Derby County return to Pride Park Stadium on Thursday evening to take on Lincoln City (7:45pm kick-off) in what will be the final Sky Bet League One fixture before Christmas.
The Rams go into the contest six games unbeaten in the league and ,having won five of those, they will want to carry that form on as they enter a hectic festive period.
In the lead-up to the match getting underway, dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you need to know...
Team News
Defender Ryan Nyambe returned to training this week and will be assessed ahead of Thursday evening after missing the Rams' recent matches with a groin issue.
Midfielder Korey Smith (knee) and striker Conor Washington (ankle) remain out of action.
Midfielder Liam Thompson (quad) and Callum Elder (ankle) have both been in full training for the last couple of weeks and could feature in the squad on Thursday evening.
Striker Martyn Waghorn remains absent after missing the last few matches through a calf issue.
Long-term absentees Jake Rooney (knee) and Elliot Embleton (quad) remain ruled out of action for the foreseeable.
Pre-Match Thoughts
Head Coach Paul Warne spoke to RamsTV to preview the Rams final home game of 2023.
He said: "The back-to-back games come thick and fast and the league table can change quite quickly. We need to try and keep the group healthy, happy and fit. I like games coming thick and fast though, I think it really suits us."
Skipper Conor Hourihane also previewed the start of a hectic festive period when he spoke to RamsTV.
He said: "We're in a good place and hopefully we can really move into the second half of the season in a good place because I feel we're getting there."
Ticket Information
Tickets are still available for Thursday night's match under the Pride Park floodlights.
Ticket Prices
Behind Goal
£4 - Child (Age 6-12)
£8 - Junior (Age 13-17)
£12 - Young Adult (Age 18-21)
£16 - Adult (Age 22-64)
£12 - Senior (Age 65+)
FREE - Infants (Age 2-5)
Corner
£5 - Child (Age 6-12)
£10 - Junior (Age 13-17)
£15 - Young Adult (Age 18-21)
£20 - Adult (Age 22-64)
£15 - Senior (Age 65+)
FREE - Infants (Age 2-5)
Sideline
£6 - Child (Age 6-12)
£12 - Junior (Age 13-17)
£18 - Young Adult (Age 18-21)
£24 - Adult (Age 22-64)
£18 - Senior (Age 65+)
FREE - Infants (Age 2-5)
Please Note: Proof of age may be requested on entry for age-related concession tickets. Infants, Children and Juniors aged 2-15 must be accompanied by an individual aged 18+/Parent/Guardian. Disabled Supporters’ information is available by Clicking Here.
How To Buy
Online (Subject to £1 per ticket Booking Fee and available up to TWO hours before kick-off)
Visit dcfc.co.uk and click ‘TICKETS’ then, under the ‘TICKETS’ section, click ‘HOME TICKETS’.
Use your Fan ID and password to log into the system. If there’s an issue, click the ‘forgot password’ link on the login page. If the issue persists, email [email protected].
Phone (Subject to £1 per ticket Booking Fee and available up to ONE hour before kick-off)
Call 0871 472 1884 * between 10am-4pm on Monday-Saturday and select Option 1. Ensure your contact details are readily available including Fan ID, Full Name, Full Address and Date of Birth.
Tickets can either be posted up to 72 hours before matchday and are subject to £2 per Transaction Postage Fee or can collected from the Ticket Office, presented by Seat Geek, which is open 10am-4pm from Monday to Saturday and at least THREE hours before kick-off and up to half-time on home matchdays.
* 0871 numbers are charged at 13p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
In Person (No Booking Fee)
The Ticket Office, presented by Seat Geek, is open from 10am-4pm between Monday and Saturday and at least THREE hours before kick-off and up to half-time on home matchdays.
Safe Standing At Pride Park Stadium
Safe standing areas are now in place at
Pride Park Stadium.
It was announced earlier this month that work had begun to install independent safe standing barriers and they were in place for the first time when Derby faced Wycombe Wanderers in Sky Bet League One on 16th December 2023.
The independent barriers have been fitted in the entire upper tier of the South Stand for a total of 2,767 supporters.
Work has also started in the upper section of the South East Corner for visiting supporters, with 2,341 spaces in total being allocated to take the total across the stadium to 5,108.
The existing seats have remained in place in the selected areas and the independent barriers have simply been an addition to the current set-up and should not be confused with rail seats.
Safe standing areas are licensed by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and fans must be able to sit or stand, while the seats cannot be locked in the 'up' or 'down' position. There must also be one seat/space per person and licensed safe standing areas must not impact the viewing standards of other fans, including disabled supporters.
