Derby's Pride & Question Time At The Vic

Motorway's are an occupational hazard for us travelling the country to get to games and last weekend's trip to Derby threw up another little challenge to ensure we got there in good time. After picking up a BBC car from the radio station's headquarters we were in good shape as we began the journey up the M1 with a Pride Park arrival time of around 12.30 looking likely.

However, not long after the end of the roadworks at Junction 13, the traffic came to a halt and the overhead warning signs were telling us that there was an accident ahead. We exchanged a few phone calls with colleagues elsewhere on the motorway and made the decision to come off the motorway to head cross country.

We headed in and out of Northampton, sitting in more traffic outside the rugby ground as fans started arrive ahead of the Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons clash in the afternoon and beginning to think that we were going to be very, very late! Into the countryside we went, going past the final resting place of the Princess of Wales at Althorp House and taking in lots of Northamptonshire fields! Pride Park seemed far away at this point.

But credit to our map reader for the afternoon as we made it back to the M1 unscathed and arrived in Derby at around 1.15. There were no such problems for my co-commentator, Craig Ramage, who only lives a short distance from Pride Park and was in good spirits when I met up with him in the press room.

The set-up at Derby is excellent as there is just a short walk into the stand from the press room and plenty of room for broadcasters to operate, with small TV screens on the desks at every other seat that meant we could have Soccer Saturday at our fingertips for all the latest score updates throughout the afternoon.

Despite there being plenty of room for everyone to sit, Craig & I found ourselves sandwiched between two other broadcasters with little room to manoeuvre whilst twenty or so seats to our left sat empty! Everything worked OK though and as Radio Derby were one of those next to us it enabled Craig to put his former-Ram hat on before kick-off and do a live interview with them, at the same time as signing a few autographs for the home fans around us.



Craig Ramage, notes in mouth, signs an autograph before being interviewed on BBC Radio Derby

 Craig is quite clear though that whilst Derby is his hometown club, Watford is where his heart is and I am sure he left listeners in no doubt as to who he wanted to win. He has a genuine affection for the Hornets and also takes his role as a summariser seriously too, arriving with notes made on both teams which helped me as well as he had taken the time to speak to people he knows with inside knowledge of Derby so we knew how they would line-up as soon as the teams were confirmed.

Another man who has played for both clubs appeared on the pitch at half-time and took part in a draw that saw one Derby fan win £20,000! Now that's not bad for a day out at the football is it?! The man drawing the winning numbers was Nigel Callaghan, who seemed in good form although I understand that he is soon to head back to hospital for more cancer treatment and I send my best wishes to him for a full and speedy recovery.

The result wasn't what we had hoped for but it was an entertaining game with some exciting attacking play at times, as well as some good goals. I headed down to the side of the pitch to wait for post-match interviews with Malky Mackay and also a player if possible. I put my request into the press team and they then select players to come and speak to the press, or a just a specific reporter.

Martin Taylor was selected for me and as always, he spoke very honestly about the game expressing his disappointment at the manner of the goals that his side had conceded. Robbie Savage then appeared, still in his kit, and was kitted out with an earpiece and microphone to do a live TV interview for BBC Final Score before his 606 duties commenced a little later. He also took time to speak to everyone that was waiting around and sign autographs for some younger fans too. It was actually quite strange seeing so many fans waiting around inside the ground for quite a long time after the final whistle, at most grounds any fans that linger are quickly moved on their way by the stewards.

Matty Whichelow and Lloyd Doyley also came out to be interviewed on video for the Watford website and once I had interviewed Malky Mackay we got it on air within five minutes.


Lloyd Doyley faces the cameras after the defeat at Pride Park

It was fans forum night on Monday at Vicarage Road, with the whole event being broadcast live on Three Counties Radio. I was hosting the proceedings from the ground whilst Luke Ashmead presented the programme back at the studio. We also had an engineer on site to set up all the equipment as obviously it's not quite as straightforward as plugging a wire in on evening such as this!

I arrived at the ground at 5pm and went through the running order for the evening as well as discussing a few ideas for interviews with those in charge at the club. There was a live audience of around 200 people and it's important to keep re-iterating that there are no pre-submitted questions for the panel to prepare for, forums such as these at Watford are completely open to anyone to ask whatever they like.



The stage is set for the Watford fans forum

 I began by tucked away in the corner of the room so I could talk live on air without anyone in the room hearing as our programme started at 7, whilst the forum had a scheduled start of 7.45. As that time grew closer, I was kitted out in a mobile set of earphones with a small listening device that I attached to my belt so I could hear Luke in the studio. I was then able to be mobile and take my place to the side of the top table, with a hand-held cordless microphone.

Monday's question's ranged from the future of the ground share with Saracens, defensive tactics at corners, Elton John's phone calls, Lord Ashcroft's financial support and Harry the Hornet's dance routines and tail all being discussed. The panel, which consisted of Malky Mackay, Stuart Timperley, Michael Jones, Don Cowie and Michael Bryan, were all excellent and no-one ducked or side-stepped any question that was asked of them.

Michael Bryan risked a big fine when confirming he is on Facebook and on hearing that the manager isn't, telling us that he thought Facebook and Twitter etc were for younger people! We also had one of our regular texters, the brilliantly named Mya McHayface in touch to ask a question and a 2 year old little girl from Aston Clinton got her Dad to ask about Harry the Hornet! I was also referred to as the Grim Reaper by Mr Mackay when he talked his media duties after matches!

These types of events are very different obviously to a match commentary and I have to be aware of keeping the evening flowing as well as trying to make sure the whole panel is included. Time is also very important and fortunately, despite over-running in the first-half by a few minutes we were able to get everything completed on time by the end.

It was great to get the thoughts of some fans who attended the evening on the air too both beforehand and at the interval and my thanks to everyone I met on the evening as well.

Watford run these evenings extremely well and whilst Monday was the only one currently scheduled to be broadcast, they are continuing to hold other similar events away from Vicarage Road. The next one is scheduled for Garston in December and I would thoroughly recommend anyone to get along if they can.

Next time, I'll talk about a dash to Watford's training ground for the Thursday pre-match press conference and reflect on two games in four days, including the trip to Selhurst Park next Tuesday.