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Derby County Football Club was founded by William Morley in 1884.

Morley was a committee member of the Derbyshire county cricket club, and the formation of the football team was originally seen as a means of boosting the coffers of the ailing cricket team.

Founder Members of the Football League

Derby were founder members of the Football League, but struggled, having to apply for re-election in 1889 and 1891.

Early Struggles

In 1895 they survived a test match to avoid relegation to Division Two.

In 1907 they were relegated and although they won promotion (as champions) in 1912, they were relegated again in 1914.

The following season they were Division Two champions for the second time.

In 1921, The Rams were back in Division Two but won promotion again in 1926.

Thereafter, they entered a period of relative stability, which saw them retain their top flight status until 1952.

Relegated to Division Three

Relegation this time was followed by a further drop into Division Three (North) in 1955.

In 1957 they were Division Three (North) champions, and thereafter established themselves as a mid-table Second Division side until the arrival of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor in 1967.

League Champions under Clough

Clough and Taylor took Derby back into the top flight as Division Two champions in 1969, and created a side that won the League championship in 1972 and narrowly missed out on the European Cup Final the following year.

A Second Title

After their departure Dave Mackay took the side to a second championship in 1975.

Decline

The 1980s saw a dramatic decline Derby's fortunes. They had dropped into Division Three by 1984, after which successive promotions in 1986 and 1987 took them back to the top flight.

During this period they were backed millionaire publisher Robert Maxwell and after his death Derby dropped into Division Two in 1991.

Back in the Top flight

After several near misses in the play-offs, Derby were promoted to the Premier League 1996, where they remained until relegation in 2002.

A Disastrous Season

They were promoted again (via the play-offs) in 2007, but endured a disastrous season in the top flight, finishing bottom with a record low points tally of just 11 points and a goal difference of minus 69.

The club looked in danger of a second consecutive relegation until the appointment of Nigel Clough steadied the ship and guided Derby to an 18th place finish.

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