This article has been take from the current edition of the DCSCWCB publication – “WEST COUNTRY RAM”, our clubs newsletter.  This particular article is entitled :

Loyal Supporter - No.4

Name: Brian Rayner

Born:  1937

Place of Birth: Aylesbury, Bucks

Current Location: Moved to Devon 6 years ago.

Date joined DCSCWCB: 1995 (founder member of DCSCWCB 300 Club – Oct 1999)

22 years continuous membership of HQ Branch 1960-81(No.42 was the nearest to being the coveted No.1)

Started Supporting Rams: Owing to the war years I was nine when my allegiance to the Rams began. Possibly because they won the cup that year (Like most youngsters of today who latch onto the most successful teams).

Other team: Brechin City – who? (No idea why)

 My early games were watching Luton- one worked 60 hours a week in those days, including Saturday’s and. there were no motorways. Also I played a decent level myself, the equivalent of the Ryman League today. Name-dropping –I played against Ron “The Tank” Atkinson and his brother Graham at Headington (now Oxford United). Ray Mabbutt was a team mate before going onto Bristol Rovers. Ray being the father of Gary.

Rams Debut: My first ever Rams match was early on 1959

Rams 1 Barnsley 3. I can remember that Ken Oxford was in goal and Ray Young was the centre half. Jack Parry seemed everywhere.

Best Derby Games Seen: The games against Chelsea, Everton and the replays in the League Cup ( October 1968) take some beating. It certainly was the most memorable on Wednesday 16th October when we had beaten Everton 1-0. My friend and I, along with a gang of Everton supporters, yes that’s right, were entrenched in a little pub (now demolished) near the Rolls Royce Works. My mate who was driving then missed our exit on the M1. We were nearly in London when we realised. Eventually I arrived home just in time for work.

The best 2 games were probably;

February 7, 1974 F.A Cup replay at White Hart Lane: Spurs 3 Rams 5

A Roger Davies hat trick, plus 2 for Kevin Hector – truly brilliant

March 8th, 1978: Rams 4 Liverpool 2 (Dalglish et al)

The score should have been The Rams having hit the woodwork eased off the pedal in the final minutes. A 6-0 defeat for Liverpool was unimaginable in those days. McFarland was brilliant against Dalglish even allowing for the latter’s party trick- backing into players and falling over to claim a penalty. But Charlie George was absolutely brilliant and what a stunning goal- started by him with a swivel pass in midfield and finished with stunning power, after receiving a return pass from Terry Curran.

Greatest Goals: Charlie George’s just mentioned above, plus any of the Roger Davies hat trick. Kevin Hector and Alan Hinton’s dead ball goals have been great moments of enjoyment.

Best Non –Rams Game: 1949: Luton v Leicester City in the Cup: 5-5

Jackie Lee – later to play for the Rams scored 4 despite the fact that he was up against Syd Owen who would have won many caps for England but for Billie Wright.

Best Team: Matthews, Webster, Robson , Mackay, McFarland, Todd, Jack Parry, Gemmill, Hector, Davies, George, Pye, Lee,  Hinton

Take your pick form that lot!! Frannie Lee was obviously passed his best but was a great encouragement to Roger Davies. 

Please feel free to send your own versions of the above to WCR  c/o:-

LoyalSupporter@dcscwcb.derbycounty.co.uk