1971–72 Derby County F.C. season

Last updated • 4 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Derby County
1971–72 season
Chairman Sam Longson
Manager Brian Clough
Stadium Baseball Ground
First Division 1st
(In 1972–73 European Cup)
FA Cup Fifth round
League Cup Second round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Alan Hinton (15)

All:
Alan Hinton (20)
  1970–71
1972–73  

The 1971–72 season was Derby County's 72nd in the Football League and their 45th season in the top flight. They won their first ever league title to qualify for the 1972–73 European Cup, as well as winning the Texaco Cup. In addition, their reserve side won the Central League for the first time since 1936.

Contents

Season summary

Derby began the season with an unbeaten League run of five wins and seven draws although they did exit the League Cup at the second round stage, beaten 2–0 in a replay at Leeds. Defeat at leaders Manchester United in their 13th match triggered a period of inconsistent league form that saw Derby lose five times in 11 matches, the last at Elland Road just after Christmas, but they lost just one of their next 13 and a 2–0 victory against Leeds at the Baseball Ground over Easter took them to the top of the table. They remained there despite losing to Newcastle in the next match, their only home defeat of the season, and then drawing with West Bromwich Albion but had now played a game more than the three teams below them (Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester City) with only two points separating the four.

Two victories followed but defeat at Manchester City in their penultimate match of the campaign saw Derby slip to third with the title race still wide open. City, having completed their fixtures, now led the table on 57 points but could no longer win the league, with Derby and second-placed Liverpool both a point behind and separated only by goal average. Crucially, the two would meet at the Baseball Ground in Derby's final match although the Reds still had a further game in hand. Leeds lay fourth on 55 points, also with two matches remaining and a superior goal average to the other challengers.

Derby ended their season by beating Liverpool 1–0, John McGovern netting the winner, leaving them on 58 points with Leeds (who beat Chelsea 2–0 on the same night) on 57 and Liverpool on 56. Derby's destiny was not in their own hands and they left the country to escape the pressure - Brian Clough holidayed with his family in the Isles of Scilly while Peter Taylor went to Majorca with the players. Leeds needed a draw and Liverpool a win to overtake Derby.

In the event, Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Leeds 2–1 at Molineux and Liverpool could only manage a 0–0 draw at Arsenal. The league was unusually close throughout the campaign and the final table saw Derby champions just one point ahead of the teams in 2nd (Leeds), 3rd (Liverpool) and 4th (City).

Clough had built a balanced team at Derby, one in which every player knew his job. They rarely swept away the opposition, instead building on the foundations of a strong defence, although there were some memorable performances, notably in 4–0 defeats of Stoke and Nottingham Forest at the Baseball Ground and away to Sheffield United.

Although Derby reached the FA Cup fifth round, losing 1–0 to eventual runners-up Arsenal in a second replay at Filbert Street, their primary cup success for 1971–72 came in the Texaco Cup, a competition between sixteen English, Scottish and Irish clubs who were not in European competition. With home gates consistently over 20,000, Derby beat Dundee United (8–5 on aggregate), Stoke (4–3 agg.) and Newcastle (4–2 agg.) before playing Airdrieonians in the final. After a 0–0 draw at Broomfield Park, Derby beat their Scottish opponents 2–1 in the second leg at the Baseball Ground with Roger Davies, signed for £12,000 the previous summer from non-league Worcester City, grabbing the decisive goal to give Derby their second cup win in as many seasons.

Record signing defender Colin Todd claimed the club's Player of the Year while Alan Hinton finished the season as top scorer with 15 goals. Kevin Hector netted his 100th for the club in a 6–0 FA Cup fourth round win over Notts County and Alan Durban became the club's most capped international, overtaking Sammy Crooks, with his 27th and final appearance for Wales. Steve Powell became Derby's youngest ever player, a record he held for almost 30 years, when he made his debut in a Texaco Cup tie against Stoke aged just 16 years and 30 days.