Stewards and staff have been briefed and are being additionally trained to ensure that only relevant ticket holders are admitted to the licensed safe standing areas. In addition, CCTV will offer full coverage of the licensed standing areas to be closely monitored.
Season Ticket Holders impacted by the installation of the independent barriers have been contacted directly via the email address registered to their Fan ID and supporters are advised to arrive in plenty of time to ensure they are in the stadium and in their allocated space for kick-off.
Supporters in the licensed standing areas will be required to follow a Code of Conduct, which can be found below, and continue to adhere to Derby County’s ground regulations, which can viewed here: dcfc.co.uk/media/get/Ground%20Regulations%2023-24.pdf.
Safe Standing Introduction
RamsTV spoke to Simon Wake from Stadia by GL events, who have overseen the installation process at Pride Park Stadium, and Wendy Harnan-Kajzer from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to discuss the installation of the independent barriers and what it will mean for supporters.
The video can be viewed in full below.
Attending A Fixture In Derby County’s Safe Standing Areas
Below is a short information guide for those supporters who will be situated in the safe standing areas of Pride Park Stadium.
Safe Standing Code of Conduct
Derby County Football Club (the “Club”) will introduce licensed standing areas for domestic fixtures.
All supporters wishing to attend domestic fixtures in licensed standing areas are required to comply with this Code of Conduct at all times, and we ask that you read all of the information below.
The Code of Conduct does not replace any other ground rules but shall include (but not be limited to) the club’s Ticketing Terms & Conditions, which can be found here: dcfc.co.uk/page/ticketing-useful-information.
Any non-compliance with this Code may result in sanctions being applied, including but not limited to non-admittance or ejection from the stadium and/or the Club losing the right to maintain licensed standing areas.
When attending the match in licensed standing areas, please:
- Always have your ticket available for any necessary secondary ticket checks.
- Continue to follow the instructions of stewards and other staff, who are there to ensure your safety and an enjoyable experience for everyone.
- Behave appropriately in the stand and please be respectful to others. Anti-social behaviour or any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment will not be tolerated.
- Do not stand or climb on the independent barriers or seat. The licensed standing infrastructure is there to keep you and other supporters safe.
- Unless needing to use facilities, do not move around in the safe standing area – your ticket is for your allocated space only.
- Do not stand in the gangways or on the steps to watch the match – these are for accessing and leaving your seat only.
Safe Standing At Pride Park Stadium FAQs
What is safe standing and how will this work?
Safe standing areas are licensed by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and supporters must be able to sit or stand, while the seats cannot be locked in the up or down position. There must also be one seat /space per person and licensed safe standing areas must not impact the viewing standards of other supporters, including disabled supporters. This will be done by the installation of independent safe standing barriers.
Were supporters consulted regarding safe standing?
Yes, this was discussed at a Supporters Charter Group meeting earlier this year, that the club was involved in detailed discussions with the relevant authorities around safe standing.
What areas of the stadium will safe standing be implemented?
The whole upper tier of the South Stand and the upper tier of the South-East corner for visiting supporters.
What date will Safe Standing be available from?
The home game against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday 16th December 2023 in Sky Bet League One.
Will the capacity of the stadium increase with safe standing?
No, the capacity of the stadium will remain the same and supporters must stick to their allocated numbered place within their allocated block.
Is it still possible to sit in the proposed safe standing areas?
Yes, Pride Park will remain an all-seater stadium, but the club expects that the majority of supporters will stand during matches in these areas of the stadium.
Can I opt to move my season ticket out of the South Stand if I do not wish to stay in the safe standing area?
Yes, relocations are available via the Ticket Office. An additional charge may be required if moving to more expensive areas within the stadium.
I have concerns regarding safe standing, what can I do?
Supporters with any concerns about their seat or safety at Pride Park should contact the Ticket Office directly on [email protected] or the club’s Supporter Liaison Officer on [email protected].
More Information
More details in relation to the Sports Grounds Safety Authority’s licensed standing at football grounds can be found at: sgsa.org.uk/licensedstanding.
Matchday Programme
There is no more fitting accompaniment to a matchday than the club’s official programme.
The universally adored ‘The Ram’ is back once again to track Paul Warne’s side’s progress throughout the campaign.
Rammed with exclusive content and features, including insights from both Head Coach Warne and the dressing room, in-depth player interviews, opposition analysis, Derby County Women, an Academy round-up and historical dives, issues will be available for sale around the stadium - as always - with all sellers armed with contactless payments units.
If you can’t make every matchday this season though you can still make sure you keep your treasured collection up to date with a full season subscription.
