After the curtailment of the 2019/20 season due to the Covid-19 outbreak, after unweighted points per game points were awarded we are delighted to share that Derby County have been named champions of the CEFA Central 1 League!

A storming season saw the Football and Education team undefeated in the league and all competitions, where they also reached the final of the CEFA Men's North Cup before its postponement.

All players were part of our Education department, where they were completing their studies alongside playing competitive football.

Highlights of the season included a 5-0 over local rivals Nottingham Forest and getting to play on the pitch at St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium.

Jacob Straw, Team Manager, said:

"It’s been a fantastic season, I’m so proud of how hard the players have worked during every session from when we started back in July.

"There’s been some big tests in character throughout the year, such as being 2-1 down away against Coventry City at half time to come back and win the game 4-2, and in the EFL Trust National Cup North semi-final against Sheffield United where we had to show patience in a pressured situation to eventually score two late goals and win the game 2-0.

"These attributes put the players in a wonderful position to have bright futures not just in football but in everything they do."

Accepting the trophy on behalf of the full squad due to current circumstances were Lee Cranstone and Oscar Kruk. Both players are continuing their education with Derby County Community Trust, with Lee progressing on to our Community Coaching and Development degree and Oscar is moving on to complete his second year of the Football and Education course.