Derby County
Pride Park
Capacity:
33,597 (all seated)
Address:
Pride Park Stadium, Derby, DE24 8XL
Telephone:
0871 472 1884
Fax:
01332 667519
Pitch Size:
105 x 68 metres
Pitch Type:
Grass
Club Nickname:
The Rams
Year Ground Opened:
1997
Undersoil Heating:
Yes
Shirt Sponsors:
32RED
Kit
Manufacturer:Umbro
Home Kit:
White and Black
Away Kit:
Blue with Black Trim
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 totally 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 in size 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 next to the home dugout there is a statue of former player Steve Bloomer who overlooks the pitch. Outside the stadium on one corner is a statue of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor.
The Club have applied for planning permission to build a large two storey extension onto the back of the East Stand. This extension would house a number of bars and restaurants and effectively become a fan zone. Interestingly the Club are hoping that the facility will be used by fans after the game has ended, something that is common at some European grounds but has yet to be successfully introduced at an English Club.
The stadium has also been built in such a way that an additional tier could be added to three sides of the stadium, namely the North, East and South Stands. This would increase the capacity of Pride Park to around 44,000.
However, with the club in financial turmoil it is perhaps expected that no major changes to Pride Park are planned. The one thing that has been discussed is the return of safe standing fans at the Derby stadium. Currently, standing fans is illegal in the top two tiers but Derby have appealed this ruling. If the laws changes – or Derby suffer relegation to the third tier – then safe standing will be coming to Pride Park very soon.
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. I have visited Pride Park a number of times now and have found the Derby supporters to be friendly and have not experienced any problems. 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 Pukka Pies (Chicken Balti, Meat and Potato, Cheese and Onion) all at £4, plus a ‘Stand Up Pastie’ (I wonder if it tells jokes?) at £4. At half time fans are allowed outside the stadium into a cordoned off area, where there is a catering unit selling Burgers, Hot Dogs etc.. It also provides an opportunity for those who smoke to have a cigarette outside. 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.
Please note that you have to buy a match ticket before entering the stadium from the lottery office adjacent to the away turnstiles. Entry to the stadium after an obligatory ‘pat down’ by stewards is then via electronic turnstiles where you have to insert your ticket into a bar code reader. I have received reports of away fans not being allowed entry into the stadium for being ‘too drunk’ in the opinion of the stewards, so be on your best behaviour. George Donovan a visiting Ipswich Town supporter adds; ‘In my opinion Pride Park is the best ground in the Championship – yes, even better than Portman Road! – thanks to its location, proximity to the train station, good pubs best pub I’ve been to on the way to the ground (The Brunswick – over a dozen real ales always on tap including my fave Timmy Taylors Landlord), superb catering with no queues, fantastic view, friendly home fans and great PA’. The teams emerge to ‘White Riot’ by the Clash.
Justin Blore informs me; ‘There is a Frankie & Benny’s on Pride Park across the road from the club shop and a Subway outlet. Within 500 yards there’s Burger King, KFC, McDonalds and Pizza Hut too!’ There is also a Greggs and a Starbucks outlet built into one side of the stadium. Alas, the Greggs is closed on matchdays (I guess not many fans would pay for a pie inside the stadium if they were).
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 on three different grounds.
With Pride Park being located in a retail park/industrial estate then there is little choice in the way of drinking outlets. Pete Stump informs me; ‘On a recent visit, the police directed us to a “Harvester” about five minutes walk away from the stadium. It was full of away fans, however, we were told that they don’t always admit visiting supporters.’ Nigel Summers a visiting Brighton fan adds; ‘The Navigation Inn on London Road, is okay for away supporters. It has free street parking outside, is on the A6 (so an easy getaway after the game) and it is just a ten minute walk away from the stadium. There is a basic burger and chips food menu, decent beers, including Doom Bar on my last visit and shows televised football. Home fans also frequent the pub, but it was friendly enough.’ Across the road from the Navigation Inn is the Derby Conference Centre which has a bar facility inside and welcomes visiting supporters. You can also park at the centre at a cost of £5. A discount off a particular beer inside the centre is sometimes offered for those who park there.
There are a few pubs opposite Derby Railway Station, but they are for home supporters only. A couple of exceptions are the Station Inn on Midland Road and a little further along the Tiffany Lounge, both of which are only a few minutes walk away. If not wearing colours and arriving early then further along the Railway Terrace you may be able to enjoy a decent ale at the Brunswick Inn or the nearby Alexandra Hotel, both of which are included in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. If you have time on your hands and don’t arrive mob-handed, then it may be best to wander into the city centre where there are plenty of pubs to be found. Jon Thompson a visiting Sheffield United fan informs me; ‘We ended up in the Exeter Arms on Meadow Road, which I’d highly recommend, is about a 15 minute walk from there to Pride Park.’ There are bars at the back of the stands, offering pints of Lager or Cider (both £4.30), however they do get, quite crowded.