This edition features:
* Exclusive interview with on-loan Arsenal striker Tyreece John-Jules
* Head Coach Paul Warne's exclusive pre-match thoughts
* A closer look at Lincoln City and the test they'll pose
* A review of Derby County Women's season so far with Manager Sam Griffiths
* A review of the latest Academy news from Moor Farm
* A round-up of the news from Derby County Community Trust
* A chance to test your knowledge with The Ram's Matchday Quiz
* And much, much more!
The treasured A5-size 52-page perfect-bound issues will be produced to a schedule that allows for a first-class mail out on the Friday before a weekend fixture, with midweek editions despatched on the day of the game, but this is not a pre-event delivery service.
Order your copy by clicking here or pick up The Ram in-and-around Pride Park Stadium ahead of kick-off.
Match Officials
Peter Wright will officiate Thursday evening's game and be will be assisted by Thomas Harty and Daniel Robinson.
Jacob Miles is on Fourth Official duties for the contest.
Wright has been the man in the middle 19 times so far this season including in the 1-1 draw with Cheltenham Town back in October.
He's issued 64 yellow cards, zero straight reds and awarded five penalties.
RamsTV Details
Supporters can watch Thursday evening's game unfold live on RamsTV!
The game is available for live streaming and RamsTV match passes are available for £10 each and full streaming information can be found below.
Where can I watch the game?
You can watch RamsTV via dcfc.co.uk on a laptop or tablet device or through the Official Derby County App from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
How can I buy Pay-Per-View Access?
Supporters who have watched live match coverage on RamsTV previously and wish to buy pay-per-view access need to log into their account on dcfc.co.uk to purchase a match pass. To purchase your match pass, please click here.
If you don’t have a website account you will need create an account, add your 8-digit Fan ID, Name, Address, Postcode, and a valid email address not already registered with an account. Then you will be able to purchase pay-per-view access on dcfc.co.uk.
Where is the game available?
The game will be available to watch worldwide.
How much does the game cost?
The League One fixture is available to view at the cost of £10 per match pass.
Is there anything I need to do ahead of watching the game?
The RamsTV Matchday Live Show begins half an hour before kick-off, at 7:15pm, to provide fans with comprehensive and unrivalled coverage.
Please ensure the following:
- You know your email address and password registered with dcfc.co.uk
- Your details are always up to date – this is how we will contact you with streaming information
- You are logged into your account well in advance of kick-off, last minute queries may result in missing the start of the match
- If you have forgotten your password, please click here
What about International Subscribers?
Overseas RamsTV subscribers that have purchased a monthly subscription package for the 2023/24 season are able watch this match as normal by logging in to their account.
What can I expect from the RamsTV Matchday Live Show?
The RamsTV Matchday Live show, amongst other things, includes the following:
- Full match streamed LIVE and in HD
- A multi-camera mix covering all the action
- Instant and multi-angle replays
- Full match commentary with expert analysis
- Match graphics
- 30-minute pre-match show with interviews, exclusive features, and lively studio discussion
- Expert half-time and post-match analysis
Is Audio Commentary available?
Subscribers for access to live audio commentary, provided by BBC Radio Derby, will be able to listen to the game as normal.
Audio commentary subscriptions can be purchased by clicking here.
Got a question?
Head over to the FAQs section relating to RamsTV live streams by clicking here.
For any additional queries relating to login and account creation on dcfc.co.uk, please email [email protected].
Remembering Laura Vickers
Thursday evening's game against Lincoln City carries significance for Josh and those closest to him as Lincoln is the city where he and Laura met during his time playing for the Imps.
They would later set up their home in the area around Laura’s family and friends and a number of those will be in attendance this evening.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity provided great support to Laura, and Josh, over the years and we would like to pay tribute to their work.
Any supporters wishing to make a donation to the Charity can do so by visiting: royalmarsden.org/donate.
Derby's players will wear t-shirts supporting the charity in the pre-match warm-up tonight alongside all wearing pin-badges displaying their logo on arrival at Pride Park Stadium.
In addition, the club has donated some items to be used by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity for raffles, auctions and other fundraising initiatives.
A Message From Josh Vickers
I would just like to say, on behalf of myself and both families, thank you so much for your love and support in this difficult time, it has helped me more than I can ever say and write down into words.
The support I have received from my team-mates and everyone at the football club, and you the fans, has been overwhelming and I will be forever grateful.
I know this time of year costs families enough money, but if you could make any sort of donation to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, where Laura had the most amazing care and support through her journey, it would be very much appreciated.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Josh.
