Wed 14 Jun - Posted in Feature
Time to read: 1min
In two weeks’ time, Derby County will return for pre-season training.
The 2016/17 campaign is well and truly behind the Rams with all eyes firmly on the future under Gary Rowett.
In the short-term, the busy pre-season schedule is just around the corner.
As well as jetting out into Europe twice, Derby have six games packed into the next month and alongside the launch of our new-look website, dcfc.co.uk brings you a condensed version of what is ahead of the Rams leading up to the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship campaign…
A Familiar Face To Begin With…
After a week-long training camp out in Tenerife, the game schedule begins with a clash with Vanarama National League North play-off semi-finalists Kidderminster Harriers.
Whilst it might be exciting for the fact that it is the first time Derby return to action since Sunday 7th May, the friendly at Aggborough, on Tuesday 11th July, kick-off 7:45pm, will pitch Rowett up against John Eustace.
The former Rams midfielder is embarking on his second season as a fully-fledged manager since hanging up his boots in 2015.
Now 37-years-old, he guided the Harriers to a second-placed finish last campaign before they were beaten by Chorley 2-1 on aggregate in the play-offs.
Four days later, Derby step up their preparations with a trip to Moss Rose to face Macclesfield Town on Saturday 15th July, kick-off 3pm.
The 2016/17 season saw the Silkmen miss out on a return to the Football League, whilst they were also beaten 3-2 in the Buildbase FA Trophy Final by York City at Wembley Stadium.
The Double Header…
A notable inclusion on the Derby pre-season schedule is the fact that they will play two games on the same night, on Tuesday 18th July.
The Rams will send two different sides to face Sky Bet League 1 side Doncaster Rovers and League 2 outfit Port Vale – with both matches kicking off at 7:45pm and providing a very similar test.
Rowett has already spoken of the importance of this particular night.
In previous years, it has been common for Derby to play on a Tuesday and then play another game on Wednesday – fielding a different team in the process – but the Rams’ manager feels this is something that, ultimately, wastes a week of the pre-season programme.
He said on the double-header: “We will split the squad and staff for the games on the same night so you don't lose valuable training and conditioning time.”
The Trip To Germany…
Derby will board another flight following their clashes with Doncaster and Port Vale, this time with Germany the destination.
This will also represent another step up in quality, in terms of opposition, for Rowett and his men and is one of the pre-season fixtures that has captured the imagination of the supporters.
The Rams will face Bundesliga 2 side FC Kaiserslautern at their stunning 49,780-capacity arena, the Fritz-Walter-Stadion on Saturday 22nd July, kick-off 4pm (local time).
Whilst the Red Devils might have finished 13th in Germany’s second division in 2016/17, Derby will still be going toe-to-toe with one of the nation’s most historic and successful football clubs – one that has been crowned champions four times.
The Final Week…
The past four aforementioned games will all be geared towards this week – Derby’s last before the beginning of the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship season.
With the players now getting more and more minutes under their belts, Rowett’s men quickly return to action after flying back from Germany to face Sky Bet League 1 side Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium on Tuesday 25th July, kick-off 7:45pm.
This will be the second time in three pre-seasons that the two sides will meet – with the Cobblers looking to better the 16th place finish they achieved in their first season back in the third tier.
Then it is on to the big one.
As has been the case in most seasons, Derby will play their final pre-season fixture on home soil, to take on a side that claimed UEFA Champions League qualifying spot for the upcoming campaign in Hoffenheim.
In Julian Nagelsmann, the German outfit have one of football’s youngest and brightest upcoming managers and only lost on four occasions as they claimed a top-four finish in Bundesliga last season.
The fixture, set for Saturday 29th July at 3pm, will also be Derby’s first game back at Pride Park Stadium since the 3-1 win over Wolves exactly three months to the date and is certainly one not to be missed!
