Tue 14 Oct
Time to read: 3mins
Former striker reminisces about the Derby squad that reached the play-offs 10 years ago
Whilst the Rams are looking strong this season, Grzegorz Rasiak believes there are similarities between the current crop pushing for promotion to the Barclays Premier League and the one that missed out 10 years ago.
Rasiak, who joined Derby County in September 2004, was part of the George Burley side that finished in fourth place in the Championship to secure an end of season play-off double-header against Preston North End.
The Rams, who renowned during that campaign for their slick playing style, lost over the two legs and the Polish international moved on in the summer to Tottenham Hotspur.
Ten years on, Rasiak, who returned to the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby on a flying visit two weeks ago, was left reminiscing about a ‘really, really great squad’ at that time and believes the Rams are heading in the right direction to return to the top flight.
Speaking to Rams Player, the 35-year-old said: “We had really good offensive footballers at that time.
“Six of us scored more than 10 goals in one season, which is not usual and to have player like Inigo Idiakez was great.
“He was a fans favourite at Derby and after two years as a midfielder, nobody can reach the targets that he did as a player.
“Tommy Smith, Marcus Tudgay, Lee Grant, who has come back here, Tom Huddlestone.
“They were four great English players and it was great to put my name as well in that team.
“We had a really, really great squad at that time, but unfortunately, we lost players after that and I was one of the players sold.
“Derby County’s now going in a good direction, there’s a good feeling, talented players, a great manager, so I hope that they will have a great season.”
Although the big pole was only at Derby for one season – in which he scored 17 goals in all competitions – he instantly became a cult hero with Derby fans for the goals he scored against Nottingham Forest.
Rasiak scored four over two games – two in a 3-0 home win and two in 2-2 draw – and after joining the Club, Rasiak said it did not take him long to realise the magnitude of importance the fixture was in the local area.
He added: “I remember the first time I moved to Derby, I spoke with a couple of people at the hotel I stayed at and they said something about December, because of my language I didn’t really understand so I checked what was in December and I saw the game against Forest.
“I knew that from that time how important the game against Forest was for the supporters. I scored four goals in two games and it really meant a lot to me.”
