World Football Club Crests

One of the original members of the Football League, Derby County FC was founded in 1884 as part of Derbyshire County Cricket Club. Their nickname, the Rams, was established at the same time the club was founded and has been a mainstay of the crest ever since. The nickname came from a local regiment whose official song was ‘The Derby Ram’, reflecting the county’s connection to the wool industry.

Their first major trophy came when they won the first FA Cup to be held after the Second World War. Their victory in 1946 remains their only FA Cup win. Their golden age, in the 1970s, happened under legendary manager Brian Clough. Taking over in 1967, he led them to the top division in 1969, and to their first ever League title in 1972. In the following season, the club reached a European Cup semi-final. After Clough departed in 1973, Don Mackay took over and led them to their second League title in 1975.

Recent times have not been so kind to Derby and they have suffered various indignities, none more so than in the 2007/08 season. Then they finished bottom of the Premier League table having secured just 11 points, a record low in the Premier League. They also became the earliest team to be demoted, relegation being confirmed as early as March. The fact that they managed to win only a single match made it all even worse.

CLUB: Derby County FC

NICKNAME: The Rams

FOUNDED: 1884

STADIUM: Pride Park, Derby (33,597 capacity)

HISTORIC PLAYERS: Stephen Bloomer, Kevin Hector, Colin Todd, Ron Webster, Roy McFarland, Stefanio Eranio and Paulo Wanchope

1946–1968. Set within a shield and showing the famous ram as well as the club’s initials, this crest was introduced after Derby’s victory over Charlton in the 1946 FA Cup final.

1971–1979. Before the 1971/72 season, Derby’s kit was changed to look more like that of the English national team. At the same time they introduced a new club emblem, this time with a snorting ram. This would herald a new era of more attacking football, bringing them their first league title in 1972, under Brian Clough.

1997–2007. For a period in the 1980s and ’90s, the ram was turned to the right rather than the left. This emblem instead of the above, now once more facing left and featuring the club name on the banner, was unveiled when they moved to their new stadium, Pride Park, in 1997.

2007–2009. In the autumn of 2007 Derby were back in the Premier League for the first time in five years. They celebrated by framing the ram in this crest. The gold lettering was a nod to the club’s earliest colours in the 1880s. The emblem was criticised by the fans because the earlier colours were white, light blue, black and brown – all absent from this badge. The club corrected this error in 2009, offering the same logo in simple black and white.

2012–present. The logo from the 1970s, much loved by the fans, made a comeback in the autumn of 2012, with some modifications. The emblem is now black instead of blue, and the eye of the ram is no longer clearly marked. The reason for the ram representing the club in the first place is Derbyshire’s strong association with the textile industry.

In the 1960s and ‘70s, local-born defender Ron Webster played 455 games for Derby County, the second highest in club’s history.