RAMS MAULING OF FOREST CAN LIFT THE WHOLE CITY

THE stereotypical image of an MP is probably someone in a grey suit talking about the economy or other important issues.

But I don’t mind admitting I was bouncing around like a child on a trampoline as Derby County thrashed Nottingham Forest at Pride Park.

What a result. I always felt we would have enough in the locker, even with our injuries, to get the better of Forest.

But I thought it would be close and tense. Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine we would send them packing on the back of such a heavy defeat.

On a footballing front, it shows what the Rams are capable of. We can build on the result and hopefully clinch an automatic promotion spot, but at the very least it sets us up for a confident finish in the play-offs.

And what might it mean psychologically if we face Forest again in the play-offs, which is easily possible? What advantage does that give us going into such an encounter?

Beyond the pitch, success like this also has the potential to do good things on a wider front.

Let’s be honest, society hasn’t been its happiest in the last four years.

We are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, energy bills are rising while wages have dropped under this Government.

The impact of the Government cuts have been felt locally too. The city council, police and fire authorities have had their budgets savaged by the current incumbents of 10 Downing Street.

That leads to very tough choices being made and, inevitably, services being cut.

So what’s the link to thrashing Forest 5-0?

Quite simply, a result like that can unite us. It can put the feelgood factor back in the city, not only in the short-term but possibly in the longer term too if the Rams can build on this success.

I don’t deny there will be some people out there saying: “It’s only a game”.

And if you don’t feel the joy of a Derby County success then that may be true.

But I think that most people in Derby do, whether they’re season ticket holders or even if they’ve never been to Pride Park.

We are a people who are proud of our city, something we’ve shown time and again when we have united on issues like Bombardier losing the Thameslink contract, or when the Fair Deal for Derby campaign showed that we were receiving unfair funding from the Government.

And we’ve got every reason to be proud of our city, and our magnificent football club, today.