The Derby County Herald
Squad17 Aug 2026
Sam Szmodics in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Derby County this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Boardroom17 Aug 2026
5 academy players handed senior numbers at Derby County
The morning the pathway stops being a brochure and becomes a team sheet. Most of them will not be here in three years; all of them have already done the hard part, which was getting to today.
Squad17 Aug 2026
No hiding place for Jacob Widell Zetterström
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Jacob Widell Zetterström, and the manager let it.
Match15 Aug 2026
Southampton take the points off Derby County
Beaten 0‑2, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
Market17 Aug 2026
Derby County promote Jacob Phillips from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Jacob Phillips has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market17 Aug 2026
One of our own: Michael Dixon joins the Derby County first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Michael Dixon is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market17 Aug 2026
One of our own: Paul Clark joins the Derby County first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Paul Clark is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market17 Aug 2026
Derby County promote Anthony Carter from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Anthony Carter has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Squad17 Aug 2026
George Ilenikhena falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
In brief
- Player ratings Ben Brereton Díaz runs at them all day
- Squad 5 new faces, and Derby County are still learning each other
- Boardroom Derby County spend it where nobody looks