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Derby County Football Club have always been appreciative of the support they receive from their loyal fans. But here Peter Seddon - author of the trivia-packed 'Little Book of Derby County' - remembers the occasion on New Years Day 1974 when the Rams players delivered something of a mixed message to the Baseball Ground faithful.

They say it's the thought that counts - which where Derby County were concerned on 1 January 1974 was perhaps just as well.

For that day's home game against Birmingham City - which finished in a 1-1 draw - the club management had hit upon the generous idea of getting the players to hold up a heartfelt message of New Year greetings to their loyal Baseball Ground following.

Nothing could go wrong. Not wishing to overtax a collection of finely-tuned football brains, each player would hold up a single letter. They had discussed the choreography beforehand. The player with the 'H' would turn left on emerging from the tunnel and the rest would line up in turn beside him to display the message 'HAPPY NEW YEAR' to the people in the A, B, and C stands, the posh seats.

Then, without moving their cards or changing positions, the players would maintain their line-up and process in a clockwise direction around the pitch, thus displaying their message to the appreciative eyes on all four sides of the ground in the 'left to right' reading direction with which the British football fan is familiar.

It began according to plan, those in the posh seats delivering a spontaneous ripple of applause in appreciation of the gesture. But then a blip, perhaps even a cock-up, as in typical Derby County fashion it all went rather pear-shaped.

Alas one of the players forgot his lines and turned in the wrong direction. Mild chaos reigned as the rest followed like bewildered sheep. The result was that the remainder of Derby's bumper 31,000 crowd were treated to the unique message 'RAEY WEN YPPAH' - if only it had been the Chinese New Year, the day might yet have been saved.

In the event, there was no reprieve, and the next day's 'Daily Mirror' had great fun at the Rams' expense. The shameful cutting and its cruel 'Botch of the Day' headline is reproduced above for posterity.

This story is taken from 'The Little Book of Derby County'- with thanks to the publishers Breedon Books.

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County:  Derbyshire