Rams fans will be able to toast their beloved team's first game of the season with a new tipple which has been specially brewed in honour of their promotion success.
A brewer from the city has made the beer called Priceless Premiership to celebrate Derby County's return to top-flight football.
Fans can raise a glass this Saturday when the ale will be on sale at 16 pubs across the city to coincide with the Rams' first league game of the season against Portsmouth at Pride Park.
The beer has been made by the Derby Brewing Company, based in Nottingham Road, which also produces Triple Hop, Old Intentional, Business as Usual and Dangerously Dark.
Priceless Premiership was the idea of brewer and avid Rams fan Trevor Harris.
"I just couldn't resist," he said. "It was only right we did something to celebrate the Rams' amazing success."
The 57-year-old said the brew's strength would be 4.5 per cent ABV and would be the perfect accompaniment to a Rams win.
He said: "It is a traditional English ale, well rounded and finely balanced. It has been in barrel for two weeks now so it really is at its prime. Derby County fans are special and there is no better way to celebrate than with a Derby product."
Mr Harris, of Darley Park Road, Darley Abbey, said he thought Priceless Premiership summed up what promotion meant to the city.
He said: "The name seemed very appropriate with the amount of money in the Premiership these days, but also with what it meant to the club and the fans.
"Getting into the Premiership is not just good for the team it is good for the whole city. Shops, business and pubs will all benefit."
Mr Harris has followed the Rams all his life and has seen plenty of ups and downs on the way. But he said this year's trip to Wembley made it all worthwhile and he was always confident Derby would make into the Premiership.
He said: "I just knew we were going to do it. I knew as soon as we got into the play-off final this would be our year."
Joy Madsen, stewardess at Mickleover Golf Course, who will be stocking the beer, thinks the new ale will go down well with the regulars. She said: "We have a lot of Derby supporters who come here and they all like their traditional ales too. I've no doubt they will give it a try."
Derby County spokesman Gareth Davis thought the celebratory beer was a great way to honour the club's success.
He said: "It's nice to know our wonderful fans will support us in the most imaginative of ways and the brew is another great example of the following we have."
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-08 18:49:50
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Derbyshire v Leicestershire
Derbyshire's NatWest Pro40 promotion hopes took another knock as they lost by one wicket to Leicestershire on an embarrassing night for the county.
Low sun once again held up play in a floodlit match at Derby and slow handclapping broke out as the crowd waited 98 minutes for the action to resume.
A lot of spectators had left by the time the game restarted at 8.40pm but the ones who stayed saw the Foxes recover superbly after crumbling to 72 for seven chasing a revised target of 152 in 27 overs.
Graham Wagg took three for 37 and Tom Lungley grabbed two wickets to plunge the visitors into trouble as the seamers found swing and movement under the lights.
But skipper Jeremy Snape made an unbeaten 52 from 62 balls to give the game a final twist and struck the winning runs with a ball to spare.
Derbyshire also found batting awkward but recovered well after a poor start, only for the innings to go into freefall against some clever bowling from the Foxes.
Stuart Broad had struck with the fourth ball of the innings when he ripped out Jamie Pipe's middle stump and debutant Jerome Taylor should have had a wicket in his second over but Claude Henderson spilled a catch at mid off.
Travis Birt failed to make the most of that let-off and lobbed a miscued pull at Broad to mid on three overs later but Phil Weston and Greg Smith hit back by adding 58 in nine overs.
Weston was playing his first senior game in a month and drove confidently off the front foot while Smith scored 36 from 37 balls before David Masters defeated another attacking shot.
Masters then removed Simon Katich with a ball that took the top of off stump and the Foxes closed in by exerting a stranglehold the Phantoms could not break with five wickets falling for 38 runs in 15 overs.
The pressure resulted in two run outs and Derbyshire's total of 175 for nine would have been much less but for an unbeaten 40 from 54 balls by Ant Botha.
Wagg gave away four wides and a no ball in his first two overs but trapped HD Ackerman lbw with one that nipped back before the hold-up.
Leicestershire needed another 133 from 27 overs when play resumed but incisive bowling backed up by tigerish fielding turned the game on its head.