Squad

Substitute appearances indicated in brackets

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Colin Boulton
GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Graham Moseley
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Ron Webster
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Roy McFarland (Captain)
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Colin Todd
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG John Robson
DF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Terry Hennessey
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Jim Walker
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Tony Bailey
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Peter Daniel
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Alan Lewis
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Tony Parry
No.Pos.NationPlayer
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO John McGovern
MF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Alan Durban
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Archie Gemmill
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Alan Hinton
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Steve Powell
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Frank Wignall
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Kevin Hector
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO John O'Hare
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Jeff Bourne
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Barry Butlin
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Roger Davies

Transfers

Competitions

Division One

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPtsQualification or relegation
1 Derby County (C)422410869332.09158Qualification for the European Cup first round
2 Leeds United 42249973312.35557Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round [a]
3 Liverpool 42249964302.13357Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Manchester City 422311877451.71157
5 Arsenal 422281258401.45052
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. Leeds United qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1971-72 FA Cup winners.

Results by round

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAAHHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAAHHAAHHAAH
ResultDWWDDDWWDDWDLWWWLWLWLWLWWDWLWWWWWDWWLDWWLW
Position1263343323334432222324454443433322221111131
Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss;   = Leader, Qualification to 1972–73 European Cup ;   = Qualification to 1972–73 UEFA Cup ;   = Relegation to 1972–73 Second Division ; c = Qualification for the Watney Cup

