-achieving I feel. Our goal after 16 mins was the first conceded by Derby at home since September. The lead didn't last too long and after a couple of now-habitual catastrophic defensive howlers, we found ourselves 3-1 down with 15 minutes to go. A second Reading goal resulted in an exciting last 10 mins but Derby held-on for a 3-2 victory. The stewards were very 'light-touch' and the Derby fans only seemed to wake up when they went in the lead. There was some quite amusing bantering of chants (shall we call it chanter?) between the two sets of fans.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The roads around Pride Park looked rammed but we followed the very well-used path back along the river to the city centre. If you get the chance, there's a great real ale brewery pub called the Exeter Arms not too far from the river and the city centre.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
My in-laws' local knowledge ensured an enjoyable way day albeit with a disappointing result. But that's football.
Derby County v Liverpool
Football League Cup 3rd Round
Tuesday 20th September 2016, 7.45 pm
Rob Lawler (Liverpool fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the iPro Stadium?
As Derby have not been in the Premier League for a while it was a rare opportunity to visit this ground. Another one to tick off the list
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The approach roads to the ground were very busy and heavy with match and rush hour traffic. We eventually parked at Toys R Us where you can pay £4 and give your registration in at the customer service desk. Bought a load of sweets from Toys R Us, Liverpool away days are hardcore stuff!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As we were late with the amount of traffic we didn't have time to have a drink or get anything to eat. There are lots of places to get things to eat nearby such as Subway McDonald's, Burger King etc. The iPro Stadium is located on an industrial estate and retail park. Most of the home fans seemed to drink in Frankie & Benny's close to one of the stands. Local fans seemed friendly enough.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the iPro Stadium?
The stadium seems a lot bigger on television. It does though have a large section of executive boxes in the far corner which give it a bit of character. We were behind the goal to the right as if viewed on tv the away end is shared with the Derby fans with a small section segregating both sets of fans.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a straightforward victory for Liverpool 3-0 against a weakened Derby team. The atmosphere was good and no animosity between the two sets of fans. The stewards were excellent. There were some young lads sat behind me, one of which was about seven years old and was with his grandad. Two stewards were talking to him at half time and testing his knowledge of Liverpool players from the match programme. He will probably remember that for the rest of his life.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We stopped off for something to eat at Subway over the road and waited for the traffic to fizzle out. We were on the motorway and back in Liverpool at midnight.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good clinical performance from Liverpool. Derby have a nice stadium, but I would have loved to have see what a match would have been like at the old Baseball Ground where the crowd were on top of the pitch.
Derby County v Ipswich Town
Football Championship League
Tuesday 13th September 2016, 7.45pm
Josh Houston (Ipswich Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the iPro Stadium?
I have a couple of friends who are Derby fans so I really wanted us to win, so that I could have the bragging rights. Also Derby had been in poor form so I fancied us to take home all three points.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Pride Park is well signposted, which made the job of finding the ground easy. The signs were very helpful. We parked at Toys R Us which cost us £4 which I thought was reasonable.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We got there with plenty of time before kick off so we decided to go and get some food. There was plenty of places nearby such as KFC, Burger King and Subway but we eventually settled for McDonalds. The home fans were no bother and quite friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the iPro Stadium?
The ground was very nice and neat as you would expect from a modern stadium. It was very crowded while going over the pedestrian bridge to the stadium, as parked buses took up a lot of the room. Around the ground there were lots of burger vans and stalls. I purchased a programmed for £3 and I have to say it was the thickest programme I have ever seen.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was poor. Derby dominated the first half but didn't really have any good chances. We played awfully and were lucky that Derby were on a poor run of form. But luck went our way and Leicestershire born Luke Varney got a lucky goal which the keeper should of saved. So we took all 3 points back to East Anglia. The toilet facilities were good and the stewards were very friendly.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away at the end was slow as you would expect if 28k people were leaving a game. But I rather enjoyed in the car listening to the Derby fans calling in on the radio and complaining about Manager Nigel Pearson.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall the day was an average day out, but the result made it a lot better.
Derby County v MK Dons
Football Championship League
Saturday 13th February 2016, 3pm
Harry Wright (MK Dons fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the iPro Stadium?
I was looking forward to the game as it was my first trip to the iPro, or Pride Park as it was originally called. I was also looking forward to seeing a decent crowd. Derby is not too far from Milton Keynes and it was an easy train journey. I was excited as Derby hadn't won in 7 and had just sacked their manager, we'd just got a point at home to Middlesbrough and so I was feeling quietly confident.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Our journey was straightforward. From Milton Keynes Central we got a London Midland train to Tamworth and found a pub around 5 minutes walk from the station. We had a quick pint there and then got the train over to Derby. On arrival I'd suggest making sure you exit the station on the right side. One side is labelled Pride Park and the other town centre. We ended walking into the town centre, but ended up having to get a taxi to the ground as it's a fair walk. Whereas the stadium is only a 15 minute walk from the Pride Park exit at the station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to the the Harvester near to the stadium as we fancied some food. It was busy but not overly busy and had enough seats and a decent atmosphere. Staff were good and service was brilliant for how many people were there, and was not too overpriced.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the iPro Stadium?