Paul Harrison was needlessly run out, Wagg had James Allenby lbw and Lungley found late movement to have the dangerous Paul Nixon caught behind for six.
Some extra bounce removed John Sadler before Henderson drove low to short cover and Broad gave Smith a return catch.
But Snape and Masters hit back by adding 40 in 10 overs and Taylor clubbed two sixes in his 22 to put the Foxes back in the chase.
Four were needed off the last over and although Wayne White bowled tightly, Snape lifted the fifth ball high over mid on to complete a memorable victory.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-08 18:47:21
Low sun once again held up play in a floodlit match at Derby and slow handclapping broke out as the crowd waited 98 minutes for the action to resume.
A lot of spectators had left by the time the game restarted at 8.40pm but the ones who stayed saw the Foxes recover superbly after crumbling to 72 for seven chasing a revised target of 152 in 27 overs.
Graham Wagg took three for 37 and Tom Lungley grabbed two wickets to plunge the visitors into trouble as the seamers found swing and movement under the lights.
But skipper Jeremy Snape made an unbeaten 52 from 62 balls to give the game a final twist and struck the winning runs with a ball to spare.
Derbyshire also found batting awkward but recovered well after a poor start, only for the innings to go into freefall against some clever bowling from the Foxes.
Stuart Broad had struck with the fourth ball of the innings when he ripped out Jamie Pipe's middle stump and debutant Jerome Taylor should have had a wicket in his second over but Claude Henderson spilled a catch at mid off.
Travis Birt failed to make the most of that let-off and lobbed a miscued pull at Broad to mid on three overs later but Phil Weston and Greg Smith hit back by adding 58 in nine overs.
Weston was playing his first senior game in a month and drove confidently off the front foot while Smith scored 36 from 37 balls before David Masters defeated another attacking shot.
Masters then removed Simon Katich with a ball that took the top of off stump and the Foxes closed in by exerting a stranglehold the Phantoms could not break with five wickets falling for 38 runs in 15 overs.
The pressure resulted in two run outs and Derbyshire's total of 175 for nine would have been much less but for an unbeaten 40 from 54 balls by Ant Botha.
Wagg gave away four wides and a no ball in his first two overs but trapped HD Ackerman lbw with one that nipped back before the hold-up.
Leicestershire needed another 133 from 27 overs when play resumed but incisive bowling backed up by tigerish fielding turned the game on its head.
Paul Harrison was needlessly run out, Wagg had James Allenby lbw and Lungley found late movement to have the dangerous Paul Nixon caught behind for six.
Some extra bounce removed John Sadler before Henderson drove low to short cover and Broad gave Smith a return catch.
But Snape and Masters hit back by adding 40 in 10 overs and Taylor clubbed two sixes in his 22 to put the Foxes back in the chase.
Four were needed off the last over and although Wayne White bowled tightly, Snape lifted the fifth ball high over mid on to complete a memorable victory.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-08 18:47:21
Environment chief on fact-finding tour of Peak District
Barbara Young, chief executive of the Environment Agency, met conservationists, farmers and eco-conscious villagers on a fact-finding tour of the Peak District National Park (Aug 7).
National Park chief executive Jim Dixon hosted the tour, taking Barbara Young first to the Snake Pass, where she saw how moorland restoration can help reduce flood risk.
The Environment Agency is contributing to gulley-blocking on eroded moorland to help it absorb excess rainfall and carbon. The work is being carried out by the Moors for the Future partnership as part of a £4.7m environmental and wildlife project.
Barbara Young then saw the new Moorland Centre at Edale – a turf-roofed, energy self-sufficient building which is a combined visitor and research centre. There she had a working lunch with National Park and Natural England conservationists.
Sensitive farming for wildlife was next, when farmer Alan Grindey showed the environment chief round his Mill Lane Farm near Hartington. Financial support from the National Park Authority and Defra is being channelled to help such work.
Peak Birds Project officer Dr Catherine Gray explained how farmers are helping reverse steep declines in upland birds, the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust showed their Water for Wildlife project and she saw some of the Environment Agency’s fisheries work.
On to Youlgrave, where villagers outlined their Sustainable Youlgrave project to develop community energy schemes, including a methane digester using farm slurry, as well as hydro, solar and wind-power.
