1967–68 Derby County F.C. season

The 1967–68 season was Derby County's 68th in the Football League and their 10th consecutive season in the Second Division.

Derby County

1967–68 season
Chairman	Sam Longson
Manager	Brian Clough
Stadium	Baseball Ground
Second Division	18th
FA Cup	Third round
League Cup	Semifinals
Top goalscorer	League: Kevin Hector (21) All: Hector (24)
Home colours Away colours
← 1966–67 1968–69 →

Season summary

In his second season as chairman, Sam Longson appointed Brian Clough as the club new manager, who was coaching Fourth Division club Hartlepools United with relative success. Clough, arrived with assistant manager former Middlesbrough's Goalkeeper Peter Taylor and both parties agreed to a £5,000 annual salary for Clough and made available £70,000 to fund player transfers.^[1] On 25 August 1967 Tranmere Rovers Central-back Roy McFarland arrived to the club.^[2] Also, Scottish Forward John O'Hare was transferred in from Sunderland for £20,000 being an ideal partner for Kevin Hector.

During September 1967 Nottingham Forest Left-winger Alan Hinton was then signed by Brian Clough for £30,000.^[3] Northern Irish winger Arthur Stewart signed to the club in December 1967 from Glentoran F.C.

After a good start of season reaching a 4th place, the team collapsed during winter and finished its 10th consecutive Second Division campaign at 18th spot. In League Cup first ever notable run, the squad advanced to the semifinals stage only to lose the two legs of the series against Leeds United which also, eliminated The Rams on FA Cup 3rd round. The season also saw Reg Matthews set the club record of 246 appearances by a goalkeeper, as he surpassed Harry Maskrey's previous record of 222.^[4]

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ENG Colin Boulton — GK  ENG Reg Matthews — DF  ENG Peter Daniel — DF  ENG Mick Hopkinson — DF  ENG Roy McFarland — DF  ENG John Richardson — DF  ENG Bobby Saxton — DF  ENG Ron Webster — DF  ENG Tony Rhodes — DF  ENG Jim Walker — DF  ENG John Robson — DF  ENG Pat Wright

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  NIR Arthur Stewart — MF  WAL Alan Durban (Captain) — MF  ENG Alan Hinton — MF  ENG Gordon Hughes — MF  ENG Phil Waller — FW  ENG Kevin Hector — FW  SCO John O'Hare — FW  SCO Billy Hodgson — FW  ENG Ian Buxton — FW  ENG Richie Barker — FW  ENG Barry Butlin

Transfers

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
MF	Alan Hinton	Nottingham Forest	£30,000
DF	Roy McFarland	Tranmere Rovers
FW	John O'Hare	Sunderland	£20,000
DF	Jim Walker	Northwich Victoria F.C.
DF	Pat Wright	Shrewsbury Town F.C.
FW	Barry Butlin	Youth team
DF	John Robson	Youth team
FW	Richie Barker	Burton Albion F.C.

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
MF	Derek Draper	Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
DF	Billy Cholerton
MF	Nigel Cleevely
DF	Ron Metcalfe
MF	Frank Upton
FW	Eddie Thomas	Leyton Orient
FW	Ian Buxton	Luton Town

Winter

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
MF	Arthur Stewart	Glentoran F.C.

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
MF	Phil Waller	Mansfield Town
FW	Billy Hodgson	Rotherham United

Competitions

Second Division

Main article: 1967-68 Football League

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
16	Aston Villa	42	15	7	20	54	64	0.844	37
17	Hull City	42	12	13	17	58	73	0.795	37
18	Derby County	42	13	10	19	71	78	0.910	36
19	Bristol City	42	13	10	19	48	62	0.774	36
20	Preston North End	42	12	11	19	43	65	0.662	35

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Ground	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H
Result	W	L	W	W	L	W	W	W	W	L	D	L	W	L	D	L	L	L	L	D	W	D	L	D	L	W	L	L	W	D	L	D	L	W	L	W	D	L	D	L	D	L
Position	2	14	7	6	9	9	8	4	4	5	5	7	6	7	7	7	9	10	12	14	12	12	13	12	15	13	15	15	14	12	15	14	15	13	13	12	11	11	13	15	16	18

Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss;   = Leader, Promoted to 1968–69 First Division;   = 1968–69 First Division;   = 1968–69 Third Division

Matches

• source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/derby-county/tab/matches/season/1968/

