1968–69 Derby County F.C. season

The 1968–69 season was Derby County's 69th in the Football League and their 11th season in the Second Division. The team finished in 1st spot to clinch promotion to the First Division after being relegated 16 years ago.

Derby County

1968–69 season
Chairman	Sam Longson
Manager	Brian Clough
Stadium	Baseball Ground
Second Division	Winners (In 1969–70 Division One)
FA Cup	Third round
League Cup	Quarterfinals
Top goalscorer	League: Kevin Hector (16) All: Hector (20)
Home colours Away colours
← 1967–68 1969–70 →

Season summary

In his third season as chairman, Sam Longson and his second season manager Brian Clough clinched the influential signing of midfielder Dave Mackay from Tottenham Hotspur.^[1] Also from Hartlepools United arrived young midfielder John McGovern being crucial during the second half of the season allowing MacKay to play as Full-back.^[2] Meanwhile, assistant and former Goalkeeper Peter Taylor recommended the transfer in of Les Green to reinforce the squad.^[3] After a last year failed bid, finally, Clough signed midfielder Willie Carlin^[4] for a fee of £63,000.

The squad won the 1st spot in Second Division getting back to the First Division after being relegated in 1953. Meanwhile, in Football League Cup the team advanced to the quarterfinals only to lose in Replay against Swindon Town. In FA Cup The Rams were eliminated by Burnley in the third round.

Scottish Full-back Dave Mackay was named Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, the only Derby County player to earn the honour.^[5]

Squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ENG Colin Boulton — GK  ENG Les Green — DF  ENG Ron Webster — DF  ENG Tony Rhodes — DF  ENG Peter Daniel — DF  ENG Roy McFarland — DF  ENG Mick Jones — DF  ENG John Richardson — DF  ENG John Robson — DF  ENG Pat Wright — DF  ENG Jim Walker

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  SCO Dave Mackay (Captain) — MF  ENG Willie Carlin — MF  WAL Alan Durban — MF  SCO John McGovern — MF  ENG Alan Hinton — MF  NIR Arthur Stewart — FW  ENG Kevin Hector — FW  SCO John O'Hare — FW  ENG Frank Wignall — FW  ENG Richie Barker — FW  ENG Barry Butlin

Transfers

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
MF	Dave Mackay	Tottenham Hotspur	£5,000
MF	Willie Carlin	Sheffield United	£63,000
MF	John McGovern	Hartlepools United	£7,500
GK	Les Green	Rochdale A.F.C.
DF	Mick Jones

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
GK	Reg Matthews	Rugby Town
DF	Mick Hopkinson	Mansfield Town
MF	Gordon Hughes	Lincoln City
DF	Bobby Saxton	Burton Albion F.C.
MF	Phil Waller	Plymouth Argyle
FW	Barry Butlin	Notts County	loan

Winter

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
FW	Frank Wignall	Wolverhampton Wanderers

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
FW	Richie Barker	Notts County

Competitions

Second Division

Main article: 1968-69 Football League

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Derby County (C, P)	42	26	11	5	65	32	2.031	63	Promotion to the First Division
2	Crystal Palace (P)	42	22	12	8	70	47	1.489	56
3	Charlton Athletic	42	18	14	10	61	52	1.173	50
4	Middlesbrough	42	19	11	12	58	49	1.184	49
5	Cardiff City	42	20	7	15	67	54	1.241	47	Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[a]

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:

1. Cardiff City qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1968–69 Welsh Cup winners.

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Ground	A	H	A	A	H	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	A	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	A	A	A	H	H	A	A	H
Result	D	D	L	L	D	W	W	D	W	W	W	D	L	W	W	W	W	D	D	W	D	D	W	W	W	D	L	W	W	W	L	W	D	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W
Position	11	12	18	21	19	17	12	13	9	6	5	4	7	4	3	3	2	2	3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss;   = Leader, Promotion to 1969–70 First Division;   = Promotion to 1969–70 First Division;   = Relegation to 1969–70 Third Division

Matches

• source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/derby-county/tab/matches/season/1969/