Matches

14 August 19711 Derby County 2–2 Manchester United Derby
Hector Soccerball shade.svg50'
Wignall Soccerball shade.svg60'
Soccerball shade.svg14' Law
Soccerball shade.svg35' Gowling
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 35,386
18 August 19712 Derby County 2–0 West Ham United Derby
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svg2'
Wignall Soccerball shade.svg7'
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 30,783
21 August 19713 Leicester City 0–2 Derby County Leicester
Soccerball shade.svg64' Hector
Soccerball shade.svg67' (pen) Hinton
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 35,460
24 August 19714 Coventry City 2–2 Derby County Coventry
Joicey Soccerball shade.svg39'
Hunt Soccerball shade.svg55' (pen)
Soccerball shade.svg53' O'Hare
Soccerball shade.svg86' Wignall
Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 27,759
28 August 19715 Derby County 2–2 Southampton Derby
McGovern Soccerball shade.svg39'
Hector Soccerball shade.svg63'
Soccerball shade.svg70'Stokes
Soccerball shade.svg83' (pen) Gabriel
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 28,498
31 August 19716 Ipswich Town 0–0 Derby County Ipswich
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 18,687
4 September 19717 Everton 0–2 Derby County Liverpool
Soccerball shade.svg17' Hector
Soccerball shade.svg70' Wignall
Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 41,024
11 September 19718 Derby County 4–0 Stoke City Derby
Todd Soccerball shade.svg28'
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svg32'
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg49'
Gemmill Soccerball shade.svg89'
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 32,545
18 September 19719 Chelsea 1–1 Derby County Fulham
Baldwin Soccerball shade.svg66'Soccerball shade.svg32' McFarlandStadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 42,872
25 September 197110 Derby County 0–0 West Bromwich Albion Derby
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 30,628
2 October 197111 Newcastle United 0–1 Derby County Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Soccerball shade.svg62' Hinton Stadium: St. James' Park
Attendance: 32,077
Referee: Ivan Smith
9 October 197112 Derby County 2–2 Tottenham Hotspur Derby
Todd Soccerball shade.svg52'
McFarland Soccerball shade.svg82'
Soccerball shade.svg62' Chivers
Soccerball shade.svg87' Pearce
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 35,744
16 October 197113 Manchester United 1–0 Derby County Greater Manchester
Best Soccerball shade.svg53'Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 53,247
23 October 197114 Derby County 2–1 Arsenal Derby
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svg9'
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg44' (pen)
Soccerball shade.svg22' GrahamStadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 35,480
30 October 197115 Nottingham Forest 0–2 Derby County Nottingham
Soccerball shade.svg58' (pen) Hinton
Soccerball shade.svg78' Robson
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 37,170
6 November 197116 Derby County 3–0 Crystal Palace Derby
Bell Soccerball shade.svg2' (o.g.)
Wignall Soccerball shade.svg48'
Hector Soccerball shade.svg87'
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 30,388
13 November 197117 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Derby County Wolverhampton
Richards Soccerball shade.svg44'
Richards Soccerball shade.svg76'
Soccerball shade.svg22' O'Hare Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 32,957
20 November 197118 Derby County 3–0 Sheffield United Derby
Hector Soccerball shade.svg2'
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg14' (pen)
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg68' (pen)
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 35,326
27 November 197119 Huddersfield Town 1–2 Derby County Huddersfield
Worthington Soccerball shade.svg64'
J Lawson Soccerball shade.svg77'
Soccerball shade.svg78' McGovern Stadium: Leeds Road
Attendance: 15,329
4 December 197120 Derby County 3–1 Manchester City Derby
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg22' (pen)
Webster Soccerball shade.svg36'
Durban Soccerball shade.svg38'
Soccerball shade.svg66' (pen) LeeStadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 35,384
11 December 197121 Liverpool 3–2 Derby County Liverpool
Whitham Soccerball shade.svg14', Soccerball shade.svg44', Soccerball shade.svg53'Soccerball shade.svg42' O'Hare
Soccerball shade.svg49' O'Hare
Stadium: Anfield Road
Attendance: 44,601
18 December 197122 Derby County 2–0 Everton Derby
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg49', Soccerball shade.svg55'Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 27,895
27 December 197123 Leeds United 3–0 Derby County Leeds
Gray Soccerball shade.svg5'
Lorimer Soccerball shade.svg20', Soccerball shade.svg57'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 44,214
1 January 197224 Derby County 1–0 Chelsea Derby
Webb Soccerball shade.svg84' (o.g.)Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 33,063
Note: Some sources registered the goal as scored by Gemmill.
8 January 197225 Southampton 2–1 Derby County Southampton
O’Brien Soccerball shade.svg13'Soccerball shade.svg44' O'Hare
Soccerball shade.svg89' Durban
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 19,321
22 January 197226 West Ham United 3–3 Derby County Upton Park
Lampard Soccerball shade.svg42'
B Robson Soccerball shade.svg48'
Brooking Soccerball shade.svg80'
Soccerball shade.svg4' Hinton
Soccerball shade.svg66' Durban
Soccerball shade.svg87' Hector
Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 31,045
29 January 197227 Derby County 1–0 Coventry City Derby
Soccerball shade.svg46' Robson Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 29,385
12 February 197228 Arsenal 2–0 Derby County Highbury
George Soccerball shade.svg45' (pen)
George Soccerball shade.svg90'
Stadium: Highbury Park
Attendance: 52,055
19 February 197229 Derby County 4–0 Nottingham Forest Derby
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg34'
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svg36'
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg49'
Hector Soccerball shade.svg75 '
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 31,801
4 March 197230 Derby County 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Derby
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg50 ' (pen)
McFarland Soccerball shade.svg72'
Soccerball shade.svg8' (pen) McCalliogStadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 33,456
11 March 197231 Tottenham Hotspur 0–1 Derby County Tottenham
Soccerball shade.svg88' (pen) Hinton Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 36,310
18 March 197232 Derby County 3–0 Leicester City Derby
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svg17'
Durban Soccerball shade.svg67'
Hector Soccerball shade.svg87'
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 34,019
22 March 197233 Derby County 1–0 Ipswich Town Derby
Hector Soccerball shade.svg15'Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 26,738
25 March 197234 Stoke City 1–1 Derby County Stoke-on-Trent
Greenhoff Soccerball shade.svg48' (pen)Soccerball shade.svg52' Durban Stadium: Victoria Ground
Attendance: 33,771
28 March 197235 Crystal Palace 0–1 Derby County South Norwood
Soccerball shade.svg Walker Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 21,158
1 April 197236 Derby County 2–0 Leeds United Derby
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svg16'
Hunter Soccerball shade.svg70' (o.g.)
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 38,611
3 April 197237 Derby County 0–1 Newcastle United Derby
McFarland Yellow card.svg 45' Report Soccerball shade.svg70' Cassidy Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 38,119
5 April 197238 West Bromwich Albion 0–0 Derby County West Bromwich
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 32,439
8 April 197239 Sheffield United 0-4 Derby County Sheffield
Soccerball shade.svg12' Gemmill
Soccerball shade.svg18' Hector
Soccerball shade.svg64' Durban
Soccerball shade.svg83' O'Hare
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 38,238
15 April 197240 Derby County 3–0 Huddersfield Town Derby
McFarland Soccerball shade.svg15'
Hector Soccerball shade.svg22'
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svg52'
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 31,414
22 April 197241 Manchester City 2–0 Derby County Moss Side
Marsh Soccerball shade.svg24'
Lee Soccerball shade.svg67' (pen)
Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 55,023
1 May 197242 Derby County 1–0 Liverpool Derby
McGovern Soccerball shade.svg63'Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 39,159

