Defender Calls It Quits

Last updated : 07 July 2004 By The Rambler

Ex Derby favourite Gary Rowett has been forced to quit the game after a year long battle against a knee injury.

Rowett was one of the first signings of manager Jim Smith and came to the club after being considered surplus to requirements.

He played 101 matches for the Pride Park outfit before moving on to Birmingham and then Leicester City.

His career was brought to a tragically short end at Charlton after a mere 13 games for them by an injury last August.

The Rams trip to Turf Moor has become the latest game from the 2004-05 fixture list to move from its original time or date.

George Burley’s men were scheduled to play the tie on Saturday 23 October, but having been chosen for live transmission on Sky will now be played the day before with a 7.45 kick-off.

The opening day trip to Leeds had already been brought forward to a lunchtime start to accommodate the television cameras, while the trip to Stoke had been pushed back to an evening kick-off on August Bank Holiday Monday on police advice while the trip to Millwall has been postponed as the original September date clashed with the Londoners UEFA Cup campaign.

Rumours have started circulating locally that the midfield player targeted to complete George Burley’s summer team strengthening programme is no other than Frenchman Pierre Ducrocq who served the club with less than total success during the brief period that Colin Todd was manager.