The 1974–75 season was Derby County's 75th in the Football League and their 48th season in the top flight. They won their second league title in four years to qualify for the 1975–76 European Cup.
Season review
Whereas Brian Clough built his 1971–72 Championship winning team on discipline and a solid defence, Dave Mackay's 1974–75 side relied on attacking power to overwhelm its opponents. Midfielder Bruce Rioch bagged 15 goals to finish as the club's top league scorer, and the front three of Kevin Hector, Francis Lee and Roger Davies all contributed 12 or more. In March, Davies scored all the goals in a 5–0 win over Luton Town, becoming the first Derby player to net five times in a match since Hughie Gallacher in 1934. The Rams also put five past Queens Park Rangers and Burnley to finish the season as the league's leading scorers, though such abandon often left the side defensively frail and there were several heavy defeats along the way.
The season started in worrying fashion, with just one win in the club's opening seven fixtures, and despite a brief rally of six wins in 10 between September and November, a 1–0 defeat at Luton just before Christmas 1974 left them in 10th place. However, a run of just three defeats in their last 20 games, which saw them take 30 points from a possible 40, helped Derby surge up the table. A 0–0 draw away to Leicester City on the penultimate Saturday, combined with Ipswich Town drawing at Manchester City a few days later, confirmed the Rams as champions for the second time in four years.
Although domestic cup progress was limited (reaching the third round of the League Cup and the fifth round of the FA Cup), Derby's UEFA Cup debut proved relatively fruitful. A 6–2 aggregate victory over Servette FC was followed by a 4–4 aggregate draw with Atlético Madrid in the second round, both ties finishing 2–2. As a result, Derby took part in the club's first ever penalty shootout and overcame their opponents, winning 7–6. However, that was to be as good as it got for the Rams as Velež Mostar were able to overturn a 3–1 first league deficit to win 5–4 on aggregate and reach the quarter-finals.
Peter Daniel won the club's Player of the Season award after stepping in for Roy McFarland, who suffered an Achilles tendon injury whilst on international duty and missed all but the last five matches. Ron Webster became only the fifth player to break 500 appearances for Derby during his appearance in the defeat at Luton, while Colin Boulton broke the club record for goalkeeping appearances during the campaign on his way to a total of 344 appearances for the club. Colin Todd received the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, the only Derby County player ever to do so.
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers
| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| FW | Francis Lee | Manchester City | |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| MF | John McGovern | Leeds United | |
| FW | John O'Hare | Leeds United | |
| DF | Jim Walker | Brighton and Hove Albion | |
| FW | John Sims | Oxford United | loan |
Competitions
Division One
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derby County (C) | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 67 | 49 | 1.367 | 53 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
| 2 | Liverpool | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 60 | 39 | 1.538 | 51 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 23 | 5 | 14 | 66 | 44 | 1.500 | 51 | |
| 4 | Everton | 42 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 56 | 42 | 1.333 | 50 | |
| 5 | Stoke City | 42 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 64 | 48 | 1.333 | 49 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Results by round
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; = Leader, 1975–76 European Cup; = Classified to 1975–76 UEFA Cup; = Relegation to 1975–76 Division Two
Matches
| 17 August 1974 1 | Everton | 0–0 | Derby County | Walton |
| 13 | Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 42,193 |
| 21 August 1974 2 | Derby County | 1–1 | Coventry City | Derby |
Lee  68' |
15 | 21' Mortimer |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,717 |
| 24 August 1974 3 | Derby County | 2–0 | Sheffield United | Derby |
| Hector 4' Davies 76' |
7 | Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,088 |
| 27 August 1974 4 | Coventry City | 1–1 | Derby County | Coventry |
| Carr 77' |
4 | 20' Davies |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 18,586 |
| 31 August 1974 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Derby County | Tottenham |
| Ritchie 46', 59' |
12 | Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 20,770 |
| 7 September 1974 6 | Derby County | 2–2 | Newcastle United | Derby |
| Davies 42' Lee 51' |
11 | 29' Macdonald 61' Burns |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 21,197 |
| 14 September 1974 7 | Birmingham City | 3–2 | Derby County | Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Hatton 28' Francis 64' (pen.) 79' (pen.) |
