Derby County has a history of outstanding forwards who have helped propel the club from the third division to the pinnacle of English football over its 142-year history.
The Rams’ current strikers are also relatively strong, with Carlton Morris, Patrick Agyemang, and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen all donning the black-and-white and taking on the task of scoring crucial goals in their quest for a top-six finish in the Championship.
However, the East Midlands club’s greatest years have to be traced back to the 1970s, and fans still remember those who led the way as the team won two First Division titles in 1971/72 and 1974/75.
Football League World has now ranked the eight top strikers in Derby history, from eighth to first. It may not surprise you to learn who is leading the way.
8Alan Durban
FLW’s Alan Durban is ranked tenth. He played football for the Rams from 1963 to 1973, playing an important role in Brian Clough’s title-winning campaign in 1972 and promotion to the First Division in 1969.
However, it was in his early years at the club that he truly demonstrated his class. In total, the Welsh forward scored 93 goals in 346 league games, 22 of which came in 1964/65 season.
He played a much deeper role under Clough, but he continued to deliver, and his place in Derby’s history will be remembered forever.
7Sammy Crooks
Sammy Crooks is a player who may not be well-known outside of Derby, but to those who are familiar with the Rams’ illustrious history, the forward etched his name into club folklore after appearing over 400 times between 1927 and 1946.
Crooks, born in 1908 in County Durham, is credited with 110 goals in 448 appearances for the squad, and he just narrowly missed out on playing in the 1946 FA Cup final, with a knee injury preventing him from doing so.
His name is now carved on Derby’s Young Player of the Season trophy, and for a charge of £300, there’s no doubting how outstanding a player he was in the pre-war years. He went on to make 27 appearances for England, scoring seven goals.
6Charlie George
Charlie George is likely most known for his time at Arsenal, but he also made over 100 appearances for the Rams and scored 34 goals. While he did not score as many goals as some of the other players on this list, the significance of his scores will be remembered.
George was the Rams’ hero in their historic 4-1 triumph over Real Madrid at the Baseball Ground in October 1975, scoring a hat-trick only a few months after joining the team. While his team lost the second leg 5-1, it was one of the best days in the East Midlands club’s history.
He remained a vital player for Dave McKay, contributing significantly to their European qualifying in 1976 until leaving for the United States in 1978.
5Bobby Davison
Bobby Davison is a hero to many of those in the terraces at Pride Park right now, and it’s no wonder given how influential he was during his first five years with Derby, when he made over 200 appearances between 1982 and 1987.
He scored nearly 100 goals in all competitions, 83 of which came in the league, as the Rams advanced from the Third Division to the First Division under Arthur Cox, and the 5ft 8in striker lit up the English Football League throughout.
Davison returned on loan from Leeds United in 1990, making another ten appearances and scoring eight goals.
4Jack Bowers
Jack Bowers, born in Scunthorpe, is Derby County’s third all-time leading scorer, having scored 183 goals in 220 matches. From 1927 to 1936, he spent nine years with the club and was the Football League’s top scorer thrice.
Throughout his career with the Rams, they were always fighting for the top of the First Division, finishing second twice before ultimately winning the league title 40 years later.
Nonetheless, he was an important player for Derby in the pre-war period, earning three caps for England throughout his career.
3Jackie Stamps
Jackie Stamps, another player whose name is now on an award at Derby, played an important role in placing the club on the map when he scored twice in the 1946 FA Cup final against Charlton Athletic, which his team won 4-1.
Stamps never had the opportunity to shine in his prime since his time with the Rams was cut short by World War II, but he still scored 126 goals for the club before moving to Shrewsbury Town in 1953.
His name is now on the Player of the Season award, which was won by Ebou Adams in the 2024/25 season.
2Kevin Hector
Kevin Hector is known as Mr Derby County. No other player in the club’s history has made more appearances, with the striker appearing 589 times in all competitions throughout two consecutive spells, scoring a handful of goals in the process.
Hector scored 201 goals for the Rams, helping the team win both First Division titles and the 1975 Charity Shield (Community Shield) against West Ham United at Wembley Stadium.
After leaving for the second time in 1982, the forward remained in Derbyshire and played for Heanor Town, Gresley Rovers, and Belper Town. Nonetheless, he will always be remembered for his time with Derby and the records he established.
1Steve Bloomer
A bust of the iconic Steve Bloomer sits next to the home dugout at Pride Park, watching on, and the club’s song, ‘Steve Bloomer’s Watching,’ recognizes how important he was to Derby as a footballing institution.
Bloomer, the first football hero, made his debut for the Rams in 1891 and spent the next 15 years with the East Midlands club before returning from Middlesbrough for another four-year tenure in 1910.
Bloomer is Derby’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 322 in 525 games. He was also a star for England, scoring 28 goals in just 23 games from 1895 to 1907.
Despite a scarcity of footage from his tenure with the Rams, there is no questioning his place in the team’s history, and he will be recognized as the finest player to ever wear the jersey.
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