Blackburn Rovers v Derby County

10 August 1968 1	Blackburn Rovers	1–1	Derby County	Blackburn
	Eamonn Rogers 2' (pen.)		6' Roy McFarland	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 13,686 Referee: JE Thacker

Derby County v Blackpool

17 August 1968 2	Derby County	1–1	Blackpool	Derby
	John O'Hare 29'		50' Tony Green	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,760 Referee: LA Cussons

Sheffield United v Derby County

20 August 1968 3	Sheffield United	2–0	Derby County	Highfield
	Willie Carlin Colin Addison (pen.)			Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 23,609 Referee: F Cowen

Huddersfield Town v Derby County

24 August 1968 4	Huddersfield Town	2–0	Derby County	Huddersfield
	Paul Aimson 37', 55'			Stadium: Leeds Road Attendance: 10,442 Referee: R Capey

Derby County v Hull City

28 August 1968 5	Derby County	2–2	Hull City	Derby
	Kevin Hector Richie Barker		Ken Wagstaff Alan Jarvis	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,650 Referee: RV Spittle

Derby County v Oxford United

31 August 1968 6	Derby County	2–0	Oxford United	Derby
	John O'Hare 15' Roy McFarland 65'			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 21,737 Referee: TJ Hill

Derby County v Aston Villa

7 September 1968 7	Derby County	3–1	Aston Villa	Derby
	Kevin Hector 1', 85' Alan Hinton 16'		86' Mike Ferguson	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,723 Referee: VJ Batty

Bristol City v Derby County

14 September 1968 8	Bristol City	0-0	Derby County	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 15,850 Referee: R Tinkler

Derby County v Fulham

18 September 1968 9	Derby County	1-0	Fulham	Derby
	Alan Hinton			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 26,771 Referee: R Matthewson

Derby County v Millwall

21 September 1968 10	Derby County	1-0	Millwall	Derby
	Alan Durban 30'			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,000 Referee: GC Kew

Bolton Wanderers v Derby County

28 September 1968 11	Bolton Wanderers	1-2	Derby County	Burnden
	Terry Wharton 55'		16' Richie Barker 19' Jim Walker	Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 15,202 Referee: DC Fieldsend

Middlesbrough F.C. v Derby County

5 October 1968 12	Middlesbrough F.C.	0-0	Derby County	Ayresome
				Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 28,636 Referee: K Styles

Hull City v Derby County

9 October 1968 13	Hull City	1-0	Derby County	Kingston upon Hull
	Ian Butler			Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 24,307 Referee: SJ Kayley

Derby County v Preston North End

12 October 1968 14	Derby County	1-0	Preston North End	Derby
	Alan Hinton 18'			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 27,146 Referee: D Turner

Portsmouth F.C. v Derby County

19 October 1968 15	Portsmouth F.C.	0-1	Derby County	Milton
			29' Hector	Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 22,041 Referee: L Callaghan

Derby County v Birmingham City

26 October 1968 16	Derby County	1-0	Birmingham City	Derby
	Willie Carlin 74'			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 34,218 Referee: D Laing

Derby County v Charlton Athletic

9 November 1968 17	Derby County	2-1	Charlton Athletic	Derby
	John O'Hare 25' Kevin Hector 64'			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,176 Referee: JE Thacker

Cardiff City v Derby County

16 November 1968 18	Cardiff City	1-1	Derby County	Cardiff
	Brian Clark 73'		79' Alan Durban	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 17,328 Referee: KH Burns

Derby County v Carlisle United

23 November 1968 19	Derby County	3-3	Carlisle United	Derby
	Dave Mackay 13' Willie Carlin 17' John O'Hare 54'		46' George McVitie 47', 69' Hugh McIlmoyle	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,395 Referee: BJ Homewood

Crystal Palace F.C. v Derby County

30 November 1968 20	Crystal Palace F.C.	1-2	Derby County	Selhurst
	John McCormick 69'		59' Willie Carlin 60' Roy McFarland	Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 20,751 Referee: RL Johnson

Derby County v Norwich City

7 December 1968 21	Derby County	1-1	Norwich City	Derby
	Roy McFarland 90'		21' Terry Anderson	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,719 Referee: K Howley

Preston North End v Derby County

14 December 1968 22	Preston North End	0-0	Derby County	Preston
				Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 12,714 Referee: J Quinn

Derby County v Portsmouth F.C.