If you enjoy your real ale, then Derby is somewhat of a ‘Mecca’ destination for the discerning drinker. With a staggering 18 pub entries in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, most of which are located fairly central, plus a host of other good pubs too, it may be an idea to arrive earlier and explore some of these fine watering holes.
If arriving by train from Birmingham New Street, then another alternative is to stop off at Burton-on-Trent. There are a few good pubs within a couple of minutes walk from the station, including the Last Heretic on Station Street (just turn right out of the station and it is down on the right. This pub serves real ale, cider, craft lagers and has a large beer garden.
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 display 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. The cost of parking is £8 per car, or £6 if the car has four or more people in it.
There are a number of businesses located off the main A52 near to the stadium that offers parking. Pete Stump adds; ‘I noticed that the KFC and Burger King both just off the roundabout of the A52 going into Pride Park, both offered matchday parking for £6’. Further along, the A52 off the main Pentagon Roundabout on Chequers Road in the Meadows Industrial Estate are some other businesses such as Bamfords Auction House which also offers parking for £5.
Whilst Steve Cocker informs me; ‘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 though that you get there in plenty of time before the kick off, as the road fills up quickly.’ There is also the option of renting a private driveway near the Pride Park Stadium via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Please note that until the end of 2018 works are being undertaken to widen the A52 to three lanes. There are narrow lanes in place and a 40mph sped limit in force, so this will further increase traffic congestion in the area on matchdays.
Steve Hallam informs me; ‘A stretch of the A52 between Nottingham and Derby is named Brian Clough Way in honour of the great man’s achievements with both Derby and Forest’.
Post Code for SAT NAV: DE24 8XL
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Pride Park is about a 10 minute walk away from Derby Railway Station and is signposted. A new exit has been opened at the station which leads directly onto the retail park, as Dave Plunkett adds; ‘When you go up the stairs from the platform, turn right and walk to the end of the bridge. Go down the stairs, exit and turn right down Roundhouse Road. Bear left at the roundabout, go straight down Riverside Road or turn right go down Pride Parkway where there are couple of places to eat and drink). You will reach the ground in front of you’.
If you want the pubs by the station, then 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 and then descend some steps use the underpass, and follow the fans. The stadium is about a 20 minute walk in total from the station using this route.
Please note that due to the construction of a new platform at Derby Railway Station, Bus Replacement Services will operate on many routes into Derby until early October.
Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:
Ticket prices are not listed here as the Club have introduced something called ‘Demand based pricing.’ In essence the Club set a starting price for a ticket for a particular game and area within the stadium. But once the tickets are on sale the Club can then put up the prices of the tickets if the fixture or area of seating is particularly popular. I can understand that the Club are trying to encourage fans to purchase tickets early (i.e as soon as the tickets go on sale at the starting price), but I feel somewhat uncomfortable that these can be subsequently hiked up as the Club sees fit.
Currently this scheme does not apply to tickets for the away section, however a Category system is in plave whereby the most popular games cost more to watch:
Away Fans
Adults £28 (B £25.50) (C £22)
Over 65’s £20 (B £18) (C £15.50)
Under 18’s £15.50 (B £14.50) (C £12.50)
The prices above are for tickets purchased in advance of matchday. Tickets bought on the day of the game can cost up to £3 more per Adult ticket and £2 more per Concession ticket.
Official Programme £3.
Derby vs Nottingham Forest rivalry: Both of these sides are located in the East Midlands with the game dubbed “El Cloughico” owing to their legendary manager Brian Clough, who managed both sides. It is one of the fiercest rivalries in English football and, recently, the victor of this tie wins the Brian Clough Trophy meaning there is more than just points at stake.
Derby vs Leicester City rivalry: Again, this rivalry is down to location. Although recent meetings between these sides have become one-sided with the Foxes enjoying huge success in recent times the rivalry still exists. That said it is fair to point out that both teams consider Nottingham Forest as their main rival.
Derby vs Leeds rivalry: This rivalry started in back 1972 when Derby beat Leeds to the Division One title. Since then, the game has been full of spice with things often taking a violent turn.
Derby County FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Periodically the Club offer tours of the Pride Park Stadium (On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings) which are priced at £8 per person. Tours need to be booked in advance on: 0871 472 1884. Season ticket holders at Derby can qualify for a discount on these prices. One off tours can also be booked, subject to a minimum charge of £25.
Record Attendance
At Pride Park:
33,597 England v Mexico
Friendly, 25th May 2001.
