Along with many Derby people, I saw my first ever football match at the BBG.  See what the BBG looks like today
Now you'll have to excuse me, I've read Fever Pitch and I know you'll be apalled but I can't remember who we played. I'm sure my younger brother took notes and recorded the whole event but heh, I'm a girl and I've never claimed to be an anorak.
 Graham Richards remembers the BBG BBC Radio Derby's James Allen takes a final look round the BBG I do remember it was the 1987/88 season, Peter Shilton was in goal, Mark Wright scored a goal and I had something of a mild, schoolgirl crush on Phil Gee. I began to feel the buzz of excitement as we started the walk from town to the ground. Usually when you leave the city centre the crowds thin out but we seemed to be collecting more and more people the further into Pear Tree we got. Everyone was wearing scarves, we made our dad promise he'd get us one each. In the meantime we were treated to a programme, something we squabbled over until we actually got to the ground entrance. Squeezing through the turnstyles we forgot about everything as the thrill and adventure took our breath away. The Rams had just been promoted back into the first division and everyone at school was football crazy. I knew loads of my mates would be there but I didn't see any of them. I don't think I'd ever seen or heard so many people all in one place. The ground seemed massive and in the flood lights everything took on a technicolour movie set appearance. I couldn't believe the atmosphere, the roar of the crowd, the buzz of grown-ups chattering with the enthusiasm of kids our age and the feeling that your heart couldn't possibly become any fuller when we actually won. Fifteen years on the BBG's about to be flattened to make way for new houses. I took one last wander around the place for the sake of nostalgia and to take some photos of how it looks now. Take a look through the gallery. Can you remember your first game at the Baseball Ground? Do you have any exiciting memories or photos that you'd like to share with us? Talk to us about it in our message board section. | 