When we first went past the iPro Stadium it looked fantastic, plus it is just in the middle of nowhere like a lot of new grounds nowadays. The away end is round the back of the stadium. Unfortunately I first tried to go into the home end as my ticket was quite confusing!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The away end is spacious with televisions screening Sky Sports and the game inside the stadium when it's being played. I didn't eat but did have a couple of beers, of which there was a good range of ciders and lagers. Despite being £4.10 a pint, I didn't mind too much. The stewards were rather stricter than at other grounds and told me to 'calm down' when I tried to have a basic joke with one. The away end is situated right next to the home 'singing' group and proves for a good atmosphere and the home fans were one of the loudest I've heard in the league. However they all seemed to quieten down when Jake Forster-Caskey scored a free-kick with 10 minutes to go so we won 1-0!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The ground was easy to get out of after and stewards were happy to help with directions to the train station and it didn't take long to get back. We were walking with plenty of home fans who were more than happy to leave us alone.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Brilliant day and great ground. One of my favourites and 30,000+ people there to boot, most ever for a league game involving MK Dons. Also not too expensive and three points made it even better. Will definitely be going again given the chance.
Derby County v MK Dons
Football League Championship
Saturday February 13th 2016, 3pm
David Drysdale (MK Dons)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pride Park Stadium?
I had never visited the Pride Park Stadium before, but I had heard good things about it. It was going to be a tough game for us, with Derby having a far bigger budget than MK Dons and MK Dons having performed poorly for most of the season leading up to the game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We decided to drive and found the Pride Park Stadium frequently sign-posted inside Derby and it was easy to locate. We were directed to a small car-park near an office block/factory very close to the stadium near a mini-roundabout and were charged £3 for the pleasure. The walk was only three minutes to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a walk round the stadium and enjoyed a burger or two from a burger van near the away end. There are plenty of food vans as well as a 'fans area' serving alcohol outside the stadium. We then headed inside and enjoyed a couple of beers in the away end. Service was quick and the beer was cold.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Pride Park?
Pride park is a very modern and imposing stadium, it very much reminded me of Stadium MK. The ground was packed on all sides and it made for a very good atmosphere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
MK Dons were under pressure for the majority of the game and I was certain we would concede a late goal. Then, almost out of nowhere, one of our loanees Jake Forster-Caskey scored a late free kick sending the away end into rapture. We did not deserve the three points, but that's football and it's been a long time since I celebrated like that. The away end itself is shared with home fans separated by stewards, and that section of home fans was very vocal and helped to build a good atmosphere with plenty of signing from both sets of supporters.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A quick walk back to the car and then a long queue/wait to get out of the car park and back onto the main roads – like most other grounds in the country. No real problems getting away in the end.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out, excellent atmosphere and a good ground. Very happy with the result, and I would not hesitate to return to Pride Park.
Derby County v Watford
Championship League
Friday 3rd April 2015, 7.45pm
Harry Durrant (Watford fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the iPro Stadium? With both Clubs in the top six in the League and with Watford having the chance to go top of the League if they won the game, the this was a game not to be missed. As it was also being shown on television meant an usual Friday night game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? The journey was easy, straight up the M1 and the stadium was well signposted around Derby. We managed to park at a local business not too far from the iPro.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? We arrived with a not a lot of time to spare, so no time to visit a pub, so we went straight into the ground. The home fans were fine and it was quite relaxed around the stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium? The stadium is of a good size with a capacity of over 33,000. The West Stand on one side was two tiered and larger than the other three stands that were single tiered. However it did have a neat and tidy look. The Watford fans were housed in one corner of the stadium. The views of the pitch were fine and we stood for most of the game.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Can't comment on the pies, but the facilities were okay with spacious toilets. The main plus point was the atmosphere, which was electric from both sets of fans. The Watford fans sang throughout the game, as well as the Derby fans who were located in the section next to us. It was a great start for Watford with Vydra getting the opening goal. However the jubilation in the away end was short lived as on the stroke of half time, Motta for Watford conceded a penalty. Things then got worse when the ref adjudged him to be the last defender and produced a red card. Bent stepped up for Derby and cleanly slotted home the equaliser. With Watford down to ten men, it was going to be a long second half.
