The 1969–70 season was Derby County's 70th in the Football League and their 1st season in the First Division since being relegated in 1953.
Season summary
In his fourth season as chairman, Sam Longson and his third season manager Brian Clough appointed Jimmy Gordon as new trainer arriving from Blackburn Rovers and transferred in Welsh Central-back Terry Hennessey in February 1970 for a fee of £100,000. The squad finished the league season on a decent 4th spot (its best outcome since the 1948-49 season), including a sequence of 6 consecutive wins, which would have claimed the club its first ever European campaign as entrants in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup but a joint FA and League disciplinary panel found the club guilty of 'gross negligence' after an unexplained gap of £3,000 in season-ticket income and payment of fees to Dave Mackay outside of the terms of his contract. The fine of £10,000 and a one-year ban from European competition saw the club bring in Preston North End secretary Stuart Webb into the club to help its administrative efficiency off the pitch match the playing efficiency on it. After the club was banned from Continental competitions, they were invited to the inaugural Watney Cup.
Meanwhile, the team advanced to the FA Cup quarterfinals stage only to be eliminated by Manchester United on replay. The squad reached the eightfinals of the Football League Cup losing the match against Queen's Park Rangers.