DERBY COUNTY have reportedly made the decision to not have a Christmas party this year.
It is the norm for football clubs to let their hair down a little for an evening in the festive period with their team-mates.
Derby County have cancelled their Christmas partyCredit: PA:Empics Sport
But given what happened after a team night out in September, it has been deemed inappropriate to organise a team night out again so soon.
On September 24 the players went for a team meal at a pub in Quarndon, having been bowling together earlier in the afternoon.
Cars had been arranged to pick the players up at 8pm.
But some elected to stay out.
And just after 10:30pm, Mason Bennett’s car crashed into Tom Lawrence’s – which lead to Richard Keogh suffering a serious knee ligament injury.
Both Bennett and Lawrence were banned from driving for two years – and were fined six weeks wages by the club.
Keogh, meanwhile, was sacked.
And The Athletic report that a meeting was held in which manager Phillip Cocu, staff, players and administrators all agreed that it was “common sense” not to have a Christmas party, given what had happened.
Bennett and Lawrence have both returned to first-team action since the infamous night in September.
The Rams are currently a disappointing 14th in the Championship after 19 matches.
This has been a regression from last season’s display, in which they lost in the playoff final under Frank Lampard.
Derby and Cardiff players flee pitch as emergency evacuation hits Championship clash less than an hour before kick off
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
