When Francis was the Maine man on way to a second Rams’ title
THREE days before the start of the 1974-75 season, Derby County manager Dave Mackay signed former England striker Francis Lee from Manchester City for £100,000.
It proved to be an inspired move. Lee was the final part of a master plan that, nine months later, would see the Rams lift a second League Championship title inside four seasons.
And when Lee returned to Maine Road in late December 1974, he altered the course of the match in one breathtaking moment with what Derby Telegraph writer Gerald Mortimer later described as “a goal of rare brilliance”.
The Rams had begun 1974-75 with one major handicap.
Centre-half Roy McFarland had severed a tendon playing for England in the Home International Championship and was to be out of the game for 11 months. When Mackay’s other option, Welsh international defender Rod Thomas, was injured in a pre-season match, Peter Daniel stepped up.
Daniel, a full-back signed by Tim Ward in 1964, had not managed a single League game when the Rams won the title in 1971-72.
Now he was to miss only five matches as Mackay’s team emulated the achievements of Brian Clough’s.
There could hardly have been two more contrasting footballers than Daniel, the safe and unspectacular defender from Ripley who had spent most of his career in the Central League, and Lee, winner of 27 caps and still one of the most feared strikers in the country with 250 goals for Bolton Wanderers and City.
Partially distracted by their UEFA Cup campaign – they had just been eliminated in the third round, 5-4 on aggregate by the little-known Yugoslavian side, Velez Mostar – the Rams’ League form dipped and, at one point, they slipped to 10th place.
But the leadership was constantly changing hands and a 2-1 win over Birmingham City at the Baseball Ground on Boxing Day brought Derby right back into the hunt.
And after 21 minutes at Maine Road, they took another step forward.
Henry Newton put the Rams ahead with a brave header, diving at the ball after Bruce Rioch’s cross had been headed back into the middle.
It was Newton’s first goal of the season and he had to ignore some flying boots to get it.
Sixty-three minutes passed before City managed to draw level against a brilliant Rams defence in which Daniel was outstanding. Asa Hartford found Rodney Marsh, who sent the ball sideways for Colin Bell to score a goal of stunning simplicity.
Now it seemed that Derby were destined for a torrid last half-hour but two minutes later they were back in front.
Gerald Mortimer told Telegraph readers: “Nish was twice involved as the attack built up down the left and finally pushed the ball to Lee.
“The key, as with the Rams’ first goal, was Lee’s ability to collect the ball despite being tightly marked. He turned away from Oakes and two more defenders, racing across the face of the penalty area before smashing his shot into the far corner of Corrigan’s net.
“Poor Corrigan. He had been unemployed throughout the second half and could only contemplate the cruel ways of destiny as Lee ecstatically continued his run and the television commentator’s voice went up a few more octaves.”
In fact the commentary, by Barry Davies, was to become famous over the years.
“Interesting... very interesting,” he said, as Lee first received the ball then lashed it high past Corrigan.
“Look at his face – just look at his face!” Davies continued.
Back with Mortimer’s report: “City tried to recover again and often Lee was the only man left upfield. But City’s conviction had gone, as if they knew that it was not to be their day.
“It was of course, Francis Lee’s day. He was welcomed like a prodigal son before the game started and, just as Manchester City threatened to take control, produced a goal of rare brilliance and venom to tilt the advantage back towards Derby County. It was as if the match had been carefully rehearsed, with Lee providing the stage directions.
“Lee is the man for the big occasion and he changed the course of the match in one memorable moment.
“But if Derby want heroes, they are to be found in defence. For a team of such talent, the Rams have given away some ridiculous goals this season. When the pressure is really on their defence, though, they can get everything right.”
Five months later, the Rams were celebrating in Bailey’s night club when their annual awards night became something much bigger, again thanks to Manchester City, against whom Ipswich Town had dropped a point.
The Rams could now not be overtaken.