The legends just get bigger in The Ram match programme as the doyen of Derby County journalist, Gerald Mortimer, focuses on 'The King' in the Manchester United issue, on sale now.

In at number three in Gerald's league table of the top 20 Rams players of all time is Kevin Hector.

Gerald writes: "Derby County needed a star in 1966 and one appeared on 24 September. Kevin Hector made his home debut in a 4-3 victory over Huddersfield Town and although Alan Durban scored a hat-trick, the new boy cornered the cheers as he left the field and again as he emerged from the Baseball Ground."

That was the start of the Hector legend, and Gerald adds later: "If clubs invest in quality, there are liable to be rewards and Kevin's record tells the story. He made 589 appearances, eight of them as substitute, more than anybody in Derby's history. In all matches, he scored 201 goals and only Steve Bloomer can better that.

"Hector was a delight to watch. He was quick and entirely comfortable on the ball. He scored goals with style and, above all, had perfect balance. Forwards inevitably attract the photographers and, in the packed file of Hector action pictures, it was impossible to find one of him off balance. He used defenders so, as they pressed on him, he leaned back into them to maintain his poise. And he was remarkably consistent.

"Between March 1970 and October 1972 he made 105 consecutive League appearances. Between August 1967 and December 1974, he missed only four League games out of a possible 314. Considering what defenders were able to dish out in those days, it is an astonishing record."

* For Gerald's appreciation of 'The King' in full, grab the Manchester United edition of The Ram. Look out too for all our regular columnists plus great features and pictures including a star interview with Roy Carroll.

 The Ram is on sale now at shopDCFC from Friday afternoon and at Alvaston News and Chaddesden News, as well as around Pride Park on match day and these pubs Old Orleans, The Harvester, The Royal Telegraph, Crown And Cushion, Victoria Inn, Waterfalls, The Brunswick, The Alexander, The Portland Hotel, The Navigation, Park Carvery Chaddesden, The Peregrine, The New Bridge Inn Shelton Lock.

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