Derby County Community Trust hosted the first ever Black and White Ball last night, held exclusively in the grounds of Clowes Developments’ Ednaston base.

The event welcomed over 200 guests from a wide range of businesses and sectors who pledged their support to the charitable arm of the football club.

The evening saw guests learn about various programmes that the Community Trust offer, from the Rams Family Fund which was kickstarted by fans in early 2022 to current participants’ efforts to better their mental and physical health.

Ex-Derby County captains Michael Johnson and Shaun Barker joined the occasion to speak about their personal involvement with the charity’s projects.

Johnson’s sister spoke about overcoming her alcoholism, where an intervention from the Trust ‘saved her life’, and Barker spoke about his involvement with the Pride Park Sensory Room, for which he funded the equipment, inspired by his own family’s want to support others.

The speakers were rounded up with a catch up with Head Coach and Assistant Head Coach Paul Warne and Richie Barker, who gave an update on pre-season, along with expressing their support for the Community Trust’s work.

Through a number of games and raffles, with some incredible prizes donated by local businesses, including a four ball at Brailsford Golf Club, holiday pitches from Don Amott Leisure, a 12-piece Denby dinner set, and much more, the night had raised in excess of £10,000 prior to the auction.

The auction, led by local auctioneer Charles Hanson, raised an incredible £15,380, with guests generously bidding on exclusive lots donated by many of the companies in the room.

Prizes included a Wembley hospitality experience for the upcoming Charity Shield match, donated by Delaware North, a Moor Farm training experience for a local team led by Paul Warne and his first team staff, limited edition Brownlee brother prints and an opportunity to go for a bike ride with Sir Jason Kenny, donated by HUUB Design and a private dining experience donated by the night’s caterers, Butler’s Pantry, along with a host of prints donated by supporter Jason Hunt and an exclusive SAS whisky decanter and whisky donated by supporter Neil Bennett.

The standout lot was donated by the Clowes family. The Derby County owner will pilot his plane to take two guests to Cork, where they will enjoy a top-class hotel and three-course meal and breakfast with David and Cath Clowes.

Following the auction, the final figure raised on the evening was an amazing £25,701. This was then topped up by a member of security staff working at the event, to hit the £26,000 mark.

Simon Carnall, Head of Community, said:

“We are totally blown away with the success of the evening. We know we work alongside some incredible businesses locally, and the standard of the prizes donated already demonstrated that, but the turnout and generosity shown on the evening outweighed our highest expectations.

“We would just like to reiterate our huge thanks to Clowes Developments, who not only lent us their home for the evening at Ednaston Park, but have worked tirelessly with our staff over the last few months to deliver what was a stunning event.”

The Black and White Ball will become an annual fixture in the charity’s calendar, where they will continue to raise vital funds to support the many aspects of their award-winning work.