Derby County will welcome Stoke City to Pride Park Stadium on Saturday in their latest Sky Bet Championship fixture and their first on home turf for three weeks.


dcfc.co.uk has gathered all the information you need to know ahead of the game (3pm kick-off).

TICKET NEWS…

Tickets for Saturday's game are still available to buy on General Sale and will be on sale until two hours before kick-off.


Tickets are available on sale online only with 2021/22 Season Ticket holders being able to secure their usual seat location and benefit from a priority booking period, as per the club's latest Ticketing Update on 9th September.

Important Information: Match tickets are available until 1pm on the day of the match.


Derby County Vs Stoke City
Saturday 18th September (3pm kick-off)
Sky Bet Championship (Level B Fixture)

On Sale Status

For the next three home matches (Stoke City, Reading and Swansea City), 2021/22 Season Ticket holders must use the same online process for accessing their tickets as for last month's home matches against Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest. This can be done either via Post (at zero additional cost), Print at Home or Mobile Ticket. To access tickets, 2021/2022 Season Ticket Holders must select “Reservations” instead of “Buy” when selecting the match.

Golden Rams tickets will be processed and posted automatically. And Matchday Stadium Car Parking is only available for 2021/22 Seasonal Pass holders and will continue to be via guest list until parking permits are dispatched.

Derby County Membership Holders had the chance to purchase a ticket with 10% Discount off the General Admission Match Ticket Price, prior to tickets going on General Sale.

BUY TICKETS FOR THIS MATCH HERE

Please Note: When purchasing, please be aware that 'Reservations' takes you to your Season Ticket Reservation and 'Buy' takes you to the stadium plan.

Please ensure you use your Fan ID when logging in to the club’s ticketing platform. If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions, please contact [email protected]. The Ticket Office phone lines (0871 472 1884 *) are open between 10am-4pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

* Calls cost 13p per minute, plus your phone company's access charge.

Click here for Home Ticket FAQS

SUPPORTER INFORMATION…

Following the UK Government’s announcement in July to lift the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, Pride Park Stadium is now operating at full capacity.


For those supporters attending the game, we wish to provide the following guidance and information:

Tickets

* Ticket sales end at 1pm on the day of the game and are only available to buy online. No tickets are available to buy after this point. Season Ticket Holders are required to process their individual match ticket online in advance of the fixture. Supporters should not turn up without a ticket on the day.

* The Ticket Office counters and phone lines remain closed until further notice on matchdays.

* Season Ticket cards are NOT valid for this game.

* Match tickets that have been sent via the ‘Print at Home’ & Mobile ticket delivery methods have been sent to the email address we have registered to your Fan ID (please check your junk/spam folders) so please ensure that your details are up to date on dcfc.co.uk

* If you have NOT received your e-ticket please contact the Ticket Office on [email protected] before the day of the game, in order to avoid unnecessarily queuing at the Ticket Access Query windows

* Supporters that selected the 'Print at Home' delivery option must print their tickets prior to arriving at the stadium on white A4 paper, using black ink only.

* There will be no facility for collecting tickets on a matchday at this time.

* It is also possible for supporters that selected the Mobile Ticket delivery option to scan their match ticket on a smartphone device.

* Supporters that had a match ticket posted to their home address are advised to scan the ticket at the turnstiles as normal.

* There is no option to upgrade nor downgrade tickets on the day of the game, therefore please make sure you have obtained/purchased the correct age category.

* In line with NHS Test & Trace guidelines, when applying for a ticket, supporters must ensure their personal and contact details are correct and must provide their current telephone number.

* Supporters with any match ticket related enquiries prior to the day of the game are advised to email [email protected]. Disabled supporters with any access enquires are requested to email [email protected].

* Ticketing FAQs for this game can be found here: dcfc.co.uk/page/ticketing-useful-infor...

Stadium Access

* The Ticket Access windows, located on the North Stand, will be open from 1:30pm for supporters having issues gaining entry on their tickets.

* The access issue windows are open to support and help with stadium access issues. There are no sales available for Season Tickets or any other match tickets or enquiries.

* The turnstiles will open at 1:30pm and kick-off is at 3pm. Supporters are encouraged to arrive early to avoid unnecessary queues.

* Matchday staff will be available to assist with any queries and direct supporters to their seats. They will be wearing blue tabards and be located around the stadium.