Finally she was able to meet Warren Slaney, river-keeper for the Haddon Estate, and Andrew Thompson, Haddon’s land agent, to view conservation projects on their five-mile sustainable wild trout fishery.
Barbara said, “It’s been heartening for me to see the all the varied environmental work going on in the National Park through partnership and co-operation. The contacts I have made and information gathered will be very useful for the future.”
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-07 21:11:52
National Park chief executive Jim Dixon hosted the tour, taking Barbara Young first to the Snake Pass, where she saw how moorland restoration can help reduce flood risk.
The Environment Agency is contributing to gulley-blocking on eroded moorland to help it absorb excess rainfall and carbon. The work is being carried out by the Moors for the Future partnership as part of a £4.7m environmental and wildlife project.
Barbara Young then saw the new Moorland Centre at Edale – a turf-roofed, energy self-sufficient building which is a combined visitor and research centre. There she had a working lunch with National Park and Natural England conservationists.
Sensitive farming for wildlife was next, when farmer Alan Grindey showed the environment chief round his Mill Lane Farm near Hartington. Financial support from the National Park Authority and Defra is being channelled to help such work.
Peak Birds Project officer Dr Catherine Gray explained how farmers are helping reverse steep declines in upland birds, the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust showed their Water for Wildlife project and she saw some of the Environment Agency’s fisheries work.
On to Youlgrave, where villagers outlined their Sustainable Youlgrave project to develop community energy schemes, including a methane digester using farm slurry, as well as hydro, solar and wind-power.
Finally she was able to meet Warren Slaney, river-keeper for the Haddon Estate, and Andrew Thompson, Haddon’s land agent, to view conservation projects on their five-mile sustainable wild trout fishery.
Barbara said, “It’s been heartening for me to see the all the varied environmental work going on in the National Park through partnership and co-operation. The contacts I have made and information gathered will be very useful for the future.”
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-07 21:11:52
Foot and Mouth Disease update
Despite the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) on a farm in Surrey, the countryside remains open. There is no need for people to stop visiting the countryside and, at the present time, the only impacts on visitor attractions are those which result from the restrictions on animal movements and animal gatherings.
For more information visit the Defra website.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-07 21:09:32
For more information visit the Defra website.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-07 21:09:32
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Jacobite rebellion at Kedleston
Visitors to Kedleston Hall can step back in time to 1745 when the Jacobite Rebellion is re-enacted.
They will be able to visit the opposing camps on the parkland, meet 18th-century troops and civilians, and watch drills and a skirmish at selected times.
At the height of the rebellion, Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite troops marched south from Scotland towards London, reaching Derby before being turned back by the English army. During their retreat in December 1745, Jacobite troops came to Kedleston, looking for horses and supplies.
They also abandoned a mortar cannon, which is now on display at the stately home.
Visitor services manager Laura Waters said: "This is a fantastic event for all the family."
The event takes place on Saturday, August 18, and Sunday, August 19, from 10am to 6pm.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-07 17:29:03
They will be able to visit the opposing camps on the parkland, meet 18th-century troops and civilians, and watch drills and a skirmish at selected times.
At the height of the rebellion, Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite troops marched south from Scotland towards London, reaching Derby before being turned back by the English army. During their retreat in December 1745, Jacobite troops came to Kedleston, looking for horses and supplies.
They also abandoned a mortar cannon, which is now on display at the stately home.
Visitor services manager Laura Waters said: "This is a fantastic event for all the family."
The event takes place on Saturday, August 18, and Sunday, August 19, from 10am to 6pm.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-07 17:29:03
Mining to continue
Mining will go ahead on greenbelt land in Derbyshire after the county council pulled its High Court appeal to stop an opencast mine.
Derbyshire County Council had refused to give permission to UK Coal to mine 334 acres at Lodge House, Smalley, near Shipley Country Park.
But the company appealed and the Government gave the plans the go-ahead last year.
The county council appealed to the High Court against the Government's decision on the grounds that Ruth Kelly, then the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, had failed to follow guidelines which state councils are best placed to make decisions on mineral planning applications.