Derby County v Charlton Athletic

19 August 1967 1	Derby County	3–2	Charlton Athletic	Derby
	O'Hare 46' Hector 22' Ian King (o.g.)		16' Bob Curtis 85' Alan Campbell	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 19,412 Referee: V James

Crystal Palace v Derby County

26 August 1967 2	Crystal Palace	1–0	Derby County	Selhurst
	Bobby Woodruff 30'			Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 17,875 Referee: HG New

Rotherham United v Derby County

28 August 1967 3	Rotherham United	1–3	Derby County	Rotherham
	Laurie Sheffield		O'Hare (pen.) Hector Buxton	Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 11,088 Referee: F Cowen

Derby County v Aston Villa

2 September 1967 4	Derby County	3–1	Aston Villa	Derby
	Durban 49' Durban 69' Hector 54 ' (pen.)		5' Stobart	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 22,967 Referee: K Dagnall

Norwich City v Derby County

6 September 1967 5	Norwich City	3–2	Derby County	Norwich
	Laurie Brown Hugh Curran Mike Kenning	Report	Durban Hughes	Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 14,933

Queen's Park Rangers v Derby County

9 September 1967 6	Queen's Park Rangers	0–1	Derby County	Shepherd's Bush
			85' Hector	Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 18,431 Referee: GD Roper

Derby County v Plymouth Argyle

16 September 1967 7	Derby County	1-0	Plymouth Argyle	Derby
	Mike Everitt (own goal)	Report		Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 21,516 Referee: ED Wallace

Cardiff City v Derby County

23 September 1967 8	Cardiff City	1-5	Derby County	Cardiff
	Ronnie Bird 81' (pen.)	Report	34' John O'Hare 84' John O'Hare 22' Kevin Hector 60' Kevin Hector 82' Kevin Hector	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 15,375 Referee: HG New

Derby County v Rotherham United

27 September 1967 9	Derby County	4-1	Rotherham United	Derby
	O'Hare Hughes Hector Hector	Report	Laurie Sheffield	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 28,161 Referee: AWS Jones

Derby County v Portsmouth

30 September 1967 10	Derby County	0-1	Portsmouth	Derby
		Report	79' George Smith	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 27,043 Referee: GC Kew

Derby County v Millwall F.C.

7 October 1967 11	Derby County	3-3	Millwall F.C.	Derby
	Hector 63' Saxton 89' John Gilchrist 88 ' (o.g.)	Report	7' Keith Weller 32', 39' Bobby Hunt	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,609 Referee: R Darlington

Ipswich Town v Derby County

14 October 1967 12	Ipswich Town	4-0	Derby County	Ipswich
	Eddie Spearritt 25', 70' Ray Crawford 43' Frank Brogan 48'	Report		Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 15,785 Referee: RA Paine

Derby County v Huddersfield Town

21 October 1967 13	Derby County	1-0	Huddersfield Town	Derby
	Barker 44'	Report		Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,950 Referee: DW Smith

Bolton Wanderers v Derby County

28 October 1967 14	Bolton Wanderers	5-3	Derby County	Burnden
	John Byrom 16' John Byrom 20' Gareth Williams 61', 71' Roy Greaves 65'	Report	O'Hare 55' Durban 12' Hector 79'	Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 12,631 Referee: P Partridge

Derby County v Birmingham City

4 November 1967 15	Derby County	2-2	Birmingham City	Derby
	Barker 49' Durban 56'	Report	73' Vincent 79' Bridges	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,484 Referee: P Baldwin

Bristol City v Derby County

10 November 1967 16	Bristol City	1-0	Derby County	Bristol
	Chris Garland 68'			Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 15,919 Referee: TE Lockett

Derby County v Carlisle United

18 November 1967 17	Derby County	0-1	Carlisle United	Derby
			6' Chris Balderstone	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 20,850 Referee: LJ Hamer

Hull City v Derby County

25 November 1967 18	Hull City	3-0	Derby County	Kingston upon Hull
	Billy Wilkinson 6', 19' Chris Chilton 20'			Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 14,767 Referee: JR Osborne

Derby County v Middlesbrough F.C.

2 December 1967 19	Derby County	2-4	Middlesbrough F.C.	Derby
	Kevin Hector 24' John O'Hare 89'		7', 68', 75' John O'Rourke 12' John Hickton	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 20,381 Referee: F Cowen

Blackpool v Derby County

9 December 1967 20	Blackpool	1-1	Derby County	Blackpool
	John McPhee 45'		70' John O'Hare	Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 11,113 Referee: K Howley

Charlton Athletic v Derby County

16 December 1967 21	Charlton Athletic	1-2	Derby County	Charlton
	Matt Tees 30'		10' Richie Barker 70' (o.g.) Bob Curtis	Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 12,078 Referee: JGD Lewis

Derby County v Crystal Palace F.C.