* Bags must be no larger than 45cm x 30cm x 15cm and are subject to search. There is no on-site storage facility for oversized bags. If you have a medical condition that requires you to bring a bag or other equipment, please email [email protected].

Disabled Supporters

* Disabled supporters who have claimed a complimentary Personal Assistant Ticket will also be required to email [email protected] with the full contact details of their Personal Assistant (full name, address, telephone number) as entry into the stadium will not be permitted until this information has been provided.

Code Of Conduct

Derby County's COVID-19 Supporters Code of Conduct can be found here: dcfc.co.uk/page/covid-19-supporters-co...

Car Parking

* Car Parking is now SOLD OUT this fixture (Car Park A and Car Park B, which is located directly behind the South Stand). The lead supporter will be placed on our guestlist, and you will be required to give that name on arrival to gain entry. Supporters will not be able to purchase stadium car parking on the day of the game. Supporters that require Accessible Parking are advised to email [email protected] prior to the match.

Supporter Safety

* In the interest of our supporters' safety, we are advising fans to wear a face covering or face visor (covering both their nose and mouth) in the concourses and toilet areas, unless they are consuming refreshments, medically exempt or under the age of 12.

* Although wearing a mask is no longer mandatory, please consider others around you. Please also continue to use the hand sanitising stations around Pride Park Stadium and try and avoid close contact with others where possible. Finally, please always follow the guidance of Stewards.

Refreshments

* A limited menu will be served from the concourse kiosks, including pies, hot dogs, drinks and confectionary. This includes a limited range of hot and cold food plus draught alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages.

* Pride Park Stadium is now a cashless venue, debit/credit cards (excluding AMEX) and contactless payment are accepted.

The Yard

* The Yard at Pride Park Stadium will be open from 1pm until kick-off and after the final whistle until 7pm. A Bar Menu will be available to supporters on first-come, first-served basis.

The Rampage

* The Rampage, the club’s monthly magazine, will be available to buy from the DCFCMegastore as well as from sellers situated in various points outside Pride Park Stadium.

Pre-Match Q&A

* Derby County supporter and poet Jamie Thrasivoulou will take part in a pre-match question and answer session on the Pride Park pitch to discuss his upcoming play, Extra Time, about the Rams. He will also read his We Are Derby poem on the pitch ahead of kick-off.

DCFCMegastore

* The DCFCMegastore will be open from 9am until 6pm, stocking the new 2021/22 Derby County home, away and third kits, trainingwear and many other products. The DCFCMegastore’s ‘Ministore’ outside the stadium will be open from 12pm until kick-off and then after the final whistle until 6pm.

Matchday Betting

* Supporters wishing to place a matchday bet can do so using club partner Unibet's fast and secure betting App easily from their mobile, as well as at the Unibet stations in the concourse areas.

Download from the Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/unibet-pro/id4633353...

Download for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com....

Please Note: 18+ only. begambleaware.org.

Other Information

* For any more information please see the FAQ section on dcfc.co.uk, or simply click here.

TEAM NEWS…

Derby boss Wayne Rooney has no fresh injury concerns following Tuesday evening's 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion.


Rooney must decide whether to recall skipper Tom Lawrence and midfield duo Ravel Morrison and Max Bird to the starting XI after they were named on the bench for the goalless draw with the Baggies. Jason Knight and youngster Dylan Williams were two of the players to come into the side and both impressed against the league leaders, so they could retain their places in the side.


Defender Craig Forsyth will serve the final game of a three-match ban after the Football Association deemed a challenge he made in the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest to be an act of violent conduct.


Republic of Ireland Under-21 international full-back Festy Ebosele has missed the last month with a knee injury but is now back in training and could make the matchday squad.


Striker Colin Kazim-Richards remains a long-term absentee with an achilles injury sustained last month and he will be out of action for a significant period of time.


Polish international midfielder Krystian Bielik, who suffered an ACL knee injury in January of this year, is making good progress in his rehabilitation work

but is still not yet in a position to return to full training.

MANAGER'S THOUGHTS…


Manager Wayne Rooney offered his pre-match views to RamsTV on Friday and said: "Hopefully we can get that first home win. I think a lot of the performances this season have been good but now we need to turn them into wins. Hopefully tomorrow we can put in a good performance and try to get three points.

“I think the effort and work that the lads are putting in every game is what we need. It’s what the fans want to see as well, players playing for the club and trying to get results on the pitch.

