HITC Sport takes a look at where Derby County’s last promotion winning side are today.
After a miserable start to their 16/17 Championship campaign, Derby County are turning their season around under Steve McClaren, as the Rams sit on the verge of the play-off places. Coming close so many times over the last few years, promotion has been on the cards for a long time at Pride Park, and Derby fans will be hoping that this year can be their year.
It’s ten years since Derby County last won promotion to the Premier League, so can the Rams learn anything from the team that last won promotion? HITC Sport takes a look at where the Rams’ 2007 Play-Off winners are today.
Derby County celebrate promotion
Stephen Bywater
After a successful loan spell, Derby County brought in goalkeeper Stephen Bywater from West Ham in 2006. Making 43 appearances in the 06/07 season, Bywater was something of a revelation between the sticks, as well as being a very popular figure in the dressing room. Bywater now plays for Burton Albion under former Derby County manager, Nigel Clough.
Tyrone Mears
Also signed from West Ham, Tyrone Mears was an excellent right-back during his time at Derby, full of pace and attacking intent. Providing the Rams with another attacking option down the right, Mears was popular amongst Derby fans. However, following the club’s relegation to the Championship, Mears disappeared on loan to Marseille, without the permission of the then Derby manager, Paul Jewell, according to a report in The Guardian. Mears now plays in the MLS for Seattle Sounders.
Darren Moore
Derby County’s Darren Moore consoles West Bromwich Albion’s Neil Clement at the end of the match
The big centre-half, who signed for Derby from their play-off opponents West Bromwich Albion in 2006, was a rock at the heart of Billy Davies’ defence throughout their promotion season. Forming a fantastic partnership with Derby’s Dean Leacock and Michael Johnson, Darren Moore became an extremely popular figure at Derby, as the gentle giant at the back. Now coaching at West Bromwich Albion, Moore is also a member of the management committee of the Professional Footballer’s Association.
Dean Leacock
Signing for Derby from Fulham in 2006, Dean Leacock made 117 appearances for the Rams, complementing Moore as a quicker, more agile centre-half. Scoring just one goal for the club, Leacock wasn’t exactly lethal from corners, but his ability to read the game and match forwards for pace was very good. In 2012, Leacock departed for Leyton Orient, and has most recently featured for Welling United of the National League South.
Jay McEveley
Joining Derby County from Blackburn Rovers in 2007, Jay McEveley got a reputation for being a hard-tackling, no-nonsense full-back during his time at Pride Park. Coming from the youth academy of Everton, McEveley spent three years on Derby’s books, before departing for Barnsley. McEveley now plays for Scottish side, Ross County.
Matt Oakley
Derby County’s Matt Oakley celebrates promotion
Derby County’s captain fantastic, Matt Oakley signed for Derby from Southampton in 2006, a club he made over 260 appearances for. A battling central midfielder who could take the game by the scruff of its neck and dictate play, Oakley became a hugely popular figure amongst Derby fans and, much to their shock, the midfielder was sold to Leicester City in 2008. Now playing for Exeter City in League Two, Matt Oakley will always be a favourite with Rams supporters.
Stephen Pearson
Joining in January 2007 from Celtic, Stephen Pearson was a versatile midfielder for Derby, who could play both on the wing and through the middle. Pearson will be remembered most fondly for latching on the end of Giles Barnes’s cross (who came on as a substitute in the Play-Off final) and slotting the ball into the back of the net to score the winning goal. After eventually departing for Bristol City in 2012, Pearson is now playing for Indian Super League club, Atletico de Kolkata.
Craig Fagan
Also joining the Rams in January of 2007, Craig Fagan was a pacy winger who offered Derby a threat down the left-hand side. However, after just one year Fagan departed, leaving for his former club, Hull City. Most recently, Fagan has featured for Brunei Premier League side, Brunei DPMM FC.
Seth Johnson
Seth Johnson – Derby County
Still a hugely popular figure amongst Derby fans, Seth Johnson was a goal-scoring central midfielder with an eye for a pass and hard in the tackle. After departing for Leeds United in 2001, Johnson rejoined Derby in 2005. However, a succession of injuries scuppered Johnson’s career, and in 2007 the midfielder, who had one cap for England, took an early retirement after being released.
Paul Peschisolido
Signing in 2004 from Sheffield United, Paul Peschisolido was a hugely popular player at Derby. The striker, who scored 20 goals during his time at the club, still remains one of the more successful Canadian footballers to have played in England. Now a manager in the Canadian football league, Peschisolido has also enjoyed a spell managing Burton Albion, where he held the reigns for 3 years.
Steve Howard
(L) Derby County’s Steve Howard
Billy Davies’ first signing as manager was Steve Howard, who joined the club in 2006 from Luton Town. The big centre-forward, who was a bruiser in the box and dynamite in the air, scored an impressive 17 league goals for Derby, eventually departing in 2008 with captain, Matt Oakley for Leicester City. Howard is now the owner of Platinum Capital Investments Ltd.
Manager – Billy Davies
Now a largely unpopular figure at Pride Park, Billy Davies joined Derby County in 2006, guiding them to promotion in his first season with the club. However, after a shocking start to their Premier League campaign (which saw them pick up only 11 points), Davies departed, eventually turning up at the club’s bitter rivals, Nottingham Forest. Out of work since 2014, Billy Davies is still waiting on a return to football management.
Derby County manager Billy Davies celebrates promotion
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