League Cup

Second round

8 September 1971 Derby County 0–0 Leeds United Derby
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 34,023
27 September 1971replay Leeds United 2–0 Derby County Leeds
Lorimer Soccerball shade.svg35', Soccerball shade.svg65'Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 29,132

Texaco Cup

First round

15 September 19711 Nottingham Forest Flag of England.svg 6-2 Flag of Scotland.svg Dundee United Derby
Durban Soccerball shade.svg
Hector Soccerball shade.svg
Walker Soccerball shade.svg
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svg
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg
Robson Soccerball shade.svg
Attendance: 20,059
29 September 19712 Dundee United Flag of Scotland.svg 3-2 Flag of England.svg Nottingham Forest Dundee
Soccerball shade.svg
Soccerball shade.svg
Soccerball shade.svg
Soccerball shade.svg Hinton
Soccerball shade.svg Butlin
Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 6000

Second round

20 October 19711 Derby County Flag of England.svg 3-2 Flag of England.svg Stoke City Derby
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svg, Soccerball shade.svg
Hector Soccerball shade.svg
Soccerball shade.svg
Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 21,487
3 November 19712 Stoke City Flag of England.svg 1-1 Flag of England.svg Derby County Stoke-on-Trent
Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg Wignall Stadium: Victoria Ground
Attendance: 23,461

Semifinals

24 November 19711 Derby County 1-0 Flag of England.svg Newcastle United Derby
O'Hare Soccerball shade.svgStadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 20,021
8 December 19712 Newcastle United Flag of England.svg 2-3 Flag of England.svg Derby County Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Soccerball shade.svg Walker
Soccerball shade.svg McGovern
Soccerball shade.svg Todd
Stadium: St. James' Park
Attendance: 37,140

Finals

25 January 19721 Airdrieonians Flag of Scotland.svg 0-0 Derby County Airdrie
Stadium: Broomfield Park
Attendance: 16,000
26 April 19722 Derby County Flag of England.svg 2-1 Flag of Scotland.svg Airdrieonians Derby
Hinton (pen), Davies Soccerball shade.svgStadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 25,102

FA Cup

Third round

15 January 1972 Derby County 2–0 Shrewsbury Town
Hector Soccerball shade.svg68'
Hector Soccerball shade.svg85'
Attendance: 32,463

Fourth round

5 February 1972 Derby County 6–0 Notts County Derby
Robson Soccerball shade.svg19'
Hector Soccerball shade.svg44'
Durban Soccerball shade.svg56'
Durban Soccerball shade.svg58'
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg62' (pen)
Durban Soccerball shade.svg74'
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 39,450

Fifth round

26 February 1972 Derby County 2–2 Arsenal Derby
Hinton Soccerball shade.svg47' (pen)
Durban Soccerball shade.svg88'
Soccerball shade.svg41', Soccerball shade.svg79' Charlie GeorgeStadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 39,622
29 February 1972replay Arsenal 0–0 (a.e.t.) Derby County Islington
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 63,077
13 March 19722nd replay Arsenal 1–0 Derby County Leicester
Ray Kennedy Soccerball shade.svgStadium: N
Attendance: 36,534

Statistics

Players statistics

No.PosNatPlayerTotal Football League
Division One
Football League
Cup
FA Cup Texaco
Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Colin Boulton 570420205080
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Ron Webster 501381205050
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Roy McFarland 474384205020
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Colin Todd 533402205061
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG John Robson 544412205161
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO John McGovern 52439+13105061
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Archie Gemmill 503403205030
MF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Alan Durban 4112316105442
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Alan Hinton 53203815205283
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Kevin Hector 55174212205362
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO John O'Hare 52174013205054
GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Graham Moseley 0000000000
DF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Terry Hennessey 27017+10000+1080
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Frank Wignall 16610+15200031
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Jim Walker 1033+3100002+22
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Steve Powell 602+10000+1020
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Tony Bailey 401000002+10
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Peter Daniel 5000000050
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Alan Lewis 1000000010
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Tony Parry 1000000010
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Jeff Bourne 1000000010
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Barry Butlin 3100000031
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Roger Davies 1100000011

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References