In this occasional series I will be discussing and selecting The Best of The Rams…the players who, in my opinion, have been
the very best Rams of my time.

Positional titles have changed…what was once a “wing half”
is now a “holding midfielder” or a “box-to-box” player.
An old-fashioned inside forward is now a “number 10” or“playing off the striker”
The titles are interchangeable but my selected players had the capacity and ability to excel in any era..

RIGHT BACKS / RIGHT WING BACKS

The first right back I remember in a Rams shirt held that shirt for many many years. His name?

Geoff Barrowcliffe

Never heard of him???
Geoff is 1 of only 7 players in history to have played over 500 games for the Rams. He was born in Little Eaton and passed away in Ilkeston.

Derbyshire through and through.

Most of Geoff’s career coincided with a bleak period in the clubs playing fortunes so in terms of achievements there’s not much to write about – but anyone who played over 500 times in our famous white shirt deserves at least a paragraph of recognition.
Thanks, Geoff.

A young pretender John Richardson, eventually took Geoffs’ place but it was a fleeting occupancy.
The permanent replacement not only took the number two shirt – he also smashed Geoff’s records

I give you the GREAT Ron Webster.
Ron was born in Belper, another local lad, and was an aspiring wing half (midfielder) under the management of Tim Ward. When Brian Clough and Peter Taylor arrived they quickly spotted that his potential as a defender outweighed his qualities in his previous role.
So successful was this transformation that Ron went on to be part of two Championship-winning squads.
It was a total travesty that he failed to gain a single international cap but whenever Derby greats are discussed Ron will be part of the conversation.
He still lives in South Normanton and the last time I saw him I was serving him tea at the local Parish Council Senior Citizens Chrismas party.
It was an honour.

Ron’s eventual replacement is a Welsh football legend….Rod Thomas.
Rod signed for Swindon from Gloucester City for £500 (five hundred!) pounds and after close to 300 appearances was sold to the Rams for £100.000
Not a bad deal for Swindon!
Rod didn’t spend a long time at Derby but he won a League Championship medal so is well worthy of consideration for a place in my team.

The next right back under on the shortlist has been forgotten by many but not by me.
I can still visualise David Langan rampaging up the right wing before charging back to launch himself into a kamikaze tackle.
Energy, enthusiasm and determination. Three words that describe David Langan.
He left the Rams to join Birmingham before eventually reminding his best form at Oxford.
A genuine contender for a place in my team.

We’ve had a few others worthy of at least a namecheck.
I’m thinking
Mel Sage
Warren Barton
Gary Charles….what a wasted talent
John Barton
Rob Kozluk
Richard Jackson

John Brayford wasn’t with us for long but left an impression.
Tyrone Mears had ability…but lacked in every other area
Cyprus Christie was brilliant and frustrating in equal measure

What could Jayden Bogle and Festy Ebosele have achieved if finances hadn’t forced them out.

But in reality, there is only one other genuine contender.
Stefano Eranio arrived from AC Milan. Yes…we used to sign players from Milan!!
He spent most of his career at both Milan and Genoa as a right winger and gained 20 caps for Italy, but Jim Smith recognised where he could do his best work for the Rams and switched him to full back/wing back.
Eranio was a player with huge experience, skill and influence. A thoroughbred.

So. My genuine contenders are:
Eranio
Webster
Langan
Thomas

And my number two shirt goes to:

STEFANO ERANIO