But the council's legal advisers now say the authority's case had no chance of success.
Council leader John Williams said: "We thought the decision to allow UK Coal to mine near Shipley Country Park was the wrong one.
"We've taken our appeal as far as we can. Unfortunately we just can't justify going ahead when we have such a high risk of losing."
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-07 17:27:19
Derbyshire County Council had refused to give permission to UK Coal to mine 334 acres at Lodge House, Smalley, near Shipley Country Park.
But the company appealed and the Government gave the plans the go-ahead last year.
The county council appealed to the High Court against the Government's decision on the grounds that Ruth Kelly, then the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, had failed to follow guidelines which state councils are best placed to make decisions on mineral planning applications.
But the council's legal advisers now say the authority's case had no chance of success.
Council leader John Williams said: "We thought the decision to allow UK Coal to mine near Shipley Country Park was the wrong one.
"We've taken our appeal as far as we can. Unfortunately we just can't justify going ahead when we have such a high risk of losing."
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-07 17:27:19
Monday, August 06, 2007
Workmen spooked by ghostly goings on during hospital demolition
Worried workmen bulldozing a former hospital are facing a protest with a difference - after ex-patients staged a picket from beyond the grave.
Demolition expert Phil Massie at first ignored the inexplicable banging that greeted him when he arrived at Grove Hospital, Shardlow, Derbyshire.
But he and his team soon realised they were not alone as they got stuck into the job of stripping the site in readiness for a housing development.
A grey mist cloaked the building, icy blasts gusted from nowhere, and - most bizarrely - circular lights began floating through the empty corridors.
Now psychics presented with photographic evidence believe they can finally explain the happenings - the hospital's former residents aren't happy.
It is thought the lights, more than a dozen of which were captured in a single picture, are "orbs" - said by mediums to represent the souls of the dead.
That would mean Mr Massie is dealing with an anti-demolition campaign more suited to an instalment of the X-Files than an episode of Casualty.
Today he insisted his men were not alarmed but conceded: "I do think all this is happening because we are taking the building down.
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the pictures. I'm not a great believer in this kind of thing, but there is definitely something not quite right." Since work began three months ago workers have reported hearing banging noises and seeing ghostly figures flitting through the former wards.
They also claim to have been hit with "ice-cold blasts" in certain rooms and say an unnatural pall often hangs over sections of the Grove.
Mr Massie, a site manager for Carwarden Demolition, of Ockbrook, Derby, said: "Once they said they was a grey mist covering part of the building.
"Last week some of the lads saw what they thought was someone walking past. They shouted over, but when they went to look no-one was there.
"The more work we do, the more things seem to happen - and the more orbs seem to appear. I have never seen anything like it in my life."
Local psychic Jason Daine, who was invited to visit the site, claimed he was able to speak to a number of disgruntled and bemused ex-patients.
He said: "These people are between our world and the next. I was speaking to a man called Henry, who was being sick in a sink in one room.
"Then a lady called Claire told me she was born in Derby and said she was taken to the hospital because she was too ill to be left on her own.
"So there is certainly activity at the hospital. The next step for me is to get up there with some instruments and find out just how much.
"I have never seen so many orbs in one picture. Mediums get excited about seeing one or two in a photograph, but there are loads in this one."
Last year a group of ghost-hunters who travelled the UK in search of paranormal activity recorded similar incidents during a night at the Grove.
Mr Massie added: "It doesn't feel scary - we just get on with the job. But there is certainly something going on - the pictures prove that." The Grove stands on the site of a former workhouse, originally built in 1816 under the terms of the "Shardlow and Wilne Poor Relief Act".
Following reconstruction work, the hospital opened in 1970 and was used to care for elderly patients recuperating after treatment elsewhere.
It closed in December 2005, with its patients transferred to a new 15-million-pound building at Derby's Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.
Last year developer Miller Homes agreed to buy the site from Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for more than 2.5-million pounds.
Final contracts are due to be exchanged next year, and permission to build 59 homes on the land has already been granted - at least in this world.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-06 16:01:16
Demolition expert Phil Massie at first ignored the inexplicable banging that greeted him when he arrived at Grove Hospital, Shardlow, Derbyshire.