14 | 84' Rioch 87' Davies |
Stadium: St. Andrews Attendance: 27,345 |
| 21 September 1974 8 | Derby County | 3–2 | Burnley | Derby |
| Hector 46' Rioch 55 ' (pen.)Lee 65' |
10 | 19' (o.g.) Todd 89' (o.g.) Daniel |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 21,377 |
| 25 September 1974 9 | Derby County | 4–1 | Chelsea | Derby |
| 19:30 BST | Rioch 10' Webster 24'Daniel 35'Hector 86' |
7 | 14' Hutchinson |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 22,036 Referee: Ken H Burns |
| 28 September 1974 10 | Stoke City | 1–1 | Derby County | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Hurst 87' |
8 | 75' Lee |
Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 23,589 |
| 5 October 1974 11 | West Ham United | 2–2 | Derby County | Upton Park |
| Robson 8' Bonds 59' |
9 | 29' Lee 80' Hector |
Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 32,900 |
| 12 October 1974 12 | Derby County | 1–0 | Leicester City | Derby |
| Rioch 39' |
5 | Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,753 |
| 15 October 1974 13 | Sheffield United | 1–2 | Derby County | Sheffield |
|
5 | Lee , |
Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 21,882 |
| 19 October 1974 14 | Carlisle United | 3–0 | Derby County | Carlisle |
| Train 42' Martin 65'Clarke 69' |
7 | Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 13,353 |
| 26 October 1974 15 | Derby County | 2–3 | Middlesbrough | Derby |
| Lee 36' Hinton 69' |
7 | 10' Hickton 35' Foggon 46' Mills |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,036 |
| 2 November 1974 16 | Leeds United | 1–0 | Derby County | Leeds |
| 7 | 78' Lee |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 33,551 |
| 9 November 1974 17 | Derby County | 5–2 | Queens Park Rangers | Derby |
| Hector 31' Rioch 34'Hector 54'Hector 66' Lee 72' |
5 | 44' Leach 88' Bowles |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,339 |
| 16 November 1974 18 | Arsenal | 3–1 | Derby County | London |
| Ball 52' Kidd 72'Ball 79' (pen.) |
10 | 75' (pen.) Rioch |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 32,286 |
| 23 November 1974 19 | Derby County | 2–0 | Ipswich Town | Derby |
| Hector Rioch |
6 | Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,341 |
| 30 November 1974 20 | Derby County | suspd. | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Derby |
| Stadium: Baseball Ground | ||||
| Note: Suspended because of a waterlogged pitch. | ||||
| 7 December 1974 21 | Liverpool | 2–2 | Derby County | Liverpool |
| Kennedy 18' Heighway 22' |
8 | 13' Bourne 63' Davies |
Stadium: Anfield Road Attendance: 41,058 |
| 14 December 1974 22 | Derby County | 0–1 | Everton | Derby |
| 9 | 66' Latchford |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,991 |
| 21 December 1974 23 | Luton Town | 0–1 | Derby County | Luton |
| J Ryan 61' (pen.) |
10 | Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,862 |
| 26 December 1974 24 | Derby County | 2–1 | Birmingham City | Derby |
| Bourne 38' Rioch 65' |
10 | 87' Hatton |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 26,121 |
| 28 December 1974 25 | Manchester City | 2–1 | Derby County | Moss Side |
| Bell 64' |
9 | 21' Newton 65' Lee |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 40,188 |
| 11 January 1975 26 | Derby County | 2–0 | Liverpool | Derby |
| Newton 39' Lee 80' |
7 | Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 33,463 |
| 18 January 1975 27 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–1 | Derby County | Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | 5 | 32' Newton |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 24,515 |
| 1 February 1975 28 | Queens Park Rangers | 4–1 | Derby County | Shepherd's Bush |
| Givens 10' Givens 80'Thomas 87'Givens 89' |
8 | 3' Rioch |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 20,686 |
| 8 February 1975 29 | Derby County | 0–0 | Leeds United | Derby |
| 9 | Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 33,641 |
| 22 February 1975 30 | Derby County | 2–1 | Arsenal | Derby |
| Powell 2' Powell 28' |
7 | 23' Radford |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,002 |
| 25 February 1975 31 | Ipswich Town | 3–0 | Derby County | Ipswich |
|
8 | Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 23,078 |
| 1 March 1975 32 | Derby County | 3–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Derby |
| Rioch 30' Daniel 37'Davies 67' |
7 | 11' Jones |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,000 |
| 8 March 1975 33 | Chelsea | 1–2 | Derby County | Fulham |
| 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time | Hollins 62' |
3 | 58' Daniel 61' Hinton |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 22,644 Referee: Donald Biddle |
| 15 March 1975 34 | Derby County | 1–2 | Stoke City | Derby |
| 49'Hector |
6 | 75' Greenhoff 89' Greenhoff |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 29,985 |
| 22 March 1975 35 | Newcastle United | 0–2 | Derby County | Newcastle Upon Tyne |
