1970–71 Derby County F.C. season

The 1970–71 season was Derby County's 71st in the Football League and their 2nd consecutive season in the First Division. Also, they competed in FA Cup, Football League Cup and Watney Cup.

Season summary
During summer, assistant Peter Taylor told Brian Clough about Scottish midfielder Archie Gemmill who had been considering signing for the reigning champions Everton. Clough saw him as a player who could pass well and had the type of energy that would drive an attack forward. Clough drove to Gemmill's house. When the player refused to sign for Derby (who had never won the league title), Clough told him that he was going to sleep outside in the car. "But my wife invited him in and he stayed the night," Gemmill said. Clough, eventually, got his man for £60,000 over fried eggs the following morning.In his fifth season as chairman, Sam Longson received a telegram by his fourth season manager Brian Clough informing him about the arrival of Central-back Colin Todd in February 1971 for a British record transfer fee for a defender of £175,000. Todd rejoined with Clough after played for his youth squad at Sunderland in 1965. When linked with the club, Brian Clough famously remarked "We're not signing Colin Todd, we can't afford him". He then signed him that same day. Also for this campaigned arrived Forward Jeff Bourne from Burton Albion.

The team finished on a disappointing 9th spot in First Division. However, during August the team clinched the inaugural Watney Cup after defeating Fulham F.C., Sheffield United and, on the Final in front of 32,000 fans the squad won with a 4-1 score against Manchester United.

Matches

 * source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/derby-county/tab/matches/season/1971/

Players statistics

 * Substitute appearances indicated in brackets