But he and his team soon realised they were not alone as they got stuck into the job of stripping the site in readiness for a housing development.
A grey mist cloaked the building, icy blasts gusted from nowhere, and - most bizarrely - circular lights began floating through the empty corridors.
Now psychics presented with photographic evidence believe they can finally explain the happenings - the hospital's former residents aren't happy.
It is thought the lights, more than a dozen of which were captured in a single picture, are "orbs" - said by mediums to represent the souls of the dead.
That would mean Mr Massie is dealing with an anti-demolition campaign more suited to an instalment of the X-Files than an episode of Casualty.
Today he insisted his men were not alarmed but conceded: "I do think all this is happening because we are taking the building down.
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the pictures. I'm not a great believer in this kind of thing, but there is definitely something not quite right." Since work began three months ago workers have reported hearing banging noises and seeing ghostly figures flitting through the former wards.
They also claim to have been hit with "ice-cold blasts" in certain rooms and say an unnatural pall often hangs over sections of the Grove.
Mr Massie, a site manager for Carwarden Demolition, of Ockbrook, Derby, said: "Once they said they was a grey mist covering part of the building.
"Last week some of the lads saw what they thought was someone walking past. They shouted over, but when they went to look no-one was there.
"The more work we do, the more things seem to happen - and the more orbs seem to appear. I have never seen anything like it in my life."
Local psychic Jason Daine, who was invited to visit the site, claimed he was able to speak to a number of disgruntled and bemused ex-patients.
He said: "These people are between our world and the next. I was speaking to a man called Henry, who was being sick in a sink in one room.
"Then a lady called Claire told me she was born in Derby and said she was taken to the hospital because she was too ill to be left on her own.
"So there is certainly activity at the hospital. The next step for me is to get up there with some instruments and find out just how much.
"I have never seen so many orbs in one picture. Mediums get excited about seeing one or two in a photograph, but there are loads in this one."
Last year a group of ghost-hunters who travelled the UK in search of paranormal activity recorded similar incidents during a night at the Grove.
Mr Massie added: "It doesn't feel scary - we just get on with the job. But there is certainly something going on - the pictures prove that." The Grove stands on the site of a former workhouse, originally built in 1816 under the terms of the "Shardlow and Wilne Poor Relief Act".
Following reconstruction work, the hospital opened in 1970 and was used to care for elderly patients recuperating after treatment elsewhere.
It closed in December 2005, with its patients transferred to a new 15-million-pound building at Derby's Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.
Last year developer Miller Homes agreed to buy the site from Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for more than 2.5-million pounds.
Final contracts are due to be exchanged next year, and permission to build 59 homes on the land has already been granted - at least in this world.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-06 16:01:16
Somerset v Derbyshire
Somerset notched up their first NatWest Pro40 Division Two win of the season by beating Derbyshire by 32 runs at the County Ground in Taunton.
Batting first, Somerset lost Matt Wood with the score on eight before Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer came together and dominated the Derbyshire attack for the next 10 overs.
Trescothick was dropped on 41 after offering Ant Botha a tough chance at short extra cover and went to his 50 with a six over long-on, but in the following over he was bowled by off spinner Jake Needham.
Ian Blackwell hit his first two deliveries for six and quickly moved onto 20 when he looked to drive the ball over midwicket where he was well caught by Travis Birt.
Langer continued to accumulate his runs with ease and brought up his own 50 with a boundary off Greg Smith, but the off spinner got his revenge two overs later when he bowled the Somerset skipper round his legs.
James Hildreth and Pete Trego pushed the innings along and brought up the 200 in the 34th over. Trego was striking the ball well but on 27 he lofted Graham Wagg to wide long on where Botha took an impressive catch.
Hildreth remained at the wicket until the penultimate ball, when he was bowled by White for 48, as the hosts reached 251 for eight from 40 overs.
The Derbyshire reply got off to a flying start before Charl Willoughby accounted for Birt, well caught at cover point by Hildreth with the total on 19.
The left arm seamer struck again when he dismissed Smith and Pipe with successive deliveries as Derbyshire slipped to 57 for three.
