The turbulent run continued in 1920/21 as Derby, still under Jimmy Methven's management, dropped out of Division One again.

Methven departed the Baseball Ground the following season following 31 years at the club, as player and manager, and a final 12th in Division Two was Derby's lowest-ever finish.

A breeze of excitement blew through football across the country in 1922/23 with news that Wembley Stadium would host the FA Cup final for the first time.

And the Rams, now under the control of Cecil Potter, fell just short of going all the way.

Potter guided Derby all the way to the semi-final, a fine achievement for a team outside of the top-flight, but they were beaten 5-2 by West Ham United - who were also in Division Two.

Derby finished third for two successive seasons, when both times they should have secured a top-two spot and promotion, but when George Jobey took over for the 1925/26 campaign they went one step better.

Jobey's Derby finished second in the table and top-flight football returned to the Baseball Ground - now owned by the club after they purchased it from Francis Ley in 1924.

The Baseball Ground was beginning to take shape and a then-record 30,557 packed in to see Derby take on Bolton Wanderers in December 1926, a couple of months after the new main stand on Shaftsbury Crescent was opened.

Jobey's Rams were scoring goals for fun but they were also conceding them at an alarming rate too, though they were establishing themselves firmly in the upper-reaches of the top-flight.

In 1929/30 they finished second in Division One for only the second time in their history, ten points behind eventual champions Sheffield Wednesday, having scored 90 and conceded 82 in 42 games.