Derby County Community Office, Pride Park Stadium, Derby DE24 8XL
Telephone 01332 667578 Email jim.fearn@dcfc.co.uk
Plus Bus Returns for Rams trip to Carrow Road
It's back by popular demand. The Evening Telepgraph Young Rams Plus Bus will be on the road again when Derby County take on Norwich City at Carrow Road on Tuesday March 6.
Evening Telegraph Young Rams members can take advantage of the offer for the Championship fixture, re-arranged because of the teams' run to the FA Cup fifth round.
Places on the bus and a match ticket cost £10 for Gold and Platinum Young Rams and £26 for adults. Members must be accompanied by an adult. For further information and to book a place, call Derby 667578.
Rams Back Pedal Power
The Rams are backing pedal-power to beat matchday congestion around Pride Park with the launch of a new cycling scheme.Fans are being encouraged to bike to Derby County's home matches.
Derby County spokesman Jim Fearn said: "This is a great initiative by the Walbrook Group. Rams fans who own bikes might be surprised how easy it is to beat match day congestion by taking one of the many cycle routes into Pride Park.
"The club is currently implementing a new traffic management scheme that aims to speed up the process of cars leaving Pride Park after games, but we would certainly recommend pedal-power.
Rams Meet the Phantoms
Derby County and Derbyshire County Cricket Club have announced a new link between them which will see the two clubs working together in many new ways.The man with the foot in both camps is cricket club chairman Don Amott, a director of the football club, and his presence in both areas will help create stronger connections between the county's premier sports organisations.
AWARD FOR FITC SCHEME
Derby County Football in the Community were presented with a prestigious award by the Football Association ahead of the recent game against Sheffield United at Pride Park.The award - a national Charter Standard award for Excellence - is recognition of FITC's outstanding holiday coaching programme.
Community scheme manager Simon Carnall said: "The award is a major achievement for the scheme as we were chosen ahead of all other Charter Standard Holiday Courses nationally.
Coaches Help Empower Young Engineers
Derby County Football in the Community, in partnership with Empower Training Services Ltd, have developed a scheme of work to encourage children in Ket Stage 3 to pursue a career in Engineering.
The six-week scheme, comprising classroom-based lessons on the principles of electricity supported by footballing activities, has taken over 12 months to create.
Vital input from teachers Carl Cunningham at Littleover Community School, Mark Chip from Heanor Gate Science College, along with Neil Walker and the power plant engineers at Empower have ensured lesson accuracy.
Our coaches have been delivering two pilot schemes at both Lees Brook and Heanor Gate, which have gone fantastically well. The six-week project includes a visit to Empower's home at Ratcliffe Power Station and culminates in a visit to Pride Park for a tour and presentation.
Derby County's financial director Andrew Mackenzie was on hand to present certificates and goodie bags to the children at Lees Brook when they came to Pride Park in December.
As a thank you for all their efforts both schools have been invited back for a first team match and will also have a visiti from a member of the first team squad.
Football in the Community would like to thank Empower for their ongoing support and both Lees Brook and Heanor Gate for their support during the pilot scheme.
First published in Issue 17 of the Ram Official Matchday Magazine for the Crewe Alexandra match on Saturday 14th January 2006.
A Coach Load of Youngsters
A record number of children attended the Football Foundation's Holiday Club coaching at Moor Farm Training Centre between Christmas and the New Year.
Youngsters aged between 5 and 14 took part in a number of activities, including coaching sessions, fun games, tournaments and a tour of the Moor Farm facility.
Once again first team players turned out in great numbers to support the event and spent time chatting and providing autographs for all the participants.
Phil brown was also there to meet Derbyshire Rams Savers account competition winner Dominic, who won the chance to attend the Holiday Club.
For information on forthcoming Derby County Academy Football Foundation coaching courses, please call Denise on 01332 299924.
First published in Issue 16 of the Ram Official Matchday Magazine for the Burnley match on Saturday 7th January 2006.
Squad Play Santa
Phil Brown and Derby County players brought some Christmas cheer to youngsters spending the festive season in hospital.The first team squad visited the Derbyshire Children's Hospital to meet kids and deliver presents.
