| Club: | Derby County |
| Season: | 1995–96 |
| Manager: | Jim Smith |
| Chairman: | Lionel Pickering |
| Stadium: | Baseball Ground |
| League: | Football League First Division |
| League Result: | 2nd (promoted) |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Third round |
| Cup2: | Coca-Cola Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Third round |
| League Topscorer: | Sturridge (20) |
| Highest Attendance: | 17,460 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (10 February 1996) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 9,242 vs. Southend United (13 September 1995) |
| Average Attendance: | 14,327 |
| Prevseason: | 1994–95 |
| Nextseason: | 1996–97 |
During the 1995–96 English football season, Derby County F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.
Jim Smith became the new manager of Derby County in the summer, replacing former boss Roy McFarland. Although the new season started slowly, the signing of sweeper Igor Štimac in the early autumn proved pivotal.[1] Throwing his brief of "a top-half finish" out the window, Smith guided the Rams to a second-place finish and promotion to the Premier League.
See main article: 1995-96 Football League.
Derby County's score comes first
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 August 1995 | Port Vale | H | 0–0 | 10,869 | ||
| 19 August 1995 | Reading | A | 2–3 | 9,280 | Preece, Sturridge | |
| 26 August 1995 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–1 | 10,564 | Sturridge | |
| 30 August 1995 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 0–3 | 15,170 | ||
| 2 September 1995 | Luton Town | A | 2–1 | 6,427 | Sturridge (2) | |
| 10 September 1995 | Leicester City | H | 0–1 | 11,767 | ||
| 13 September 1995 | Southend United | H | 1–0 | 9,242 | Sturridge | |
| 16 September 1995 | Portsmouth | A | 2–2 | 14,434 | Flynn, van der Lann | |
| 23 September 1995 | Barnsley | A | 0–2 | 8,929 | ||
| 1 October 1995 | Millwall | H | 2–2 | 9,590 | Willems, van der Lann | |
| 7 October 1995 | Sheffield United | A | 2–0 | 12,721 | Gabbiadini, Willems | |
| 14 October 1995 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–1 | 13,034 | Gabbiadini | |
| 22 October 1995 | Stoke City | A | 1–1 | 9,435 | van der Lann | |
| 28 October 1995 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–1 | 11,545 | van der Lann, Simpson | |
| 4 November 1995 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 1–5 | 8,565 | Štimac | |
| 11 November 1995 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 3–0 | 13,765 | Gabbiadini (2), Sturridge (pen) | |
| 18 November 1995 | Charlton Athletic | H | 2–0 | 12,963 | Willems, Gabbiadini | |
| 21 November 1995 | Birmingham City | A | 4–1 | 19,417 | Sturridge, Willems, D Powell, Gabbiadini | |
| 25 November 1995 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–0 | 13,506 | ||
| 2 December 1995 | Sheffield United | H | 4–2 | 13,841 | Willems (2, 1 pen), Sturridge, Gabbiadini | |
| 9 December 1995 | Barnsley | H | 4–1 | 14,415 | Gabbiadini, Carsley, Sturridge, Willems (pen) | |
| 16 December 1995 | Millwall | A | 1–0 | 7,694 | Sturridge | |
| 23 December 1995 | Sunderland | H | 3–1 | 16,882 | Gabbiadini, Willems (pen), Sturridge | |
| 26 December 1995 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–0 | 17,878 | Willems | |
| 1 January 1996 | Norwich City | H | 2–1 | 16,714 | Willems, Gabbiadini | |
| 13 January 1996 | Reading | H | 3–0 | 15,123 | Sturridge (2), Flynn | |
| 20 January 1996 | Port Vale | A | 1–1 | 11,947 | Sturridge | |
| 3 February 1996 | Grimsby Town | A | 1–1 | 7,818 | D Powell | |
| 10 February 1996 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–0 | 17,460 | ||
| 17 February 1996 | Southend United | A | 2–1 | 8,331 | Simpson, Willems | |
| 21 February 1996 | Luton Town | H | 1–1 | 14,825 | D Powell | |
| 24 February 1996 | Portsmouth | H | 3–2 | 16,120 | Sturridge, Yates, Gabbiadini | |
| 28 February 1996 | Leicester City | A | 0–0 | 20,911 | ||
| 2 March 1996 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–2 | 17,097 | Simpson (2), van der Lann | |
| 5 March 1996 | Watford | A | 0–0 | 8,306 | ||
| 9 March 1996 | Sunderland | A | 0–3 | 21,644 | ||
| 16 March 1996 | Watford | H | 1–1 | 15,939 | Simpson (pen) | |
| 23 March 1996 | Norwich City | A | 0–1 | 15,349 | ||
| 30 March 1996 | Stoke City | H | 3–1 | 17,245 | Sturridge (2), D Powell | |
| 2 April 1996 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–1 | 16,210 | ||
| 6 April 1996 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–0 | 8,119 | Simpson (pen) | |
| 8 April 1996 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 6–2 | 16,723 | Yates, Simpson (3), D Powell, Sturridge | |
| 14 April 1996 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0–0 | 11,334 | ||
| 20 April 1996 | Birmingham City | H | 1–1 | 16,757 | Simpson | |
| 28 April 1996 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–1 | 17,041 | Sturridge, van der Lann | |
| 5 May 1996 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–3 | 23,858 | Ward, Sturridge |
See main article: 1995-96 FA Cup.
| R3 | 7 January 1996 | Leeds United | H | 2–4 | 16,155 | Simpson, Gabbiadini |
See main article: 1995-96 Football League Cup.
| R2 First Leg | 19 September 1995 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 3–1 | 3,170 | Simpson, Gabbiadini, Stallard | |
| R2 Second Leg | 4 October 1995 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–1 | 8,825 | Willems | |
| R3 | 25 October 1995 | Leeds United | H | 0–1 | 16,030 |
The following players all appeared for the first team this season.[2]
The following players did not appear for the first team this season.