| 7 | 16' Nish 87' Rioch |
Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 31,010 |
| 29 March 1975 36 | Derby County | 5–0 | Luton Town | Derby |
| Davies 7' Davies 11'Davies 32'Davies 78'Davies 86' |
6 | Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,619 |
| 31 March 1975 37 | Burnley | 2–5 | Derby County | Burnley |
| Hankin 18' James 66' (pen.) |
5 | 1' Rioch 20' Nish 29' Davies 78', 89' Hector |
Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 24,276 |
| 1 April 1975 38 | Derby County | 2–1 | Manchester City | Derby |
| Rioch Rioch |
3 | |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 32,966 |
| 5 April 1975 39 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Derby County | Middlesbrough |
| Mills 34' |
4 | 90' Hector |
Stadium: Riverside Attendance: 30,066 |
| 9 April 1975 20 | Derby County | 1–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Derby |
| Lee 68' |
1 | Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 30,109 Referee: J Benet | ||
| Note: Originally scheduled for 30th November but was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. | ||||
| 12 April 1975 40 | Derby County | 1–0 | West Ham United | Derby |
| Rioch 66' |
1 | Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 31,336 |
| 19 April 1975 41 | Leicester City | 0–0 | Derby County | Leicester |
| 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time | 1 | Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 38,943 |
| 26 April 1975 42 | Derby County | 0–0 | Carlisle United | Derby |
| 1 | Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 38,000 |
League Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 September 1974 | Second round | Portsmouth | A | 5–1 | Hector 2, Lee, Rioch, Roberts (og) | 13,582 |
| 8 October 1974 | Third round | Southampton | A | 0–5 | 14,911 |
FA Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 January 1975 | Third round | Orient | A | 2–2 | Todd 2 | 12,490 |
| 8 January 1975 | Third round replay | Orient | H | 2–1 | Lee, Rioch | 26,501 |
| 27 January 1975 | Fourth round | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | Hector, Rioch (pen) | 27,980 |
| 18 February 1975 | Fifth round | Leeds United | H | 0–1 | 35,298 |
UEFA Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 September 1974 | First round 1st Leg |  Servette FC
|
H | 4–1 | Hector 2, Daniel, Lee | 17,716 |
| 2 October 1974 | First round 2nd Leg | Servette FC
|
A | 2–1 | Lee, Hector | 9,600 |
| Derby County win 6–2 on aggregate | ||||||
| 23 October 1974 | Second round 1st Leg |  Atlético Madrid
|
H | 2–2 | Nish, Rioch (pen) | 29,347 |
| 6 November 1974 | Second round 2nd Leg | Atlético Madrid
|
A | 2–2 (aet) | Rioch, Hector | 35,000 |
| 4–4 on aggregate, Derby County win 7–6 on penalties | ||||||
| 27 November 1974 | Third round 1st Leg |  Velež Mostar
|
H | 3–1 | Bourne 2, Hinton | 26,131 |
| 11 December 1974 | Third round 2nd Leg | Velež Mostar
|
A | 1–4 | Hector | 15,000 |
| Velež Mostar win 5–4 on aggregate | ||||||
Statistics
Players statistics
- Substitute appearances indicated in brackets
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Football League Division One |
Football League Cup |
UEFA Cup |
FA Cup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  ENG
|
Colin Boulton | 54 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Ron Webster | 34 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Peter Daniel | 49 | 4 | 37 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Colin Todd | 50 | 2 | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| DF | ENG
|
David Nish | 49 | 3 | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| MF |  SCO
|
Bruce Rioch | 54 | 20 | 42 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| MF | SCO
|
Archie Gemmill | 52 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Henry Newton | 48 | 3 | 35+1 | 3 | 1+1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Roger Davies | 49 | 12 | 39+1 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Kevin Hector | 48 | 21 | 38 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Francis Lee | 46 | 16 | 34 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
| GK | ENG
|
Graham Moseley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  WAL
|
Rod Thomas | 25 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Steve Powell | 18 | 2 | 12+3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Alan Hinton | 19 | 3 | 8+5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0+4 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Jeff Bourne | 27 | 4 | 7+10 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 4+1 | 2 | 3+1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Roy McFarland | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | SCO
|
Jeff King | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | SCO
|
Eric Carruthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW |  EIR
|
Chris Egan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
John Sims | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
- Source: [citation needed]