As part of a Know Your History series with Derby County News, in this chapter we will take a look at the all-time top five appearance makers for the club.
Derby have a long history stretching back over 120 years, with the Rams a founder member of the football league and having their first international capped player back in 1885.
The club have enjoyed many highs with some truly outstanding players.
Here, we look at those who spent most of their careers donning Rams colours.
Jack Parry:
Jack Parry spent his entire career at Derby County after signing in 1948.
A player who mainly operated out wide in an attacking role, Parry went on to make 516 appearances for the club in all competitions over a 20-season spell.
With 105 league goals, he is also Derby’s fifth leading scorer of league goals of all time.
Steve Bloomer:
Steve Bloomer is arguably Derby’s most recognised player.
The former striker made 525 appearances for the club in all competitions, with his first coming in 1891 and his last in 1914 before he became a prisoner of war in Germany.
Bloomer returned after the war to become a coach.
Derby recognise his immense contribution as an all-time top scorer, with the club donning their official club anthem to him while building a bust inside Pride Park.
Roy McFarland:
Roy McFarland was arguably Derby’s greatest ever defender.
The Liverpool-born centre-back played for Derby between 1967-1981, winning the top-flight title twice and helping the Rams reach the semi-final of the European Cup.
McFarland made a total of 525 appearances for Derby.
He later managed the Rams and became a club board of director in May 2017.
Ron Webster:
Webster was another Derby legend from the 60s and 70s, winning the top-flight title twice.
The Derby-born defender was voted as the club’s greatest ever right-back.
Webster made 530 appearances for the Rams in all competitions before retiring in 1977, standing second as the club’s highest appearance maker of all time.
Kevin Hector:
Kevin Hector tops Derby’s all-time list with 589 appearances in all competitions.
The Leeds-born striker was a generational talent, yet he only managed to feature for England twice despite scoring over 150 goals during his time with the Rams.
Hector also won two top-flight league titles with Derby, and former legendary manager Brian Clough dubbed the tricky forward one of the greatest players he managed.
Also see: Know your history: Derby’s top five leading scorers since 2000, four signed by Nigel Clough
Also see: Know your history: Derby’s top five record transfer buys, including £5m ace set to leave for free