Hector returns to the BBG

On Monday 26^th May a sight I never thought I would see again materialised.

Kevin Hector on the Baseball Ground pitch and wearing a Derby County shirt for the last time

The time was 11-00am, the place the Baseball Ground, Derby. This was the day of the final match to be played at the famous old stadium, but it was also special because it saw the return of “The King”. Yes! Kevin Hector once again stepped on to the Baseball Ground pitch and he was also wearing a Rams shirt in preparation for a 25 minute each way match.

The match was prior to the final game which was to feature Rams fans who had bid for the privilege of playing in the historic game.

King Kev was a little greyer than I remembered him but he still looked in superb condition and coped with the 50 minutes of football without any problems.

The icing on the cake came in the second half of the ex Rams match when Hector showed why he is second only to the great Steve Bloomer in the Rams all time scoring list. His overhead bicycle kick finding its way into the Wilson select teams net. A fitting climax to the baseball ground and a deserving goal scorer.

Celebration after the last goal ever scored at the Baseball Ground

After the ex pro’s the final full game of football took place on the Baseball Ground pitch. Fittingly it was to be played by the fans. To be more exact Rams fans who had bid in an auction, the proceeds going to charity.

The first half was a fairly close contest in the bright sunshine that blessed the day. The second half was a different story as the team playing in the black shirts took control and ran in more goals than I could keep count with.

As the final whistle blew it suddenly dawned on me that I had just witnessed history and no further games would be played at the old stadium. The first Rams league game at the Baseball Ground took part on the 19^th March 1892, the Rams winning 1-0 against Sunderland. One hundred and eleven years later and it is all over……..I feel the emotion of the moment and then make my way down on to the pitch………BYE BYE BBG WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!