About

Derby County Football Club, based in Derby, compete in the Championship, and fans can discover signed shirts and framed pieces at Walkouts. The club was founded on 5 February 1884 by William Morley as an offshoot of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, and it remains one of the 12 founder members of the Football League.

Hailing from Derby, the team currently play in the Championship. Their competitive peak arrived in the 1970s when they secured two First Division titles, and they also reached the European Cup semi-finals during that era, achievements that shaped the modern collectors market for Rams shirts.

Across the interwar years and into the post-war period the club built a distinct identity, lifting the first FA Cup after the Second World War and contesting league honours in the 1930s. Black and white have been the home colours since the 1890s, and the East Midlands derby with Nottingham Forest is a recurring provenance cue for derby-worn shirts and match photographs.

Collectors note a post-1970 anniversary release in 2009, when Derby marked 125 years with a commemorative crest, a release that often appears in framed retail sets and special edition runs tied to the club’s heritage.

Season-specific shirts are especially sought after, notably the title-winning campaigns of the early 1970s and subsequent European nights. Shirts from the Clough era and the 1972-73 European Cup run attract attention for match provenance, while later promotion seasons and 1995-96 retail releases are chased for player-issue variants. Fans also collect signed fanshop shirts, not only match-worn pieces, with early runs, player-issue variants and region-specific releases carrying particular demand; supply eras such as Umbro, Admiral and Kappa are often used to date retail items.

Iconic away colourways matter to provenance specialists, for example the 1972-73 European away nights that introduced a distinctive sky blue shirt worn on the continent, and shirts from the era are often photo-matched to specific fixtures. That same early-70s period, including 1971-72, is commonly referenced by collectors when verifying stitch patterns and wash tags against archive photography.

Provenance is key and many retail items are offered with authentication so collectors can trace release history, notably the commemorative 125th anniversary release of 2009, and documented pieces may come with a COA. For those seeking framed or signed retail shirts from the club’s golden seasons such as 1971-72 and 1974-75, Walkouts lists verified items alongside condition notes and historical context to aid selection.

Collector Highlights

Iconic home kits

  • 1971–72 White First Division champions
  • 1974–75 White First Division champions
  • 1995–96 White Division One promotion

Iconic away kits

  • 1972–73 Sky blue European Cup away nights
  • 2013–14 Yellow Championship play-off run

Anniversary shirts

  • 2009 125 years commemorative crest

Collector seasons

  • 1971–72 League champions Clough era
  • 1974–75 League champions second title
  • 1972–73 European Cup semi-final run

Honours

Derby County's honours list highlights domestic peaks and notable continental runs. The club won the English top flight twice during the early 1970s, claiming the First Division title in the Clough era and again in 1974-75, and lifted the first post-war national knockout trophy by winning the FA Cup in 1946. Derby were also twice league runners-up in the 1930s and reached the latter stages of European competition in the 1970s, notably advancing to the European Cup semi-final in the 1972-73 campaign. Those decades remain the club's most celebrated competitive period. The club's historic status as one of the Football League's founders underpins its record, and an IFFHS ranking is recorded for reference.

Legends & Leadership

Roy McFarland is remembered as a defensive mainstay in the 1970s and a key presence during the side's league title campaigns.

Archie Gemmill is celebrated for his influential midfield performances in the 1970s that helped drive Derby's sustained push in domestic and continental competition.

Francis Lee is recognised as a leading forward figure in the late 1960s whose performances fed into the club's rise into the following decade.

Brian Clough transformed the club as manager in the early 1970s and is widely credited with delivering Derby's highest league finishes and major continental breakthroughs.

Sam Longson is noted as the chairman who supported the club through the Clough era and played a defining role in that period of success.

Stadium

Pride Park Stadium is Derby County's established home and the focal point for matchday identity. The stadium hosts supporters who typically wear the club's traditional black and white colours and who maintain strong local rituals tied to county history; the ram motif and regimental song are part of the matchday culture. Encounters with Nottingham Forest around the East Midlands derby generate heightened atmosphere and travelling support, and derby days are often singled out for intense local interest. Pride Park Stadium serves as the setting for both celebratory title moments and hard-fought league nights, and its association with the team is a persistent feature of the club's modern identity.

Local derby
East Midlands derby Nottingham Forest A52 rivalry

Authentication & Provenance

  • Verification league vs European name-sets
  • Suppliers Umbro/Admiral/Kappa eras; verify codes
  • Provenance early-70s shirts photo-match

FAQ

Q: Which league do Derby County play in? A: Derby County compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football.

Q: When was the club founded and what is the nickname? A: The club was founded in 1884 and is commonly known as The Rams.

Q: Where are home matches played and who are the main local rivals? A: Home matches are played at Pride Park Stadium and the long-standing local rivalry is with Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands derby.

Q: How is authenticated merchandise handled and do you ship internationally? A: Official items often include a COA or similar verification and sellers may offer Free worldwide shipping.