3/1 To Win
The Punjabi Rams were announced as the winners of the Fans for Diversity award at the 2021 Football Supporters' Association Awards on Monday night.
The group, who are an official Derby County supporters' club, landed the accolade at a star-studded event in London.
They impressively claimed the accolade ahead of AFC Autism, Apna England, Lady Imps, Love Football Hate Racism and Pride in Football.
The Fans for Diversity award focussed its attention on highlighting the good work of fan groups who make football more inclusive and welcoming to all communities.
The Punjabi Rams ran mental health sessions for their members and fellow supporters during the initial COVID-19 lockdown before embarking upon a fundraising drive for the EFL’s official charity partner, MIND.
The group also supported the club’s ‘Stay Safe. Stay Fit. Stay Connected.’ foodbank appeal and started a free ticket campaign to get children and low-income families into Pride Park Stadium.
The Punjabi Rams also announced earlier this year their increased support for Derby County Women by becoming a shirt sleeve sponsor for the team.
A raffle for a Derby County ‘BBG125’ shirt from the 2020/21 season, signed by the first-team squad, was launched on social media in October.
An incredible £2,480 was raised, include £1,145 from an anonymous donor, to support the Women’s team to take the Punjabi Rams’ final donation to £3,500.
Who Are The Punjabi Rams?
The Punjabi Rams are a supporters group following the fortunes of Derby County Football Club.
Derby has a large Punjabi community which initially settled in Normanton in the streets surrounding the Baseball Ground. Some of the early Punjabi immigrants worked at the Leys Foundry which overlooked the Baseball Ground, but initially very few Punjabis would attend games as football was seen as a waste of money and families were fearful of trouble on the terraces.
This soon changed and some of their older members were fortunate enough to have witnessed the First Division championship winning teams of the 1970s under Brian Clough and Dave Mackay.
The Punjabi Rams now have a core group of long-term Season Ticket Holders who also attend away matches.
They aim to promote diversity and inclusion in football and one of the ways they do that is by encouraging more Punjabis to support their local team and experience the atmosphere of Pride Park Stadium rather than following a team that they have no geographical connection with and can only watch on their TV.
Although they are the “Punjabi Rams” you don’t have to be Punjabi to be a member. They are an open group, welcoming anyone who wants to join them in following Derby County, be it home or away.
You can find out more about the Punjabi Rams by visiting punjabirams.co.uk.