Simon Katich came in to join Michael Dighton and the fourth-wicket pair took the total onto 116 before Blackwell bowled the Derbyshire captain for 34.
Two balls later Steffan Jones had Dighton leg before for 55 and suddenly the game had swung back in Somerset's favour.
The introduction of White to the attack saw Dan Redfern run out by Mark Turner and in his next over the leg spinner had Botha leg before for 16.
Blackwell rounded off his tidy spell of bowling by having Wagg leg before to end with two for 29 from his eight overs.
A flurry of runs from White and Needham saw Derbyshire make a late rally to take the total past 200 but the partnership was eventually broken by Jones when he bowled White for 25 after the ninth wicket pair had added 63 runs in 6.3 overs.
Derbyshire were eventually all out for 219 when Needham was run out for 42, his highest score for the county, to give Somerset victory with 16 balls to spare.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-06 16:00:09
Batting first, Somerset lost Matt Wood with the score on eight before Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer came together and dominated the Derbyshire attack for the next 10 overs.
Trescothick was dropped on 41 after offering Ant Botha a tough chance at short extra cover and went to his 50 with a six over long-on, but in the following over he was bowled by off spinner Jake Needham.
Ian Blackwell hit his first two deliveries for six and quickly moved onto 20 when he looked to drive the ball over midwicket where he was well caught by Travis Birt.
Langer continued to accumulate his runs with ease and brought up his own 50 with a boundary off Greg Smith, but the off spinner got his revenge two overs later when he bowled the Somerset skipper round his legs.
James Hildreth and Pete Trego pushed the innings along and brought up the 200 in the 34th over. Trego was striking the ball well but on 27 he lofted Graham Wagg to wide long on where Botha took an impressive catch.
Hildreth remained at the wicket until the penultimate ball, when he was bowled by White for 48, as the hosts reached 251 for eight from 40 overs.
The Derbyshire reply got off to a flying start before Charl Willoughby accounted for Birt, well caught at cover point by Hildreth with the total on 19.
The left arm seamer struck again when he dismissed Smith and Pipe with successive deliveries as Derbyshire slipped to 57 for three.
Simon Katich came in to join Michael Dighton and the fourth-wicket pair took the total onto 116 before Blackwell bowled the Derbyshire captain for 34.
Two balls later Steffan Jones had Dighton leg before for 55 and suddenly the game had swung back in Somerset's favour.
The introduction of White to the attack saw Dan Redfern run out by Mark Turner and in his next over the leg spinner had Botha leg before for 16.
Blackwell rounded off his tidy spell of bowling by having Wagg leg before to end with two for 29 from his eight overs.
A flurry of runs from White and Needham saw Derbyshire make a late rally to take the total past 200 but the partnership was eventually broken by Jones when he bowled White for 25 after the ninth wicket pair had added 63 runs in 6.3 overs.
Derbyshire were eventually all out for 219 when Needham was run out for 42, his highest score for the county, to give Somerset victory with 16 balls to spare.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-06 16:00:09
Howard's late show is a timely tonic for Billy's men
Managers play down the importance of results in pre-season matches but do not underestimate the value of Steve Howard's late equaliser against Espanyol.
Howard, whose goals brought so much joy to Derby County fans last season, scored with a looping header a minute from time to give the Rams a 2-2 draw at Pride Park Stadium.
Derby's previous eight friendlies had brought a mixed bag of performances and results - four wins, three defeats and a draw.
Those results will mean nothing when Portsmouth come to town on Saturday but another loss would have sat uncomfortably with supporters in the week building up to the Premier League campaign.
Facing last season's UEFA Cup finalists Espanyol was a test and certainly a step up in class, with all due respect to Nottingham Forest who Derby eased past a few days earlier.
Derby will benefit from the workout, which also sharpened their competitive edge because the game was less than friendly.
Unpleasant is a word to describe much of the second half as the theatrics of some Espanyol players sparked unsavoury skirmishes.
Visiting goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz appeared to take great exception to anyone daring to challenge him for the ball in the area.
His team-mates seemed to enjoy using this as an excuse for bouts of pushing and shoving but did not seem so keen to continue once big Stevie Howard stepped in.
