Among the Derby faithful who watched the Rams rise to glory in 1968-69 was Chaddesden's Valerie Allcock. She had another important reason to remember that season - she was pregnant. Jill Gallone reports.

YOU could taste the atmosphere – it was April 1969, the Rams had raised the Second Division Trophy in front of their ecstatic fans and heavily pregnant supporter Valerie Allcock simply couldn't stay away.

"My mum said 'Valerie, you can't possibly go'. But you can't miss the last game of the season can you?" smiled the Chaddesden grandma.

Valerie was eight-and-a-half-months pregnant when Derby County played their last home game of the season in April 1969. "I think my husband was worried my waters might break," she laughed. "Especially when Alan Durban scored a hat-trick."

The Rams were playing Bristol City. They were already league champions but still put on an awesome display to end up 5-0 victors. Valerie, a Rams fans for 47 years, remembers it vividly.

"We used to stand on Osmaston Terrace but, because I was pregnant, some friends gave us their seats. My husband kept telling me to calm down but the atmosphere was incredible. My son, Craig, was born two weeks later. Everyone said I had timed it perfectly because Craig was born just after the end of the football season and I had time to recover before the new season started."

"There were some fantastic games at the Baseball Ground back then."

Valerie has watched the Rams since 1962. "My husband first took me when we started courting. There's a family connection, too, because my uncle, George Collin, played for the Rams in the 1930s.

"When I was five, I fell off a swing and broke my arm. Uncle George took me to the DRI and, as we walked in, we bumped into the Derby County doctor. He went back in with us and ended up re-setting my arm for me."

Kevin Hector was the first player to capture Valerie's adoration. "He was so gifted. He skated past defenders and scored loads of goals. He was my favourite player. The late 60s was a magical time for Derby fans. We saw a really good team taking shape."

In the 70s, Valerie became heavily involved with the Rams supporters' club and met many managers and players, including Brian Clough.

"He was such a gentleman. I used to work on the reception at the hospital and, though he was ill and in a wheelchair, he went around visiting sick people. Even when he was poorly he was thinking about other people. Another time, years after I had last seen him, he came to the hospital to see his first grandson. He came up to the reception and said 'I know you lass'." Valerie was thrilled that Brian remembered her but knew he was that type of man."Years before he asked me where I sat at the ground because he was going to give me a wave – and he did.

"Everyone was devastated when Cloughie left. We worshipped him."

Valerie also recalls meeting Tommy Docherty, Dave Mackay, Roy McFarland and Colin Gibson and has a special memory of Arthur Cox. "One year I decided to move my season ticket seat. Arthur was at the Baseball Ground and ended up helping me choose my new seat."

Valerie's fanaticism has never eased off. She even claims to have enjoyed Derby's dire season in the Premier League."I enjoyed it when we were in the Third Division, too. Derby were so well supported that when we went to the little grounds for away matches they used to sell out of pies.

"There is something really special about Derby County."

Valerie still watches her team home and away. "I sit near the away players' dug out at Pride Park," she said.

She's not alone. With her is son Craig, granddaughters Hannah Allcock, 13, and sister Emily, nine, and the man who started it all 47 years ago by taking Valerie to her first Derby County match, husband Terry.

"It's been fabulous to be part of every era," said Valerie.

Valerie is pictured left at Pride Park with her granddaughters and fellow Rams fans, Emily and Hannah.