“We are trying to move forward and they are giving me all their effort in every game.”

On tomorrow’s opponents, he added: “We know it will be a tough game this weekend. Stoke have started the season well so we need to be at our best.”


PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE…

Manager Wayne Rooney staged his pre-match news conference with the local and national media on Friday afternoon from Moor Farm Training Ground.


MATCH OFFICIALS…

Jeremy Simpson will oversee Saturday's game against the Potters.


Simpson took charge of 29 games in the 2020/21 campaign, showing 78 yellow cards and four reds.

He oversaw one Rams match last term, which was the 3-0 loss at Rotherham United in February.

Simpson will be assisted by Michael George and Rob Smith on the lines, whilst Aaron Jackson has been appointed as the fourth official.

EFL SUBSTITUTE RULES…

The five substitutions rule has been scrapped for the 2021/22 season, the English Football League confirmed in July.


The rule allowing clubs to make five changes, as opposed to the usual three, was brought in following football's restart in June 2020 after a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given that games had to be condensed into a short period of time it was thought beneficial and allowed managers to make as many as five changes in three intervals during a match.

Clubs had a longer post-break between seasons this time around and so the temporary rule has been changed.

Teams will be able to name seven substitutes but only use a maximum of three.

STREAMING INFORMATION…

With COVID-19 capacity restrictions lifted and EFL fixtures being played in front of full crowds once again, the temporary change in streaming rules is no longer valid.


If you can't make the game in person, other options to catch up with the action on the pitch – including live TV, live radio, streaming of selected matches alongside highlights on TV and online of every Sky Bet EFL game.

LIVE TV (DOMESTIC)

In the UK, Sky Sports will show 138 Sky Bet EFL matches, 15 Carabao Cup ties and the Semi Finals and Final of the Papa John’s Trophy.

In the case of Weekend Fixtures, the EFL’s designated kick-off times* for Sky Live Matches are usually scheduled as follows:

* Friday evenings at 7:45pm or 8pm

* Saturdays at 12:30pm; Sundays at 12-noon

Within the Sky contract there are other kick-off times that are available to the broadcaster

In the case of scheduled Midweek Matches, live Sky fixtures will be between 7:30pm and 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

RADIO

TalkSPORT offer exclusive live commentaries on national radio across the Sky Bet EFL as well as non-exclusive rights to the Carabao Cup that are shared by the BBC.Both TalkSPORT and the BBC have the ability to broadcast score flash updates across all competitions.BBC Local Radio also have individual commentary deals with selected EFL clubs.

LIVE TV (INTERNATIONAL)

Any match shown live on Sky Sports in the UK is made available overseas via the League’s international broadcast partners.As well as this fixture, a minimum of 36 Championship fixtures taking place on Saturdays at 3pm, will be distributed for international coverage, alongside selected League One and Two fixtures, Carabao Cup ties, and action from across the Sky Bet Play-Offs.

A full list of the EFL’s international broadcast partners are available here:efl.com/iFollow/international-broadcasters/

HIGHLIGHTS

In the UK, Quest will continue to be the home for all highlights of matches in the Sky Bet EFL, Carabao Cup and Papa John’s Trophy, with action from a full weekend schedule of matches broadcast at 9pm on Saturdays, and midweek League highlights and Carabao Cup midweek highlights also screened on applicable weeknights. Internationally, a number of the EFL’s broadcast partners show repeat transmissions and highlights.

STREAMING

In respect of domestic streaming, the EFL will return to the position as was prior to the pandemic when the live broadcast or streaming of any match in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is prohibited between the hours of 2:45pm-5:15pm on Saturday afternoons.

EFL clubs will have the right to live-stream midweek matches on iFollow or Club equivalent service, with Sky Sports also able to stream the same Championship fixtures to subscribers across their Red Button interactive and digital services.

The position in each Sky Bet EFL division is as follows:

CHAMPIONSHIP - DOMESTIC

* All scheduled midweek matches (unless selected as one of Sky Sports Exclusive midweek selections)

* Displaced weekend matches – matches which are moved from Saturday 3pm kick-offs for non-TV purposes (at the discretion of the Home club)

* Bank Holiday matches (at the discretion of the Home club)

CHAMPIONSHIP - INTERNATIONAL

Overseas supporters can watch live all EFL Championship league games provided that they have not been selected for international television broadcast in a territory that has an overseas broadcast partner