50 years ago we were in the midst of a second League title winning season and here RamsTrust takes a look back at October 1974.

The month started with Derby in 8^th spot, 5 points behind early leaders Ipswich but within a chasing pack including Manchester City and Liverpool. Our first game in October was away to West Ham at the old Boleyn where goals from Kevin Hector and Franny Lee secured Derby a point in a 2-2 draw.

Next up on Saturday October 12^th was a home game against Leicester – Bruce Rioch’s winner mean that Derby climbed into 5^th spot and narrowed the gap to Liverpool and Ipswich at the top to 3 points.

On the following Tuesday night, the Rams travelled to Bramall Lane to face previously undefeated at home Sheffield United. Two Franny Lee goals saw the Rams win 2-1 and rise to 3^rd place before a trip to newly promoted Carlisle that Saturday. Here’s Franny scoring his first that night;

Unfortunately Derby had a nightmare in Cumbria that following Saturday conspiring to lose 3-0 to a Carlisle side who had started to struggle in the league after a very bright start. Here’s a snippet of an early Kevin Hector chance on an afternoon when the Rams couldn’t really do much right;

Sadly, the following Saturday wasn’t much better, beaten 3-2 at the Baseball Ground by another newly promoted side Middlesbrough. It should be pointed out that the Carlisle and Middlesbrough games sandwiched a glamour UEFA Cup home tie against Atletico Madrid (drawn 2-2) and by the end of October, there was a feeling that having played UEFA Cup, League Cup and 5 league games in the month, Derby’s players were becoming tired.

Overall, a mixed month but October finished with Derby in 7^th place, 5 points behind leaders Liverpool.