The Derby County 1997–98 Home Retro Football Jersey celebrates a memorable campaign in the Rams' Premier League history. Under manager Jim Smith, Derby finished ninth in the Premier League with 55 points, improving on their previous season and remaining in contention for European qualification until the final day. The campaign also marked the club's first full season at the newly opened Pride Park Stadium, beginning an important new chapter in Derby County's history.
The squad featured several influential players, including Paulo Wanchope, Francesco Baiano, Dean Sturridge, Stefano Eranio, Igor Štimac and Lee Carsley. Wanchope led the team's scoring charts with 17 goals in all competitions, while Baiano contributed 13 Premier League goals. Derby recorded memorable victories against Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton and Liverpool, establishing themselves as an exciting and competitive Premier League side.
The home jersey features Derby County's traditional white base with bold black detailing, capturing the distinctive aesthetic of late-1990s English football. A black fold-over collar, contrasting black sleeve cuffs and black shoulder accents provide a strong visual contrast against the white body. The traditional Derby County ram crest appears on the chest, while the prominent Puma Sportswear sponsorship identifies the shirt with the club's early Pride Park era. Its clean black-and-white design makes this a memorable retro jersey associated with one of Derby's strongest Premier League campaigns of the decade.
Please refer to the size guidance on this product page for detailed measurements.
Derby County 1997-98 Home Jersey
Buy 3 selected Tops & save 15% · Buy 4 selected tops & save 20%
Size Guidance (Retro Jersey)
Size Chest (in) Length (in) Rec. Height (ft/in) Rec. Weight (lb) S 39 28 65–67 121–132 M 41 28 67–69 132–154 L 43 29 69–71 154–176 XL 44 30 71–75 176–198 XXL 46 31 75–79 198–220 Note: All sizes are for reference only. Manual measurement may result in an error of ±1 inch.
IN BETWEEN SIZES?
That's easier said than done. Because what do you do if you are in between two sizes?
Well, that's up to you. Do you like a tight fit? Go for the smaller size. Loving a loose fit? Go for the larger size.
TOP FIT
If your body measurements for chest and waist result in two different suggested sizes, order the size from your chest measurement.
Season Information
-
Season: 1997–98
-
Club: Derby County FC (Derby, England)
-
Manager: Jim Smith
-
Premier League: 9th Place — 55 points
-
League Record: 16 Wins, 7 Draws, 15 Defeats
-
League Goals: 52 Scored, 49 Conceded
-
FA Cup: Fourth Round — Eliminated by Coventry City
-
League Cup: Fourth Round — Eliminated by Newcastle United
-
European Competition: None
-
League Top Scorer: Paulo Wanchope — 13 goals
-
All-Competition Top Scorer: Paulo Wanchope — 17 goals
-
Home Stadium: Pride Park Stadium — First Season
-
Shirt Version: 1997–98 Home — White with Black Detailing
-
Shirt Sponsor: Puma Sportswear
The 1997–98 season was a memorable campaign for Derby County, as the Rams continued their rise under manager Jim Smith and completed their first full season at the newly opened Pride Park Stadium.
Following a respectable 12th-place finish in 1996–97, Derby improved to ninth in the Premier League, collecting 55 points and remaining in contention for UEFA Cup qualification until the final day. It was an impressive achievement for a club competing in only its second consecutive Premier League season.
The campaign featured several notable victories, including a 3–0 home win against Arsenal on 1 November 1997, a 5–2 away victory over Sheffield Wednesday and a 4–0 home win against Southampton. Derby concluded the season with a memorable 1–0 victory over Liverpool on 10 May 1998, demonstrating their ability to compete against established Premier League opposition.
Costa Rican striker Paulo Wanchope was the team's leading attacking figure, scoring 13 Premier League goals and 17 across all competitions. His performances were complemented by the creativity of Francesco Baiano, the technical quality of Stefano Eranio, and the contributions of Dean Sturridge, Aljoša Asanović and Igor Štimac.
Derby's domestic cup campaigns ended in the fourth round of both competitions. Coventry City eliminated the Rams from the FA Cup, while Newcastle United ended their League Cup run.
Although European qualification narrowly escaped them, the 1997–98 season remains closely associated with the excitement surrounding Pride Park's opening and one of Derby County's strongest Premier League campaigns of the late 1990s.
-
Rec. Player Printing Options
The 1997–98 Premier League used permanent squad numbers and player-name printing, making full name-and-number printing historically appropriate.
Best Printing Choice: WANCHOPE 9
Other Strong Options: BAIANO 27 / STURRIDGE 8 / ERANIO 20 / STIMAC 6 / CARSLEY 18
Printing
Recommendation
WANCHOPE 9
The definitive choice for Derby's 1997–98 home shirt. Paulo Wanchope scored 13 Premier League goals and 17 in all competitions, establishing himself as the Rams' leading goalscorer and one of their most exciting attacking players.
BAIANO 27
An outstanding alternative. Francesco Baiano scored 13 league goals and brought Italian flair, movement and technical quality to Derby's attack during his first season at Pride Park.
STURRIDGE 8
A strong homegrown choice. Dean Sturridge scored nine Premier League goals and remained an important attacking player during Derby's impressive ninth-place campaign.
ERANIO 20
A classic choice from Derby's Italian contingent. Stefano Eranio brought experience from AC Milan and scored five league goals, helping strengthen Jim Smith's technically gifted midfield.
STIMAC 6
The ideal defensive heritage choice. Croatian international Igor Štimac was Derby's captain and an influential figure in the team's development during the late 1990s.
CARSLEY 18
A distinctive midfield option. Lee Carsley was a dependable member of Derby's squad, contributing energy, discipline and consistency during the club's first full season at Pride Park.