23 December 1967 22	Derby County	1-1	Crystal Palace F.C.	Derby
	Alan Durban 50'		84' Tommy White	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 20,224 Referee: V James

Blackburn Rovers v Derby County

26 December 1967 23	Blackburn Rovers	3-0	Derby County	Blackburn
	Mike Ferguson (pen.) Malcolm Darling Allan Gilliver			Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 17,902 Referee: H Williams

Derby County v Blackburn Rovers

30 December 1967 24	Derby County	1-1	Blackburn Rovers	Derby
	Kevin Hector 17' Richie Barker 70'		8' Malcolm Darling 63' John Connelly	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 19,064 Referee: DNH Payne

Aston Villa v Derby County

6 January 1968 25	Aston Villa	2-1	Derby County	Birmingham
	Brian Greenhalgh 46' John McLeod 63'		36' Kevin Hector	Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 23,805 Referee: LJ Hamer

Plymouth Argyle v Derby County

20 January 1968 26	Plymouth Argyle	3-4	Derby County	Plymouth
	John Mitten 1', 15' Mike Bickle 47'		11', 60' Alan Hinton 64'John O'Hare 88' Richie Barker	Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 9,026 Referee: AE Dimond

Derby County v Cardiff City

3 February 1968 27	Derby County	3-4	Cardiff City	Derby
	Alan Hinton 47' Kevin Hector 50' Alan Durban 89'		Brian Clark 4', 86' Peter King 31', 80'	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 18,096 Referee: LA Cussons

Portsmouth F.C. v Derby County

10 February 1968 28	Portsmouth F.C.	3-2	Derby County	Milton
	Mike Trebilcock 2' Ray Pointer 16' Bobby Kellard 62'		5' Kevin Hector 79' Richie Barker	Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 26,567 Referee: CH Nicholls

Derby County v Queen's Park Rangers

17 February 1968 29	Derby County	4-0	Queen's Park Rangers	Derby
	Kevin Hector 11' Alan Hinton 14' Arthur Stewart 62' Roy McFarland 82'			Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 22,854 Referee: J Finney

Millwall F.C. v Derby County

24 February 1968 30	Millwall F.C.	1-1	Derby County	New Cross
	John Gilchrist 56'		2' Alan Durban	Stadium: The Den Attendance: 12,258 Referee: L Callaghan

Derby County v Ipswich Town

2 March 1968 31	Derby County	2-3	Ipswich Town	Derby
	Kevin Hector 49' Richie Barker 69'		36', 55' Frank Brogan 80' John O'Rourke	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 20,723 Referee: WJ Gow

Derby County v Norwich City

9 March 1968 32	Derby County	1-1	Norwich City	Derby
	Richie Barker 17'		62' Tommy Bryceland	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 18,644 Referee: CI Robinson

Huddersfield Town v Derby County

16 March 1968 33	Huddersfield Town	3-1	Derby County	Huddersfield
	Joe Harper 33' Paul Aimson 57' Colin Dobson 76'		73' Roy McFarland	Stadium: Leeds Road Attendance: 9,326 Referee: H Richards

Derby County v Bolton Wanderers

23 March 1968 34	Derby County	2-1	Bolton Wanderers	Derby
	Alan Hinton 4' John O'Hare 61'		74' Roy Greaves	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 16,054 Referee: ED Wallace

Birmingham City v Derby County

2 April 1968 35	Birmingham City	3-1	Derby County	Birmingham
	John Richardson (o.g) Geoff Vowden Barry Bridges		John O'Hare	Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 29,327 Referee: VJ Batty

Derby County v Bristol City

6 April 1968 36	Derby County	3-1	Bristol City	Derby
	Kevin Hector 43' (pen.) Richie Barker 73', 81'		82' Alec Briggs	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 16,028 Referee: TJ Hill

Carlisle United v Derby County

13 April 1968 37	Carlisle United	1-1	Derby County	Carlisle
	Hugh McIlmoyle 46'		88'Alan Durban	Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 8,009 Referee: G Singleton

Derby County v Preston North End

15 April 1968 38	Derby County	1-2	Preston North End	Derby
	Alan Hinton (pen.) Ron Webster (o.g.)		Derek Temple	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 17,783 Referee: TW Dawes

