Derby

Ground: Pride Park

Visits: 2

Date: 17th April 2006

Match: Derby - Hull 1-1 (CC Championship)

Attendance: 24 961

Date: 4th August 2013

Match: Derby - Blackburn 1-1 (League Championship)

Attendance: 21 188

Report (Derby vs Hull):

I didn´t want to go to Chelsea or Tottenham on Easter Monday and when I read some good reviews about Pride Park and that the stadium was close to the train station I ordered a ticket online for Derby-Hull. On Thursday last week I still hadn´t recieved any ticket and when I phoned the ticket office they said it had been posted but they could make a duplicate ticket for me when I arrive. (When I came home the ticket was there but they had sent it to Norway of all places, probably Kristiansand?, and from there it was sent to me!)

The match itself was very boring but a spectacular goal from Hull in the first half and a soft penalty for Derby, three minutes from the end, at least made sure that I saw some goals. Pride Park itself is a nice stadium and I can honestly say that NO stadium in Sweden is as good as Pride Park. I was also surprised/impressed with the fact that 25,000 fans turned up to watch a match where neither side had anything to play for.

Report (Derby vs Blackburn):

On Sunday there was only one match for me to visit in England, Derby vs Blackburn. I visited Pride Park in 2006 so this was not to be a new ground for me. Staying in Birmingham going to Derby, around 30 min by train, is very easy and though there was a possibility to go to a new ground in Scotland (St Johnstone vs Hearts) going to Derby was an easy choice. Going to Perth for the St. Johnstone match would have meant I would have had to travel to Scotland on Saturday evening as it was not possible to make it from Birmingham to Perth on Sunday. I slept late on Sunday and after spending an hour at an internet cafe I left for Derby at 13.30. 30 minutes later I was in Derby. The weather was not as warm today as it had been yesterday. Pullover and rain coat compared to t-shirt the previous day. As I made the short (10 min.) walk to Pride Park from Derby train station it was quite windy and some rain in the air.

My seat was in the top row of the East Stand. I walked around to take a few pictures before warming myself with a cup of coffee. As I was in my seat reading the match programme there was suddenly heavy rain coming down. I was quite pleased to sit in the top row being well protected from the rain. some of the fans next to me who arrived shortly before kick-off were soaked though. In total 21 100,slightly disappointing crowd, turned up for Derby's opening match of the season. Being live on TV probably knocked a few thousand off though. Those of us who made it to Pride Park could watch quite a good match. Plenty of chances for both teams in the first half but it wasn't until the 42nd minute a goals was scored. Derby made it 1-0 from the penalty spot and despite six minutes of stoppage time it was 1-0 at half-time. The second half was entertaining as well but Derby couldn't find that "killing" goal. Instead Blackburn, very deservedly in my opinion, equalized in the 89th minute. The match ended 1-1, same result as it was back in 2006. Tomorrow I leave Birmingham for Preston and the League Cup derby between Preston and Blackpool.

pride park