All this, plus one or two nasty challenges, put referee Phil Dowd in a difficult position. He produced eight yellow cards - six of them went to Espanyol players, the other two were shown to Claude Davis and Jon Macken.
Dowd also had to act as peacemaker when a heated exchange erupted between the two managers and other staff in the dugouts. Fortunately, the first half was a more enjoyable spectacle.
Derby created and wasted a number of chances. David Jones twice and Craig Fagan, playing up front with Howard, should have done better before Jones produced a touch of class to turn on his right foot and curl a shot against the bar.
Drawing firm conclusions in pre-season is never advisable but what is clear is that the Rams need to be more clinical in the final third.
When Derby took the lead they had Espanyol defender Marc Torrejon to thank because he turned Mo Camara's cross past his own keeper.
Torrejon had a torrid afternoon. He left the pitch with blood oozing from a cut on his forehead and returned patched up only to score an own goal and collect a booking for a poor tackle on Howard.
Espanyol are still at an early stage of their preparations because the season in Spain kicks off three weeks later than in England, but they showed glimpses of the talent they clearly possess.
Albert Riera steered a shot wide from a good position and Raul Tamudo, skipper and the club's all-time leading scorer in La Liga, struck the foot of a post. He then headed over when he should at least have hit the target.
Some of the defending and finishing from both sides was not up to scratch and the final score could quite easily have been 5-5.
Espanyol changed all 10 outfield players at the break and Derby, who made six substitutions during the second half, never regained the momentum they had in the first.
Jonathan was close to an equaliser before the visitors drew level on 56 minutes.
Jay McEveley was unlucky to be penalised when all the left-back seemed to do was out-muscle Francisco Rufete. The Rams switched off at the free kick and Luis Garcia rolled the ball square for Sergio Sanchez to sweep a low shot through a crowd of legs and past Stephen Bywater.
Coro then earned a soft-looking penalty with 15 minutes remaining when he went down under a challenge from Camara. Dowd had no doubts it was a penalty when many others did and Garcia smashed his spot-kick high past Bywater to put Espanyol ahead.
More yellow cards followed before Espanyol were made to pay for one foul too many.
Robert Earnshaw's dart forward was halted in cynical fashion by Moises. Dean Leacock drifted the free kick into the area and Howard, too strong and determined for his many markers, twisted his neck muscles to send a fine header over Iraizoz.
All strikers love to score, no matter the importance of the game, and the goal will be a timely boost for Howard who has been fed scraps rather than good service in a number of the friendlies.
There was another marvellous show of support by Derby fans - a 22,000-plus crowd was 15,000 more than watched Espanyol at Bolton.
But the supporters have been left guessing over the team Billy Davies will select to face Portsmouth.
Midfielder Stephen Pearson, the best player against Forest, started on the bench, as did record signing Robert Earnshaw. Andy Todd was nursing a slight back injury, leaving Davis and Darren Moore at the heart of the defence and there is a chance that other new signings could arrive this week.
So the guessing game continues. What we do know is that the real business starts on Saturday.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-06 15:58:37
Howard, whose goals brought so much joy to Derby County fans last season, scored with a looping header a minute from time to give the Rams a 2-2 draw at Pride Park Stadium.
Derby's previous eight friendlies had brought a mixed bag of performances and results - four wins, three defeats and a draw.
Those results will mean nothing when Portsmouth come to town on Saturday but another loss would have sat uncomfortably with supporters in the week building up to the Premier League campaign.
Facing last season's UEFA Cup finalists Espanyol was a test and certainly a step up in class, with all due respect to Nottingham Forest who Derby eased past a few days earlier.
Derby will benefit from the workout, which also sharpened their competitive edge because the game was less than friendly.
Unpleasant is a word to describe much of the second half as the theatrics of some Espanyol players sparked unsavoury skirmishes.
Visiting goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz appeared to take great exception to anyone daring to challenge him for the ball in the area.
His team-mates seemed to enjoy using this as an excuse for bouts of pushing and shoving but did not seem so keen to continue once big Stevie Howard stepped in.
All this, plus one or two nasty challenges, put referee Phil Dowd in a difficult position. He produced eight yellow cards - six of them went to Espanyol players, the other two were shown to Claude Davis and Jon Macken.