Derby took advantage of the numerical advantage and went ahead through a goal from Tom Ince. Things were starting to get rather nervy for the Watford fans, but out of the blue we equalised with 15 minutes to go, when Ighalo scored. The Watford fans went mental in celebration. The game finished 2-2. A point was not enough to send us top of the League, but after being a man down and a goal behind and with Derby having a number of other chances to increase their lead (luckily our keeper Gomes was in fine form) then we were relieved to have come away with a draw. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting away was straightforward, although there was a fair bit of traffic, which was to be expected really.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: It was a cracking night. 2-2. Such a good game and day out. If you want to sample some atmosphere in the Championship then the IPro Stadium is one of the places to go. I wish Derby the best of luck for next season.
Derby County v Southport
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday January 3rd 2015, 3pm
Will Burns (Southport)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was really looking forward to this game as it was the first time Southport had got through to the 3rd Round of the FA Cup in 16 years. As soon as I watched the draw, I instantly searched up Derby’s stadium on Google and my first impression was that it looked like a really nice, reasonably modern stadium so I was looking forward to seeing the Port play there.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We didn’t have much trouble as we were on a coach but the car park was massive, definitely enough space for most.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We arrived two hours before kick off but there was plenty to do, there is a retail park nearby to kill a bit of time and Burger King, KFC, Frankie & Benny’s, Subway and Pizza Hut outlets provided a large choice of places to eat and an Intersport shop to look at some footy stuff. The home fans were quite friendly and we talked for a good 10 minutes to the match day programme guy.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
When I first saw the iPro stadium it was exactly what I expected, not huge but neat and well designed and thought out. The Toyota West Stand was by far the nicest, with a grander feel to it. The away stand inside was well kept and spacious.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was quite exciting. Despite Derby dominating the game Southport held them at bay, but an unfortunate 93rd minute penalty put Derby through to the next round 1-0. The atmosphere was buzzing and the Derby fans in the South Stand were brilliant for an FA Cup 3rd round versus a non-league team, the stewards were helpful however the toilets weren’t the best. I didn’t have any refreshments in the stadium as prices in football grounds nowadays are typically high.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was easy to get away from the ground at the end, as our coaches were escorted away and we more or less drove straight out, we stopped at traffic lights but that was it.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, I’d give the day 8.5/10, I thoroughly enjoyed it and Pride Park/iPro Stadium was fantastic but the final result was slightly disappointing because we honestly thought we’d got a replay back at Haig Avenue.
Derby County v Chelsea
FA Cup 4th Round
Sunday January 15th 2014, 2.15pm
Daniel Gosbee (Chelsea fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was more or less looking forward to going to Derby just to watch Chelsea. I love the FA Cup and really wanted to follow the blues hopefully progress through to the next round. Never been to Derby so it was another stadium ticked off the list.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We drove to Derby and found the stadium easily and followed the signs to car parking in an industrial estate about 1km from the stadium for £5.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before the game there is a lot to do near by. There's a Subway outlet, retail park, McDonalds, Greggs (which wasn't open) and burger vans. I didn't chose to eat anything, but I'm sure if I was hungry, there was plenty things there to eat and drink. The home fans were fairly friendly before the game yes, on twitter they were great, giving lots of Chelsea fans tips about travel and nearest pubs etc. which was nice.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground from the outside looks modern, and quite impressive when walking up to it. On a close inspection it looks smaller but still impressive. Inside it looks modern, but sadly lacks character.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Atmosphere was really good. Both sets of fans were up for it even before kick off. The stewards were really friendly. One steward came and sat next to us and asked us about our season and our squad then he told us who he thought would give us grief etc. and he and the others were friendly. The facilities were clean. The game was a bit boring in the first half, and the second half the game was better, Chelsea deserved the win through (2-0). Chelsea fans did anger the Derby fans a little when they were singing about their local rivals Nottingham Forest and we were giving Forest a bit of support, but hey it's all banter at the end of the day!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It took a while leaving after the game as it took us 20 odd minutes to find the car because we forgot where we parked it! The area all looked the same in the dark.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
All in all it was a good day out. I wasn't really expecting to enjoy the day as much as I did, good support from the Derby fans and Chelsea fans. The game wasn't the best, nice stadium, and I would go as far as saying if Derby got promoted, I would happily go back and watch Chelsea play at the iPro stadium again, hopefully a better game though!
Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday
Championship League
Saturday August 18th 2012, 3pm
Dan Brennan (Sheffield Wednesday fan)
I’ve been to Derby countless times yet this was to be my first visit to Pride Park. With it being the first game of the season, Wednesday on the crest of a wave from last season and Derby stumbling after an amazing defeat to Scunthorpe in the cup earlier on in the week, it was set up to be a good day.