Preston North End v Derby County

16 April 1968 39	Preston North End	1-1	Derby County	Preston
	Ray Charnley		John O'Hare	Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 17,871 Referee: R Darlington

Derby County v Hull City

20 April 1968 40	Derby County	1-2	Hull City	Derby
	John Richardson 36'		55' Malcolm Lord 58' Ian Butler	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: Att: 15,711 Referee: JR Osborne

Middlesbrough F.C. v Derby County

27 April 1968 41	Middlesbrough F.C.	2-2	Derby County	Middlesbrough
	John Hickton 2', 88'		57', 85' Kevin Hector	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 13,123 Referee: G Singleton

Derby County v Blackpool

4 May 1968 42	Derby County	1-3	Blackpool	Derby
	John Robson 1'		17' Tommy White 38' Alan Skirton 82' Alan Suddick	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 20,635 Referee: GD Roper

Football League Cup

Main article: 1967-68 Football League Cup

Derby County v Hartlepools United

13 September 1967 2	Derby County	4-0	Hartlepools United	Derby
	Hodgson O'Hare O'Hare O'Hare	Report		Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 17,810

Derby County v Birmingham City

11 October 1967 3	Derby County	3-0	Birmingham City	Derby
	Hopkinson O'Hare Hector }	Report		Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,827

Derby County v Lincoln City F.C.

1 November 1967 4	Derby County	1-1	Lincoln City F.C.	Derby
	Barker	Report		Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,079

Lincoln City F.C. v Derby County

15 November 1967 replay	Lincoln City F.C.	0-3	Derby County	Lincoln City
		Report

Derby County v Darlington

29 November 1967 5	Derby County	6-4	Darlington	Darlington
		Report

Semifinals

Derby County v Leeds United

17 January 1968 1	Derby County	0-1	Leeds United	Derby
		Report		Stadium: Baseball Ground

Leeds United v Derby County

7 February 1968 2	Leeds United	3-2	Derby County	Leeds
		Report		Stadium: Elland Road

FA Cup

Main article: 1967-68 FA Cup

Leeds United v Derby County

27 January 1968 3	Leeds United	2-0	Derby County	Leeds
		Report		Stadium: Elland Road

Statistics

Players statistics

Substitute appearances indicated in brackets

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Football League Second Division		FA Cup		Football League Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Matthews	45	-2	37	0	1	-2	7	0
	DF	ENG	Richardson	36	1	30	1	1	0	5	0
	DF	ENG	Webster	47	0	39	0	1	0	7	0
	DF	ENG	McFarland	41	2	40	2	1	0
	DF	ENG	Hopkinson	25	1	20+1	0	0	0	4	1
	MF	NIR	Stewart	27	2	24	1	1	0	2	1
	MF	WAL	Durban	46	11	39	9	0	0	7	2
	MF	ENG	Hughes	35	3	27	2	1	0	7	1
	MF	ENG	Hinton	26	6	24+1	6	1	0
	FW	ENG	Hector	49	24	41	21	1	0	7	3
	FW	SCO	O'Hare	50	18	42	12	1	0	7	6
	GK	ENG	Boulton	5	0	5	0
	FW	ENG	Barker	27	12	19+4	10	0	0	4	2
	DF	ENG	Saxton	27	1	19+1	1	1	0	6	0
	DF	ENG	Daniel	22	0	15	0	1	0	6	0
	DF	ENG	Wright	12	0	11+1	0
	FW	SCO	Hodgson	9	1	8	0	0	0	1	1
	MF	ENG	Waller	11	0	5+1	0	0	0	5	0
	DF	ENG	Robson	4	1	4	1
	DF	ENG	Rhodes	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	DF	ENG	Walker	1	0	1	0
	FW	ENG	Buxton	2	1	1	1	0	0	1	0
	FW	ENG	Butlin	3	0	2	0	0	0	1	0
	FW	ENG	Thomas	1	0	0+1	0

• Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/derby-county/tab/players/season/1968/

References

1. Ward, Andrew; Williams, John (1 August 2010). Football Nation: Sixty Years of the Beautiful Game. A&C Black. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-4088-0126-0.
2. "We are the Champions: 1974-75 – Derby County". gameofthepeople.com. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
3. Lewis, Michael (19 April 2016). "Alan Hinton: the stylist in white boots who became America's Mr Soccer". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
4. Glanville, Brian (19 December 2001). "Reg Matthews". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2021.

External links

• Results database from Soccerbase