The Baseball Ground, Derby County - old football grounds remembered (V)

[jdrobbo]

Tony has often told me that this would have been a ground that I would have loved. Sadly, I never got to see a game there, although I do remember some Premier League matches there in around 1997, before Derby moved to Pride Park.

Of course, there are two games from the 90s that do spring to mind…the abandoned replay in 1991/92, which was fogged off and later settled, I think, on fourth round day?!

Then there was a hammering (4-0 I think) in the 94/95 season.

I’m sure there’ll be lots of memories of this ground. Please do share any stories that you recall.

John

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[jdrobbo]

PREVIOUSLY…

1. Burnden Park, Bolton Wanderers: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=77997

2. Boothferry Park, Hull City: viewtopic.php?style=2&t=78030

3. Ninian Park, Cardiff City: viewtopic.php?t=78417

4. Millmoor, Rotherham: viewtopic.php?t=78578

[bfcjg]

Jimmy Mullen's Claret and Blue army. Rocked the place. Best away support the stadium ever witnessed.
Never my favourite ground though, almost like a subbuteo inspired ground.

[NL Claret]

First visit to the BBG was with a Sunderland supporting mate, 1990 ish. Sunderland were struggling at the time and went into a decent lead. Never been amongst such a drunken away following. Ended up 3-3 , Saunders hat trick.

Went to FA Cup replay 92, didn’t have tickets and it was too moody to go in the home stands. Managed to buy comps off a lad outside and sit in the away end. The fog gradually got worse, in the 2nd half the only player visible to the away end was Peter Shilton. The drive back to Leicester in mates clapped out beetle was very scary in the fog.

Then there was the Jimmy Mullen’s Claret and Blue game a week or so later. Went from Poly with fans of City, Villa and Forest and they couldn’t believe the away support. My mates Beetle engined seized on the M1 back to Leicester and we were towed home. Cost him (or his dad a fortune!)

[steve1264b]

Very atmospheric ground, someone must have the video of groundstaff pushing the mud back together and repainting the penalty spot?

[dougcollins]

The view from the standard away end - as opposed to behind the goal for cup games - was the worst view in league football. I never once had a position where I could see both goals, in fact you were lucky to see more than half the pitch.

What a sh!thole.

[jdrobbo]

Sounds fantastic…although in fairness, I’d like to see both goals!

[Buxtonclaret]

My Dad & l used to dread going there in the early 70s. So difficult to get anything out of them.
As a ground, it could be one of the worst playing surfaces going! More sand than grass around the goal areas!
But it was certainly a 'One Off'. Had its own very, very distinct character, in a time where most grounds in all the leagues had individual identities.

'THAT' FA Cup tie and the memories of our Fans that day, will live with me forever.
It really was, as indicated in that famous journo report, a 'Blast From The Past'.
His words were more refined than mine. I called it Two Fingers up at Big Clubs greed.

I miss a lot of the Old Grounds I grew up with.
Because of that day, even with its bad viewing spots and crumbling terraces, I miss it more than most.

[jdrobbo]

I miss a lot of the Old Grounds I grew up with.
Because of that day, even with its bad viewing spots and crumbling terraces, I miss it more than most.

Totally get this

[Herts Clarets]

My only visit was the abandoned FA cup game that led to the legendary Jimmy Mullen's Claret & Blue Army chant in the rearranged fixture. My abiding memory of the game was a horror show from Mark Kendall in goal, a warm up for what was to come at Blackpool the following game.

[ClaretTony]

Never saw us win there and what a horrible ground it was.

Worst visit had to be the 5-1 defeat in 1974. I was sat next to Paul Fletcher’s mum as the goals went in and she said it was even worse because it was Paul’s birthday the day after. “It’s my birthday today,” I replied.

First visit was a 0-0 draw in 1969 and I think the 2-2 draw in 1984/85 was the only other game I saw there when we didn’t lose.

But one horrible football ground.

[jdrobbo]

Never saw us win there and what a horrible ground it was.

Worst visit had to be the 5-1 defeat in 1974. I was sat next to Paul Fletcher’s mum as the goals went in and she said it was even worse because it was Paul’s birthday the day after. “It’s my birthday today,” I replied.

First visit was a 0-0 draw in 1969 and I think the 2-2 draw in 1984/85 was the only other game I saw there when we didn’t lose.

But one horrible football ground.

That 5-1 defeat…is that the one in the photo above, with Peter Noble shown?

[ClaretTony]

That 5-1 defeat…is that the one in the photo above, with Peter Noble shown?

I can't see Peter Noble on a pic but that day of the 5-1 defeat there wasn't a blade of grass on the pitch.

[Tribesmen]

I went once on the train , it was hard getting back to the station without getting hit .

[jdrobbo]

Sounds lovely

[Dark Cloud]

I went for both "Jimmy Mullen" fa cup relays where we were behind the goal and then again for a league match where away supporters were on one of the sides, towards one corner. We lost 4-0 I think.

[jdrobbo]

I went for both "Jimmy Mullen" fa cup relays where we were behind the goal and then again for a league match where away supporters were on one of the sides, towards one corner. We lost 4-0 I think.

They bloody murdered us!!

https://youtu.be/GArpwKN6fu0?si=EIuNLRAv_oi8s-ZX

[NL Claret]

Sounds lovely

A mate of mine who is a United fan tells a story about his brother going to the BBG (would be late 80s) , big following and couldn’t get in the away end. Quite a few United went in the Pop Side, when his brother got sussed out he was kicked that hard up the backside that he thought he’d got whiplash.

walking around the ground before the postponed game there was a very moody atmosphere and the locals outside the ticket office were particularly unfriendly. It probably didn’t help that there was trouble in the original tie at Turf Moor. If you parked in the right place it was okay after the match as the ground was set out that both sets of fans were kept well apart.

[jdrobbo]

JIMMY MULLEN’S CLARET AND BLUE ARMY!!

Worth watching the last ten minutes. I would love to have been there.

https://youtu.be/45fiqKXfBmU?si=L_No0U0VjoDAL6-T

[claret wizard]

They bloody murdered us!!

https://youtu.be/GArpwKN6fu0?si=EIuNLRAv_oi8s-ZX

I was at this game. Was a truly depressing night.

[Silkyskills1]

I can't see Peter Noble on a pic but that day of the 5-1 defeat there wasn't a blade of grass on the pitch.

We beat Liverpool at home on Boxing Day 1973 and then didn't win another League game.till the middle of March when we beat Everton 3-1 at Turf Moor. The 5-1 mauling in January had Alan Hinton on their left wing having a great game. A long winter without a league win at least had us making steady progress in the FA Cup. In that mid 70's era Derby were a very good, powerful team to play against.

[ChorltonCharlie]

They bloody murdered us!!

https://youtu.be/GArpwKN6fu0?si=EIuNLRAv_oi8s-ZX

Such a weird game football. They annihilated us that night, then a month to the day later (Easter Saturday I think) we beat them 3-1 on the Turf.

[dougcollins]

We beat Liverpool at home on Boxing Day 1973 and then didn't win another League game.till the middle of March when we beat Everton 3-1 at Turf Moor. The 5-1 mauling in January had Alan Hinton on their left wing having a great game.

I had a pair of Alan Hinton white boots, but for some reason they never really performed for me.

[Woodleyclaret]

I went there and saw some scroat throwing bricks at a Burnley supporter coach
Quick as a flash one of the mounted police chased him down and dragged him onto the horse.Then he accellerated across the cinder car park letting go at a decent speed
The youth hit the ground cutting his hands and head.The copper repeated the trick two more times till finally the bloodied youth managed to escape between parked cars