After the conclusion of the 1966/1967 season, a disappointing campaign where the Rams finished 17^th in Division Two, the Rams embarked on a post-season tour of Germany to play a series of friendly fixtures against Leipzig, Karl Marx Stadt and Halle. The Derby County directors had decided not to renew Tim Ward’s contract and prior to the tour commencing it was announced that Brian Clough and Peter Taylor would take charge of the club on 1 June.

The first friendly against Leipzig was a 2.30pm kick off on Wednesday 17 May. A short match report appeared in the Derby Evening Telegraph the following day:

“Derby County began their tour of East Germany in great style last night with a 2-1 win over prominent German First Division side Leipzig. A crowd of 30,000 watching in bright sunshine saw a slick start by the Rams. Playing well, they went ahead in the tenth minute when Draper neatly headed in an accurate cross from the left by Waller. Richmann equalised with a powerful shot before the interval and Boulton was forced to make several fine saves as the home side went all out for the lead. Gradually, however, the Rams got on top again and Waller put them back in front with a sizzling header from a Richardson centre, following more good work by Draper.”

Derby lineup: Boulton, Daniel, Richardson, Webster, Saxton, Hopkinson, Hughes, Draper, Waller, Durban, Metcalf

Striker Derek Draper signed for the Rams in April 1966 for £5000 from Swansea Town but made only eight league appearances for Derby, scoring one goal at home to Plymouth on the final day of the 1966/67 season. Draper moved to Bradford Park Avenue in 1967, then joined Chester in January 1969, going on to score 54 goals and make 322 league appearances to feature in the club’s top 10 Football League appearance and goalscoring lists.

The 20 page programme contains little reading material with only a very brief introduction to the Rams and a list of the predicted team line ups, of which only three proved to be accurate.

Programme lineup: Matthews, Smithurst, Cholerton, Rhodes, Parry, Hopkinson, Hughes, Metcalfe, Kane, Hector, Cleeveley

Derby’s second match on the tour was on Friday 19 May against Karl Marxstadt, with their final game on Tuesday 23 against Halle.