During the 1991–92 English football season, Derby County F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division, following relegation from the First Division the previous season.
Season summary Despite the loss of key players like Mark Wright and Dean Saunders, Derby County emerged as genuine contenders for an automatic return to English football's top flight (which would be renamed the FA Premier League from the start of the next season) after the takeover by Lionel Pickering made Derby one of the richest clubs in the Second Division. Derby smashed their transfer record twice during the season, signing striker Paul Kitson for £1.3 million from East Midlands rivals Leicester City in March, followed by the signing of striker Tommy Johnson from First Division strugglers Notts County for the same fee. Club legend Bobby Davison was also re-signed, on loan from Leeds United; he scored 8 goals in 10 games to reach a century of goals for the Rams. However, in spite of this flurry of transfer activity and breaking the club's record for away wins (12) Derby were unable to gain automatic promotion, finishing two points adrift of second-placed Middlesbrough. Derby qualified for the playoffs, but were knocked out in the semi-finals by Blackburn Rovers on a 5–4 scoreline over two legs.
At the end of the season, Scottish winger Ted McMinn was named the club's player of the season.
November saw the death of former chairman Robert Maxwell, who had just sold the club to Lionel Pickering earlier in the year. Maxwell disappeared from his luxury yacht, the Lady Ghislaine, while it was cruising off the Canary Islands; his body was later found drifting in the Atlantic Ocean. His death was officially ruled as accidental drowning after he supposedly fell off the yacht, though commentators have alleged it was murder or suicide.
Kit Derby's kit was manufactured by English company Umbro and were sponsored by Auto Windscreens.
First-team squad Squad at end of season
Left club during season
Transfers
In Marco Gabbiadini – Crystal Palace, £1,000,000 Paul Simpson – Oxford United, £500,000, February Paul Kitson – Leicester City, £1,300,000, March Tommy Johnson – Notts County, £1,300,000, March Bobby Davison – Leeds United, loan
Out Mark Wright – Liverpool, £2,500,000, 15 July (national record for defender) Dean Saunders – Liverpool, £2,900,000, 19 July (national record for any player) Phil Gee – Leicester City, part-exchange for Kitson, March Ian Ormondroyd – Leicester City, part-exchange for Kitson, March
Results Football League Second Division League table
Matches +Second Division resultshttps://web.archive.org/web/20160304055349/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/derby-county/1991-1992/resultsDateMatchNo.OpponentsHome/AwayResultF–ADerby ScorersAttendancePos17 August 19911SunderlandA1–1921 August 19912MiddlesbroughH2–0224 August 19913Southend UnitedH1–271 September 19914Charlton AthleticA2–054 September 19915Blackburn RoversH0–297 September 19916BarnsleyH1–11113 September 19917Cambridge UnitedA0–0818 September 19918Oxford UnitedA0–21521 September 19919Brighton & Hove AlbionH3–11128 September 199110Newcastle UnitedA2–2135 October 199111Bristol CityH4–1812 October 199112Swindon TownA2–1619 October 199113PortsmouthH2–0626 October 199114MillwallA2–162 November 199115Tranmere RoversH0–176 November 199116Port ValeA0–179 November 199117Wolverhampton WanderersA3–2616 November 199118Ipswich TownH1–0323 November 199119Bristol RoversA3–2330 November 199120Leicester CityH1–237 December 199121WatfordA2–1426 December 199122Grimsby TownH0–0528 December 199123Charlton AthleticH1–281 January 199224MiddlesbroughA1–1811 January 199225Southend UnitedA0–1918 January 199226SunderlandH1–2111 February 199227PortsmouthA1–0118 February 199228MillwallH0–21111 February 199229Blackburn RoversA0–21115 February 199230Bristol RoversH1–01022 February 199231Leicester CityA2–1929 February 199232WatfordH3–167 March 199233Plymouth ArgyleA1–1611 March 199234Port ValeH3–1414 March 199235Tranmere RoversA3–4521 March 199236Wolverhampton WanderersH1–2925 March 199237Plymouth ArgyleH2–0528 March 199238Ipswich TownA1–281 April 199239Cambridge UnitedH0–074 April 199240BarnsleyA3–057 April 199241Grimsby TownA1–0411 April 199242Oxford UnitedH2–2515 April 199243Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–1420 April 199244Newcastle UnitedH4–1325 April 199245Bristol CityA2–132 May 199246Swindon TownH2–13
League Cup
FA Cup 4–6 January: Burnley 2–2 Derby County (Chalk, Comyn) 14–15 January: Derby County 2–0 Burnley (replay; abandoned 75' due to freezing fog) (Gee, Patterson) 25 January: Derby County 2–0 Burnley (replay) (Williams, Ormondroyd) 25–27 January: Derby County 3–4 Aston Villa (Gee 2, P. Williams)
Playoffs Blackburn Rovers 4–2 Derby County Derby County 2–1 Blackburn Rovers
References