21 December 1968 23	Derby County	2-1	Portsmouth F.C.	Derby
	Hector 60', 70'		37' George Smith	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 22,061 Referee: GW Jones

Derby County v Middlesbrough F.C.

26 December 1968 24	Derby County	3-2	Middlesbrough F.C.	Derby
	Roy McFarland 20' Alan Hinton 70', 74' (pen.)		40', 41' (pen.) John Hickton	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 34,481 Referee: FM Nicholson

Derby County v Bury F.C.

11 January 1969 25	Derby County	2-0	Bury F.C.	Derby
	Roy McFarland 59' John O'Hare 64'			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,578 Referee: RA Paine

Birmingham City v Derby County

14 January 1969 26	Birmingham City	1-1	Derby County	Birmingham
	Fred Pickering		Hector	Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 39,977 Referee: K Markham

Charlton Athletic v Derby County

18 January 1969 27	Charlton Athletic	2-0	Derby County	Charlton
	Ray Treacy 75' Matt Tees 81'			Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 30,115 Referee: THC Reynolds

Bury F.C. v Derby County

25 January 1969 28	Bury F.C.	0-1	Derby County	Bury
			15' John O'Hare	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 15,361 Referee: R Capey

Derby County v Cardiff City

1 February 1969 29	Derby County	2-0	Cardiff City	Derby
	Hector 10', 71'			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 34,589 Referee: R Barker

Derby County v Blackburn Rovers

1 March 1969 30	Derby County	4-2	Blackburn Rovers	Derby
	Willie Carlin 35' Kevin Hector 44' John O'Hare 53' Frank Wignall 87'		59' Malcolm Darling 72' John Connelly	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 26,492 Referee: AE Dimond

Derby County v Crystal Palace F.C.

5 March 1969 31	Derby County	0-1	Crystal Palace F.C.	Derby
			61' Bobby Woodruff	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 31,748 Referee: HW Ellis

Blackpool F.C. v Derby County

8 March 1969 32	Blackpool F.C.	2-3	Derby County	Blackpool
	Ronnie Brown 12' John Craven 66'		35' John O'Hare 62' Roy McFarland 86' (pen.)Alan Hinton	Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 18,853 Referee: GC Kew

Carlisle United v Derby County

11 March 1969 33	Carlisle United	1-1	Derby County	Carlisle
	Eric Welsh		Kevin Hector	Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 12,844 Referee: R Darlington

Derby County v Huddersfield Town

15 March 1969 34	Derby County	1-0	Huddersfield Town	Derby
	Roy McFarland 29'			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 28,293 Referee: SJ Kayley

Oxford United v Derby County

22 March 1969 35	Oxford United	0-2	Derby County	Headington
			34', 36' Hector	Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 18,020 Referee: NCH Burtenshaw

Aston Villa v Derby County

29 March 1969 36	Aston Villa	0-1	Derby County	Birmingham
			45' (o.g.) Dave Simmons	Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 49,188 Referee: TW Dawes

Fulham F.C. v Derby County

2 April 1969 37	Fulham F.C.	0-1	Derby County	Fulham
			Frank Wignall	Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 18,173 Referee: JR Osborne

Derby County v Bolton Wanderers

5 April 1969 38	Derby County	5-1	Bolton Wanderers	Derby
	Hector 21' Frank Wignall 44' John O'Hare 62' Willie Carlin 66' Roy McFarland 86'		53' Roy Greaves	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 30,684 Referee: BH Daniels

Derby County v Sheffield United

7 April 1969 39	Derby County	1-0	Sheffield United	Derby
	Alan Durban			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 34,976 Referee: AWS Jones

