• Article |
• Discussion |
• Edit |
• History

DERBY COUNTY - THE BEARDED WONDERS CLUB

When 'The Little Book of Derby County' by local author Peter Seddon was published in 2006 it rapidly became a best-seller. Rather than concentrate on statistics or conventional history, it included all manner of trivia and quirky facts about the celebrated Rams, some of which we are pleased to reproduce on this site. The piece below concerns a particularly rare breed in the club's history.

The 60 team and squad photographs in the Rams official history 'The Derby County Story' feature close to one thousand different players, yet only one man in the entire book is sporting a beard. Either footballers have plenty of shaving-time at their disposal or they simply fear a dressing room ribbing. Nevertheless, a handful of brave or lazy souls have cultivated some sort of chin whiskers while with the club – here is a hirsute squad and accompanying style notes.

MICK BROLLY (1982) – Shades of William Shakespeare.

FRANCESCO BAIANO (1997-99) – Natty ‘musketeer’/Italian nobleman.

ROY GREENWOOD (1978-79) – Neat and ginger ‘photofit’ style. *

MALCOLM CHRISTIE (1998-2002) – Devilish ‘Beelzebub’.

ROBBIE VAN DER LAAN (1995-97) – Dutch-style ‘mannequin’ gone haywire.

DEREK HALES (Captain) (1976-77) – The W. G. Grace of football. **

ARCHIE GEMMILL (Vice-Captain) (1970-77 & 1982-83) – Son of werewolf.

CHARLIE GEORGE (1975-78 & 1981) – Authentic ‘Neanderthal’.

KENNY BURNS – (1982-84) – Classic cave-man look.

DAVE LANGAN – (1976-79) – Known as a ‘Guinness’ – smooth and dark.

MARCUS TUDGAY (2002-06) – A wisp of the Oriental.

IGOR STIMAC (1995-98) – Elegant and silky smooth, as one would expect.

CHRIS POWELL (1996-98) - Copycat Sammy Davis Junior

KEVIN FRANCIS (1989-91) - So discreet it was barely discernible.

PETER TAYLOR (Manager) – (1967-73 & 1982-84) – Jazz club/beatnik retro.

 * When Roy Greenwood was at Sunderland prior to joining the Rams, manager Bob Stokoe banned him from the  
    club’s official 1976-77 team photograph because he was growing a beard at the time and ‘looked scruffy’.     
        
** In 1977 Derek Hales won an expensive prize at a Kevin Hector testimonial golf event – a state-of-the art
     electric shaver!

Do any more Derby County personnel qualify for the exclusive Bearded Wonders Club? If you think we have missed any, add them below, or via the 'Discussion' link. Photographic evidence appreciated if possible!

FEEDBACK

Did you enjoy this article? If so, why not comment on it? Perhaps you disagree with something in it, or you know something the writer doesn't and can add some extra facts. You may want to ask a question about this article. Making a contribution is easy - either click 'edit' to insert more information or 'discussion' and then 'add comment.' This is your site. Please feel free to use it to the full and share your memories, thoughts and knowledge about Derbyshire with others.

If there is no 'edit' link showing it means the article has either previously been published in the Derby Evening Telegraph, or it has been protected by the site administrator and cannot be edited.'

County:  Derbyshire

Return to You_and_Yesterday