Wed 02 Aug - Posted in News
Time to read: 3mins
Craig Bryson is preparing for what will be his seventh season as a Derby County player.
The 30-year-old Scot is the longest-serving player on the books at Pride Park Stadium, after joining from Kilmarnock in 2011.
Since his arrival, the midfielder has clocked up 239 appearances for the club and enjoyed some memorable moments along the way.
He won the Player of the Year accolade in 2011/12 and went on to lift the trophy for a second time in 2013/14, after hitting 16 goals from the middle of the park.
That season in particular was one to remember for Bryson, after he scored an historic hat-trick in the 5-0 trouncing over local rivals Nottingham Forest on home turf.
Looking back on his time with Derby, Bryson admits just one thing is missing – a promotion to the Premier League.
It is well known that he turned his back on the chance to step up to the top flight in the summer of 2014, instead committing his long-term future to Derby.
With the 2017/18 season fast closing in, Bryson is as excited as ever and driven to give his all to try and help the Rams achieve their goal.
He told RamsTV: “I can’t believe I have been here for six years, it has flown by.
“It feels like not long ago that I signed but six years at a club nowadays is a long time. I am more than happy at the club and would love to stay as long as I can.
“The only thing missing for me is a promotion. I don’t think, otherwise, it could have gone any better for me personally. I would love to get this club promoted and hopefully we can get it done in the next two years of my contract.
“I’ve had some wonderful moments here but they’re all in the past and I want to create more memories for myself and the team and the fans. I hope we can do that this year and get it right. I am excited about the season and you get that feeling at this time of the year.”
Bryson says if the Rams could make the step up to the top flight, it would be the perfect gift for the club’s supporters.
Now an adopted son of Derby and a popular figure amongst the crowd, he wants to be able to give something back to those that have provided home with such a memorable period of his career.
He said: “I’ve said it before, Derby has given me so much in my career and my life.
“I would love to give something back by getting to the Premier League, which is where I feel this club should be in my opinion.
“Hopefully the manager can come in and get that right, get the squad right and get us a good team spirit to push on from here.”