For a Derby game at Pride Park:
33,475 v Glasgow Rangers
Friendly, 1st May 2006.
At the Baseball Ground:
41,826 v Tottenham Hotspur
Division One, 20th September 1969.
Average Attendance
2019-2020: 26,727 (Championship League)
2018-2019: 26,850 (Championship League)
2017-2018: 27,175 (Championship League)
Official Web Site: www.dcfc.co.uk
Unofficial Sites:
Popside Message Board Derby County Mad (Footy Mad network)
Heanor Rams
Rams Talk (Message Board)
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add please e-mail me at: contact@footballgroundguide.com and I’ll update the guide.
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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Fulham
Football Championship League
Tuesday 4th April 2017, 7.45pm
Tibbs (Fulham 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 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Pete Lowe (Wolverhampton Wanderers 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 Birmingham City
Football Championship League
Saturday 23rd September 2017, 3pm
Thomas Inglis (Neutral Visiting Dundee United fan)
Derby County v Aston Villa
Championship League
Saturday 16th December 2017, 3pm
Martin H (Aston Villa fan)
Derby County v Norwich City
Championship League
Saturday 10th February 2018, 3pm
George Crisp (Norwich City fan)
Derby County v Leeds United
Championship League
Wednesday 21st February 2018, 7.45pm
Shaun (Leeds United fan)
Derby County v Leeds United
Championship League
Wednesday 21st February 2018, 7.45pm
Josh Townend (Leeds United fan)
Derby County v Middlesbrough
Championship League
Saturday 21st April 2018, 3pm
Thomas Maggs (Middlesbrough fan)
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 Leeds United
Championship League
Saturday 11th August 2018, 5:30pm
Phillip Bell (Leeds United)
Derby County v Aston Villa
Championship League
Saturday 10th November 2018, 3pm
Stewart Coniff (Aston Villa)
Derby County v Swansea City
Championship League
Saturday 1st December 2018, 3pm
Tom (Swansea City)
Derby County v Millwall
Championship League
Wednesday 20th February 2019, 7.45pm
Ashley (Neutral)
Derby County v West Bromwich Albion
Championship League
Sunday, May 5th, 12.30pm
Kev and Jean (West Bromwich Albion)
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 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 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.
Game Attended
Derby County 1-0 Nottingham ForestCompetition
ChampionshipDate
19/03/2016Kick Off Time
12:30Team Supported
Nottingham ForestWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
It was my first time attending an East Midlands Derby. Combine that with Ben Osborn's last minute heroics the previous season and I was very excited for this one.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got the train into Derby and the police escorted a large group of Forest fans to the ground. With the police leading us we couldn't really go wrong, and the ground is close to the station so it was convenient.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Since Forest vs Derby is a big rivalry we knew there would be no chance of finding anywhere to drink in Derby, so we drank in Nottingham and got the train into Derby. We passed by a lot of Derby fans at the local pubs as we were walking, and as you can imagine, the two groups of fans weren't particularly friendly to each other... I wouldn't want them to be!What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Pride Park seems to be quite a nice looking modern stadium, but being a dome in the middle of a retail park, it lacks a bit of personality and charm. Then again, as a Forest fan I would say that.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was great and there was a lot of banter between the two sets of supporters. The match was lacking in quality from both sides. Forest looked committed and were the better side in the first-half without really creating anything, but Derby improved after the break and got the winner with the only real bit of quality in the game. The stewards were friendly enough and didn't bother telling us to sit down.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Walk back to the station seemed more tense than the walk to the ground as a lot of Forest fans weren't to happy with the goading Derby supporters, and the police did a poor job of seperating the two sets of supporters for the first bit of the walk. We were held up for a long time outside of the station as the trains were delayed, but the Police had got on top of things by then and there were no Derby fans around. Had a bit of a sing while waiting for the trains and the police seemed relieved that we were in good spirits.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Always a shame to lose to those lot but it was a fun day out with good atmosphere. Hopefully I'll see Forest win the next time I go.Images
Game Attended
Derby Vs HuddersfieldCompetition
Division Two (Old Money)Date
07/08/2021Kick Off Time
15:00Team Supported
HuddersfieldHow easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Parking at Derby Conference Centre Now 10 (TEN!) pounds. Please update. Also no programmes.Images
Game Attended
Derby County Vs Peterborough UnitedCompetition
Championship GameDate
19/02/2022Kick Off Time
15:00Team Supported
Peterborough UnitedWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
New tick (went to the Baseball Ground) and a 6 pointer at the bottom of the table (Derby would overtake if they won).How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Approx 1 hr 20 mins from South Lincs, I parked at the Conference Centre for a fiver, got there about 1:15pm so probably would have been able to street park, but it was reasonably priced and had facilitiesWhat you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Filthy weather, met a Derby friend but The Navigation was closed, the Greene King pub asked to see match tickets and wouldn't let me and my daughter in, we ended up having a beer in the outside bar. Home fans ok but we weren't wearing coloursWhat you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Looks impressive from the Outside and I liked it for a new build, decent view from the away end though everyone stoodComment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Posh fought hard but created nothing, 2 sending offs and Derby scored in injury time, pie ok but my daughter enjoyed her hot dog from the Van outside at half time. No programme but a monthly magazineComment on getting away from the ground after the game
