Sunday 15th June 2025 marks the 30-year anniversary of the appointment of Jim Smith – the man who masterminded Derby County’s memorable rise to the big time in the mid-1990s.
FEATURE: Jim Smith – More Than Just A Manager
Supporters, too, paid homage to an individual who they hold so dearly to their hearts and as the 90 minutes unfolded on a bitterly cold December afternoon, there was one song which was repeatedly sung.
“BALD EAGLE’S BARMY ARMY”
In the days following his passing plenty of old stories were recited, and they brought plenty of smiles to faces. Smith was a character, and you only have to listen to interviews from those that worked under him to know and understand how popular he was. His combination of old-school values, alongside modern-day thinking, made him one of the most unique managers in the game at the time.
That continued into early 2020 when his funeral was held at a service in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Several big football names such as Harry Redknapp, Peter Reid, Sam Allardyce, Howard Wilkinson and Trevor Francis were all in attendance. As well as being loved by players and fans, he was held in high esteem by his peers too.
Smith’s name will always be affectionately remembered by Derby fans after he wrote his name into the Rams’ history books as he memorably oversaw the club’s promotion to the Premiership from the First Division in the 1995/96 campaign. This was achieved in his first season as Derby’s boss and the 1996/97 campaign, which was the Rams’ last at the Baseball Ground, saw them preserve their top-flight status.
That promotion was just a sign of things to come and, overseeing the move from the Baseball Ground to Pride Park Stadium the following year, he delivered a swashbuckling team that went toe to toe with the very best in the country.
Memorable wins over the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool were achieved on his watch. They did not just take on the best, they beat them as well. And they did it with style.
The list of names that Smith enticed to Derby included a mix of relative unknowns and established stars, but all were taken to the hearts of Derby supporters. The elegance and steel of Stimac, the unpredictability of Paulo Wanchope, the purring grace of Stefano Eranio and just the sheer technical brilliance of Aljosa Asanovic; they were just a few of the acquisitions as the Rams impressed on their return to the big time.
Under Smith, the Rams went on to finish 9th, 8th, 16th and 17th in the Premier League after moving to Pride Park Stadium before he parted company with the club in October 2001. In total, Smith took charge of 281 Derby matches and recorded 99 victories and 81 draws.
While the world keeps turning, those that are no longer with us are fondly remembered and, in a way, will never leave us. That is why so many talk about Jim Smith’s era in charge of the club. It is a time that still captures the imagination to this day; the fun, the stories, the games, the goals, the players, the good old days.
Jim Smith’s legacy at Derby County lives on. And it always will.