Dowd also had to act as peacemaker when a heated exchange erupted between the two managers and other staff in the dugouts. Fortunately, the first half was a more enjoyable spectacle.
Derby created and wasted a number of chances. David Jones twice and Craig Fagan, playing up front with Howard, should have done better before Jones produced a touch of class to turn on his right foot and curl a shot against the bar.
Drawing firm conclusions in pre-season is never advisable but what is clear is that the Rams need to be more clinical in the final third.
When Derby took the lead they had Espanyol defender Marc Torrejon to thank because he turned Mo Camara's cross past his own keeper.
Torrejon had a torrid afternoon. He left the pitch with blood oozing from a cut on his forehead and returned patched up only to score an own goal and collect a booking for a poor tackle on Howard.
Espanyol are still at an early stage of their preparations because the season in Spain kicks off three weeks later than in England, but they showed glimpses of the talent they clearly possess.
Albert Riera steered a shot wide from a good position and Raul Tamudo, skipper and the club's all-time leading scorer in La Liga, struck the foot of a post. He then headed over when he should at least have hit the target.
Some of the defending and finishing from both sides was not up to scratch and the final score could quite easily have been 5-5.
Espanyol changed all 10 outfield players at the break and Derby, who made six substitutions during the second half, never regained the momentum they had in the first.
Jonathan was close to an equaliser before the visitors drew level on 56 minutes.
Jay McEveley was unlucky to be penalised when all the left-back seemed to do was out-muscle Francisco Rufete. The Rams switched off at the free kick and Luis Garcia rolled the ball square for Sergio Sanchez to sweep a low shot through a crowd of legs and past Stephen Bywater.
Coro then earned a soft-looking penalty with 15 minutes remaining when he went down under a challenge from Camara. Dowd had no doubts it was a penalty when many others did and Garcia smashed his spot-kick high past Bywater to put Espanyol ahead.
More yellow cards followed before Espanyol were made to pay for one foul too many.
Robert Earnshaw's dart forward was halted in cynical fashion by Moises. Dean Leacock drifted the free kick into the area and Howard, too strong and determined for his many markers, twisted his neck muscles to send a fine header over Iraizoz.
All strikers love to score, no matter the importance of the game, and the goal will be a timely boost for Howard who has been fed scraps rather than good service in a number of the friendlies.
There was another marvellous show of support by Derby fans - a 22,000-plus crowd was 15,000 more than watched Espanyol at Bolton.
But the supporters have been left guessing over the team Billy Davies will select to face Portsmouth.
Midfielder Stephen Pearson, the best player against Forest, started on the bench, as did record signing Robert Earnshaw. Andy Todd was nursing a slight back injury, leaving Davis and Darren Moore at the heart of the defence and there is a chance that other new signings could arrive this week.
So the guessing game continues. What we do know is that the real business starts on Saturday.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-06 15:58:37
Festival disappointment
Organisers of a £13,000 world music and arts festival are disappointed that it has been cancelled.
Beyond Borders, which was due to be held at Arboretum Park, Derby, yesterday, was called off because of last month's wet weather.
The free event had been organised to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade and to raise awareness of modern-day people-trafficking.
The festival was designed to promote community cohesion and allow immigrants to the city to demonstrate their artistic talents.
Organisers are hoping that the event can be rescheduled.
Dave Wilkinson, chairman of Derby Unite Against Fascism, said: "It would have been a festival in complete contrast to the BNP festival being held this weekend. Beyond Borders was about promoting tolerance and understanding."
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-06 15:55:09
Beyond Borders, which was due to be held at Arboretum Park, Derby, yesterday, was called off because of last month's wet weather.
The free event had been organised to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade and to raise awareness of modern-day people-trafficking.
The festival was designed to promote community cohesion and allow immigrants to the city to demonstrate their artistic talents.
Organisers are hoping that the event can be rescheduled.
Dave Wilkinson, chairman of Derby Unite Against Fascism, said: "It would have been a festival in complete contrast to the BNP festival being held this weekend. Beyond Borders was about promoting tolerance and understanding."
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-08-06 15:55:09
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