Approx 10 minute walk back to the car, took at little time to get out of the car park and I couldn't turn right onto the A6, so went back to the A52 past Pride Park which was absolute gridlock - schoolboy errorSummary of overall thoughts of the day out
A decent ground, shame about the result!Images
Game Attended
Derby County V Oxford UnitedCompetition
League 1Date
30/07/2022Kick Off Time
1500Team Supported
Oxford UnitedWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
First game of the season, a new ground for me, plus the opportunity (planned) to meet some Oxford friends in one of the many Derby real ale pubs.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Living in Sheffield it was a no brainer to get the train However, the train had problems which meant I was 1.5 hours late into Derby.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I missed the planned meet-up and walked from the station to Pride Park. The stadium is a straightforward walk of just under a mile from the station.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The stadium is impressive looking outside and has some good views inside. With 3/K OUFC fans and 31/K attendance it was a great atmosphere. I would say that the concourses, toilets and catering facilities are too small when the away section is full.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was an entertaining 1st half and a good advert for L1 football.. I thought Oxford shaed the 1st half and started well in the 2nd. After 55-mins Derby started to dominate as Oxford were looking leggy and sluggish. They scored a good goal on 80-mins and just about deserved the win.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Straightforward walk back to the station. There seemed to be some trouble with Derby fans at the station area I had a coffee and waited on the platform.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Disappointing result and frustrated at not being able to meet up with friends. But pleased to visit new stadium with cracking atmosphere. Whilst Derby are in L1 I recommend away fans take the chance to visit the stadium/Images
Game Attended
Plymouth ArgyleCompetition
EFL Division 1Date
03/09/2022Kick Off Time
15 00Team Supported
Plymouth ArgyleWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Have not been to Pride Park for a number of years despite their past problems Derby County are an attractive away fixture to attendHow easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We went with Plymouth Argyle Senior Greens supporters club on the coach no issues with traffic coming up parked up at 12 30 right outside the away endWhat you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to the Alexander Hotel a pub about 15 minutes walk away ,great pub lots of ale choices very busy but lots of bar staff a mixture of home and away fans Derby fans were really friendly.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Lovely stadium one of the best in the division concourse a bit compact with large away following we were given upper and lower tier.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
What a game great atmosphere from home and away fans we took 2300.We were 2 0 ht but playing well but won 3 2 .Stewards found to be very friendly ht they open the doors to allow fans to go for a smoke or purchase food from the burger van.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Great getting away all the roads are closed around Pride Park and the supporters coaches are escorted out was on the motorway by 5 30 pm.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Great away day ,big club in division 1 Derby home fans we met were freindly worth travelling the 520 mile round trip and going home with 3 pointsImages
Game Attended
Derby County v Torquay UnitedCompetition
FA Cup First Round ReplayDate
15/11/2022Kick Off Time
19:45Team Supported
NeutralWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Not too many games on and my mates hadn't been to Pride Park so for £10 (£5 for Greeny) it was pretty much a done deal.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A quick trip up from Leicester. We parked easily on Downing Road on the West Meadows Industrial Estate a 15 minute walk to the ground.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to buy tickets as Derby's online ticketing system wouldn't allow us to buy three. One member, one ticket. Thankfully the staff in the ticket office were helpful but come on Derby, there's no need for this. We then popped into the club shop for pin badges. Not a huge crowd but there was no trouble but can't really say the fans were friendly.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
It's a boring 'new' ground and holds absolutely no appeal. Good sight-lines inside but the seats are just too close together. with such a small crowd though we could spread out a bit.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The pies... well they're Pukka Pies which must vie with Ginsters as the worst pastry products in the World. I was hungry so I had a steak pie. The crust would have resisted a diamond cutting tool and the filling was hotter than lava. Horrible. The game was okay, Torquay conceded early to a shocking OG and they paid a heavy price losing 5-0. They weren't that bad though. Atmosphere? With only 7204 in it was pretty rubbish if I'm honest.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
An easy walk back to the car and on the A52 in minutes after that.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
It was a cheap night, plenty of goals. Derby need to rethink their ticketing really. It puts off people just turning up. Rubbish overpriced food.Images