Taking the reins

Derby County favourite Jake Buxton on his Rams career and a move into management

- Nigel Powlson

If there had been any justice, Jake Buxton’s big day at Wembley would have ended in his Derby County side winning promotion to the Premier League.

Instead, this proud moment on 24th May 2014 ended in defeat, despite the Rams having 68% of the play, all the best chances and clearly being the best team. In football terms they were robbed – going down to the only goal against a 10-man QPR side with Bobby Zamora scoring in the 90th minute with their only shot on target in the whole game.

It was the closest the Rams have come in 12 long years of waiting for a return to the Premier League.

For Jake, it was a lost chance to play in the Premier League, the ambition of every professional footballer in the country.

‘Even if it had been for one second – just to say I had played in the Premier League would have been enough,’ says Jake.

‘I think some of the lads who play there week-in, week-out don’t know what non-league players would give for an opportunity to say they had played in the Premier League and I’m one of them. I would have loved to have played there.

‘I have played in non-league, Leagues One and Two, the Championship and I would have been one of not many players who have graced that pyramid of football leagues.

‘Going into the play-offs we had been on a great run. We were in great form, had beaten Brighton home and away in the play-off semis, and although we were a bit edgy at the start at Wembley, we grew into it and dominated the game, only to concede a crazy goal right at the end.’

Jake still regards it as one of his most memorable games in a Rams shirt despite the cruel end.