Along with director and chief executive Jeremy Keith, they toured the wards dishing out cuddly toys and signing autographs.The players clubbed together to raise £500 for educational toys, games and equipment for the hospital. Ram FM's Morning Crew and Black Thunder team were there too, with presents for the young patients.
First published in Issue 15 of the Ram Official Matchday Magazine for the Reading match on Saturday 31st December 2005.
Another Season of Goodwill
Hundreds of generous Rams fans helped make it a brighter Christmas for some of the county's most vulnerable youngsters by donating presents for the club's annual Give A Gift campaign.And around 100 children cared for by the Derbyshire branch of the NCH children's charity, enjoyed a Christmas party in the Pride Park Assa Suite, hosted by Rammie and Santa, who were joined by Phil Brown and striker Tommy Smith.
Three hundred selection boxes, cuddly toys, games and books were delivered to Pride Park by supporters during December. Members of the Prince's Trust Team 70 group, based in Ilkeston, visited local traders and other businesses for donations, in addition to wrapping the presents ahead of the party.
First published in Issue 15 of the Ram Official Matchday Magazine for the Reading match on Saturday 31st December 2005.
It's Your Call
If you are experiencing domestic violence then please be aware that support and advice is available.
Earlier last year Phil Brown and first team players Lee Camp and Seth Johnson got behind a campaign highlighting the issues surrounding domestic violence.
The trio teamed up with representatives from Derby Community Safety Partnership's Domestic Violence Team ahead of the long trip to Brighton's Withdean Stadium to help highlight White Ribbon Day (25 November).
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic violence, there are local and national organisations that will give practical advice and support.
You can call Hadhari Nari locally on 01332 270101, Women's Aid - National 24 hour helpline - on 0808 2000 247 or Derby Police domestic abuse unit on 01332 613053/613052.In an emergency dial 999.
Rams' Fair Play
The Rams have pitched in to help Morley Primary School raise funds to buy equipment for a new outdoor play area and classroom.Midfielder Adam Bolder joined Rammie to draw a raffle for prizes donated by Derby County to the school, which is situated near the Moor Farm Academy.
First published in Issue 14 of the Ram Official Matchday Magazine for the Luton Town match on Monday 26th December 2005.
Rams Turn Red
In December, Derby County pledged their support to a couple of events that directly benefited people suffering from Aids.Derbyshire Positive Support provides support services to people with HIV. If you'd like to know more, call 01332 204020. For further information or advice you can phone the national AIDS helpline on 0800 567123, which is Freephone 24/7.
First published in Issue 12 of the Ram Official Matchday Magazine for the Norwich City match on Saturday 3rd December 2005.
A FIRST FOR FOOTBALL
Parents of Rams Academy players can now embark on training sessions of their own after the new Derby County Academy Learning Centre opened its doors.
A state-of-the-art education suite has been opened at the club's Moor Farm Training Centre as part of the new initiative, a first for professional football in this country.The Rams have teamed up with assa Training & Learning and Derby College to open the centre, which is decked out with 16 computers and a hi-tech 'Smart Board'.
RAMS INTRODUCE MORE NO-SMOKING ZONES
Derby County is to introduce more no-smoking zones to Pride Park Stadium following feedback from supporters and representative groups.The North, East and South concourses were made smoke-free areas at the start of the current season after a successful trial at the England U21 international held at Pride Park in February.
Following further consultation and dialogue this experiment will be extended to the upper and lower tiers of the Toyota West Stand, as well as the upper section of the Assa T&L Stand. The move will be reviewed at the end of the current season with the views of fans taken into account.
THE RAMS' MAGNIFICENT SEVEN PROJECT
Derby County Football Club and Bemrose Community School in the city have joined forces in a pioneering project that has seen the Rams "adopt" the new intake of pupils in September.
The Rams' Magnificent Seven Project is designed to give Year 7 pupils a boost in the early days of an unfamiliar environment, and the adoption process will last for the entire school year.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Bemrose is a school with a proud history that has faced new challenges in recent years, including special measures.