With Pride Park being centrally located than it is easy to get to. I got the train down from Sheffield – services between Sheffield and London St. Pancras are every 20 minutes but I know that Crosscountry trains also stop in Derby. I’d recommend going by train here – the ground is very close to the station and I saw a lot of traffic congestion around the ground prior to kick-off.
We arrived in Derby at about 1 o’clock and on the way to the stadium (you will most probably get a police escort) you will pass a whole host of watering holes. We went in a Harvester – cheap beer, nice day, job done. There was also a Chiquito and a Frankie’s and Benny’s located close to the ground too. From there we walked to the ground which, all in all, took about ten minutes from the train station.
Pride Park is a cracking ground, both in and out. It’s no different from a lot of others but it’s well built and is very big. It is easy to automatically dislike these new grounds – with my home stadium being Hillsborough, I’m a fan of traditional grounds – but Pride Park is also good. All of the stands were big and I quite liked the executive boxes in the one corner. In this corner there was also a large screen showing Leeds vs. Wolves before kick-off and then showed the game live throughout the match which I thought was a nice touch. The atmosphere was good – 6,000 Wednesdayites, the most away fans ever at Pride Park I believe – were absolutely bouncing and the Derby fans also made some noise which meant it was an electric atmosphere as we kicked off the campaign.
The first half, from a Wednesday point of view, was dismal. 2-0 down after 25 minutes courtesy of Nathan Tyson and Jake Buxton, coupled with some dreadful defending, and the Derby fans were bouncing. Pride Park is a loud stadium and the acoustics are excellent. Wednesday were being hammered in all honesty and a Chris O’Grady screamer against the run of play gave us a chance in the second half, a chance were barely deserved. The second period was different – the Derby fans were silent and tentative as Wednesday cranked up the ante both on and off the field and, after two disallowed goal, a stone-wall penalty appeal turned down and two efforts hacked off the line, Reda Johnson finally bundled home the equaliser in the 90th minute to send the Owls fans absolutely crazy. It was nothing less than we’d deserved after a fabulous second-half display. It was interesting to see that the Derby fans booed their players after the game – they hadn’t been bad by any means, and I feel that they were quite quick to jump on their players backs.
Getting away from the ground was easy enough – getting out of the stand took an age though as the gangways are steep and narrow meaning getting 6,000 people out was always going to be difficult. From there though, it was straight back to the station and onto the train home.
The nature of the equaliser meant it felt like a win! All in all though, a fantastic day out. Derby is a great place to visit – not massively different to other places like the Walkers and Swansea etc. etc. – but it does have a great atmosphere which makes for a great day out. I’d recommend a trip to Derby as, barring maybe a lack of character, there’s nothing wrong with it whatsoever. Definitely go again!
Derby County v Ipswich Town
Championship League
Saturday April 7th 2012, 3pm
Mark Lees (Ipswich Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I always look forward to whatever away games I go to as I can’t afford to go to many of them. Pride Park has usually been happy hunting ground for Ipswich in recent years and as it was nearly the end of the season and Ipswich have been in great form of late I thought that this game would be a good choice. I had also never been to Derby before and had heard positive things about Pride Park from other fans.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I went on the club coach from Portman Road which set off for Derby about 10.00 am and got to Pride Park about 13.40 pm so all in all the journey time wasn’t too bad which included a 40 minute stop at a service station near Leicester. There was a separate parking area for away coaches just outside the ground which was all very easy to find my way back to after the game.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
First thing I did was buy a programme and it was quite unique as they are sealed in plastic bags which helps in case of bad weather. Bought a coke and a hot dog for £5.00 which wasn’t too bad. They also have burger vans outside the ground which supporters can also go outside to at half time.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Pride Park looks quite compact from the outside but when you enter the stands it is a whole different story. I had a very good view of the pitch from where I was sat even though I was quite high up. The Stadium overall is really impressive and the seats were very comfortable. The stadium is built in such a way that extra capacity can be added in the future to the North, East and South Stands.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Ipswich were the better team in the first half and were passing really well and looking like we were going to score but Derby got better in the second half and really tested our defence who throughout it all had a great game. It ended up being a goalless draw but a very entertaining one at that.
The atmosphere was mostly created by our amazing away support in the first half as the Derby fans were very quiet but once Derby stepped it up in the second half, the home fans were lifted and it was almost deafening. They are very passionate about their team. The stewards were very friendly and very helpful.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground didn’t take very long at all but our driver took a wrong turn and almost got us lost. Luckily we were able to go the way we came thanks to a roundabout and were able to get back on track. We had to laugh. Had a 15 minute stop at Cambridge on the way home and got back to Portman Road about 8.40 pm.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Despite the game ending up a goalless draw, I had a really great day out. Pride Park is a very nice stadium with really friendly staff and I would definitely go there again next season. 10/10.