Rams title heroes would be worth millions today
FORTY years ago today Derby County were crowned kings of English football.
They finished ahead of Leeds United and Liverpool to win the League Championship for the first time in the club's history.
And Jimmy Walker, a member of the squad at the time, believes the Rams' 1971-72 title-winning team would be worth millions of pounds in today's transfer market.
"Roy McFarland and Colin Todd were the best centre-back pairing in the world and that's no exaggeration. Roy would be worth £40m today, so would Toddy," said Walker, who spent six years with the Rams and was one of the players who helped point Derby back to the First Division under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor.
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He played in the 1968-69 Second Division championship team and made six appearances in the 71-72 success, scoring a valuable winner at Crystal Palace in the March.
After playing, Walker found a new career in physiotherapy.
He was Aston Villa physio for 16 years until 2003 and was in a good position to compare players past and present.
"Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson formed an excellent partnership in Liverpool's defence but for me McFarland and Todd were better," said Walker.
"The Derby team was full of top players.
"John O'Hare was centre forward and the player who comes closest to John is probably Mark Hughes, the ex-Manchester United and Chelsea striker.
"As for Alan Hinton, I have not seen anyone cross a ball better, not even David Beckham.
"If you want goals from midfield, Alan Durban was either close to double figures or well into double figures most seasons."
Walker, a midfielder, later played at Brighton & Hove Albion, Peterborough United and Chester.
He had a spell as assistant manager to Paul Merson at Walsall in 2004.
Now 64, he runs a sports injury clinic at The Belfry.
SOUVENIR SPECIAL: A 24-page supplement "When we Were Kings" celebrating the 40th anniversary of Derby County's first League title in 1972 is free in today's Derby Telegraph.
Comments
by WIKLOW
Friday, May 11 2012, 12:10PM
“MaaaaaaacFaaaaarlaaaaand, MaaaaaaacFaaaaarlaaaaand, closest ever player to the great Franz Beckenbauer
Toddo Toddo Toddo, the strongest, most stylish, cool and talented defender I have ever seen”
by stivians11
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 3:21PM
“oops missed Kevin did not have the chance etc!”
by stivians11
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 3:20PM
“Always disappointed that Kevin Hector did have the chance to shine in the international scene and he will always be King Kevin to Derby fans. Some of his team mates were Scots and Welsh and did play International football and the make up of Internationals or not were the best and won the league.”
by rams10
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 2:31PM
“Rob09 you talk complete and utter boll**ks. You must be a Forest fan!”
by ibelieveido
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 12:57PM
“Roy Mac and Toddy PROVED to be the best pairing ever,
comments from players who tried and failed to get past
them from the very good OTHER teams the like's of l'pool
The Gunners, and the rest at that particular time showed
those players respected those two, and said they were the best.
FACT.”
by stivians11
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 9:58AM
“They may not have been world class but they were the best in the world when they played their club and our club Derby County.”
by Rob09
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 7:20AM
“Todd and MacFarland won 27 and 28 caps respectively, so neither could be called an England regular exactly, never mind 'world class' .
The idea that they were 'the best centre-back pairing in the world' is laughable. Better than Beckenbauer and Schwarzenbeck, Germany's 1972 European Championship and 1974 World cup winning centrebacks. I don't think so. It's just the usual hype.”
by richwool
Tuesday, May 08 2012, 10:54PM
“Macfarland was a better player than Ferdinand who cost 25 million.
They were absolutely world class. Jim Walker is in a better position to judge.
If you ever saw them, and were any kind judge, you would know how good they were.”
by Rob09
Tuesday, May 08 2012, 10:33PM
“"Roy McFarland and Colin Todd were the best centre-back pairing in the world and that's no exaggeration. Roy would be worth £40m today, so would Toddy," said Walker
lol! What utter twaddle! Both were good, neither were world class.”
by GetBillyBack
Tuesday, May 08 2012, 1:38PM
“"He's here...he's there...he's asked us not to swear...John O'Hare...John O'Hare.."”