Millwall F.C. v Derby County

12 April 1969 40	Millwall F.C.	0-1	Derby County	New Cross
			22' Willie Carlin	Stadium: The Old Den Attendance: 13,735 Referee: DA Corbett

Norwich City v Derby County

16 April 1969 41	Norwich City	1-4	Derby County	Norwich
	Ken Foggo (pen.)		Frank Wignall , Willie Carlin John O'Hare	Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 13,804 Referee: KE Walker

Derby County v Bristol City

19 April 1969 42	Derby County	5-0	Bristol City	Derby
	Alan Durban 16', 30', 44' 54' Alan Hinton 88' Kevin Hector			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 31,644 Referee: F Cowen

Football League Cup

Main article: 1968-69 Football League Cup

Derby County v Chesterfield F.C.

13 August 1968 1	Derby County	3-0	Chesterfield F.C.	Derby
				Stadium: Baseball Ground

Derby County v Stockport County

4 September 1968 2	Derby County	5-1	Stockport County	Derby
	Alan Hinton , , (pen.), (pen.) Hector		Ian Ledgard	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 21,549 Referee: G Hartley

Chelsea F.C. v Derby County

25 September 1968 3	Chelsea F.C.	0-0	Derby County	London
				Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 26,975 Referee: DH Counsell

Derby County v Chelsea F.C.

2 October 1968 replay	Derby County	0-0	Chelsea F.C.	Derby
	Dave Mackay Kevin Hector Alan Durban		Alan Birchenall	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 34,346 Referee: DH Counsell

Everton v Derby County

16 October 1968 4	Everton	0-0	Derby County	Liverpool
	(own goal)			Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 44,705 Referee: DJ Lyden

Derby County v Everton

23 October 1968 replay	Derby County	1-0	Everton	Derby
	Kevin Hector			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 34,370 Referee: ET Jennings

Derby County v Swindon Town

30 October 1968 5	Derby County	0-0	Swindon Town	Derby
	(own goal)			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 35,104 Referee: K Howley

Swindon Town v Derby County

5 November 1968 replay	Swindon Town	1-0	Derby County	Swindon
	Don Rogers 27'			Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 26,449 Referee: AE Dimond

FA Cup

Main article: 1968-69 FA Cup

Burnley v Derby County

4 January 1969 3	Burnley	3-1	Derby County	Burnley
	Colin Blant 8' Frank Casper 43', 53'		84' Alan Durban	Attendance: 22,842 Referee: K Howley

Statistics

Players statistics

Substitute appearances indicated in brackets

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Football League Second Division		Football League League Cup		FA Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Les Green	51	-37	42	-32	8	-2	1	-3
	DF	ENG	Ron Webster	46	0	38	0	7	0	1	0
	DF	ENG	Roy McFarland	51	0	42	0	8	0	1	0
	DF	SCO	Dave Mackay	50	2	41	1	8	1	1	0
	DF	ENG	John Robson	51	0	42	0	8	0	1	0
	MF	SCO	John McGovern	19	0	18	0	0	0	1	0
	MF	WAL	Alan Durban	44	8	36	6	7	1	1	1
	MF	ENG	Willie Carlin	43	8	36	8	6	0	1	0
	MF	ENG	Alan Hinton	48	12	41	7	6	5	1	0
	FW	ENG	Kevin Hector	50	20	41	16	8	4	1	0
	FW	SCO	John O'Hare	49	10	41	10	7	0	1	0
	GK	ENG	Colin Boulton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Jim Walker	31	1	20+3	1	8	0
	DF	ENG	John Richardson	5	0	4	0	1	0
	MF	NIR	Arthur Stewart	6	0	4	0	2	0
	FW	ENG	Richie Barker	10	2	3+4	2	3	0
	FW	ENG	Frank Wignall	4	4	2+2	4
	DF	ENG	Peter Daniel	2	0	2	0
	FW	ENG	Barry Butlin	1	0	0	0	1	0
	DF	ENG	Mick Jones
	DF	ENG	Tony Rhodes
	DF	ENG	Pat Wright

• Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/derby-county/tab/players/season/1969/