Today’s On This Day article looks at the Derby County programme from the 1979/80 season and the issue from their match against Ipswich Town. Read the full review below and see all the 1979/80 programmes here.
Derby’s ‘Ram Magazine’ was a 16-page programme with 11.5 pages of content – the fewest of any in the league. However, despite the low page count the programme included a range of articles that offered plenty of reading content.
The front cover of the Derby issue was rather unusual in that it featured a ‘Cover Comment’ column next to the usual photograph and match details. For this issue against Ipswich Town, the column referred to the club’s injury crisis with Bruce Rioch and Gordon Hill having joined the ranks of the injured in the previous week’s win at Bristol City. The section also mad reference to some charitable work undertaken by the club, with players and staff having £1 deducted from their wages each week in favour of the club’s chosen charity.
Manager Colin Addison penned a column in which he noted he had “read the riot act” to his team a few weeks earlier following three straight defeats. Two league wins in a row since then suggested his players had got the message! ‘Rams News & Views’ contained more information on Derby’s charity work as well as providing details of a testimonial arranged for David Nish, who in 1972 had broken the British transfer record when moving to Derby for £225,000, but whose Rams career had been cut short by injury.
‘Secretary Talking’ featured the thoughts of Michael Dunford who commented on the relationship between the Derby management team and the fans and the regular ‘Meet the Manager’ nights held around the area. Bruce Rioch was the subject of ‘In Profile’ with the Derby midfielder discussing his fight to overcome injury problems. The feature also noted that Rioch made no secret of his interest in pursuing a career in management once his playing days were over (something he would of course achieve, with Middlesbrough, Bolton, and Arsenal among the sides he took charge of).
The programme offered a letters page, while there was coverage of previous matches in ‘Fotofile’, which here featured shots of both goals scored in the win at Ashton Gate a week earlier. ‘Rams at a Glance’ was a two-page stats section covering the first team and reserves, which also included an action picture from Derby’s last home game against West Bromwich Albion. Coverage of matchday opponents Ipswich Town was limited to just over a page, which included a team group picture, notes on the club’s form, a profile of manager Bobby Robson, and brief notes on the players.
Despite being among the smaller programmes in the 1979/80 season, ‘Ram Magazine’ still offered some worthwhile content. The issue was also expanded by the inclusion of the 16-page ‘Programme Plus’ supplement to offer more in-depth reading for Rams fans.