James McEveley - Derby County

Derby County

As he struggled to hold down a regular place at Blackburn, McEveley signed for promotion-chasing Championship side Derby County during the January 2007 transfer window for a fee rumoured to be in the region of £600,000. Replacing previous first choice left back Mo Camara, McEveley settled in well and played regularly for the Rams as they eventually finished third and earned promotion to the Premiership following a 1–0 win over West Brom in the Championship Playoff Final at the newly completed Wembley Stadium. McEveley played regularly for Derby upon their return to the Premiership and scored his first goal for Derby County against Liverpool, the equaliser, in a 2–1 home defeat. He sustained knee ligament damage in the 1–0 loss to Bolton on 2 January 2008 after a heavy tackle from Kevin Davies which was expected to keep him out for 4 months, though he returned 6 weeks later to play in Derby's 2–0 defeat away to Wigan Athletic at the end of February 2008. McEveley scored his second rams goal against Arsenal at Pride Park to bring the scores level to 1–1, only for the game to end in a 6–2 defeat.

McEveley began the 2008–09 season as first choice left back, but lost his place to new signing Jordan Stewart. He joined Preston North End on a one month loan on the 29th September 2008, and made his debut in the 2–0 defeat against Swansea, conceding the penalty that lead to the second goal. He returned to Derby at the end of October and a month later was sent out on loan again, this time for a three month spell with Charlton. He returned from his loan spell early in January 2009 due to injury, and then went on to re-establish himself as the club's first choice left back. On 11 April 2009, in Derby's 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, McEveley broke a metatarsal in his left foot, and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

McEveley started the 2009–10 season as Derby's second choice left back, behind new signing Dean Moxey. McEveley's second league start of the season came against Sheffield Wednesday, playing at centre-half and scoring the Rams' second goal in a 3–0 win. Derby manager Nigel Clough praised McEveley's attitude after the game. However, just two games later, McEveley fractured his cheekbone in the 20th minute of the game against Middlesbrough, and was initially ruled out for six weeks. Shortly after, he had an operation on his cheekbone. It was later revealed that during the operation, McEveley's heart had stopped beating for two minutes. McEveley was transferred to intensive care after his heart was successfully restarted. His heart was scanned and doctors gave him the all-clear, telling him it would not affect his football. He later said:

"It was supposed to be a routine operation to pull the cheekbone out but just before that my heart decided to stop on the operating table. I didn’t realise until I woke up in intensive care when I was wired into machines. When they told me it was a shock to say the least. My mum and dad were in Liverpool and my girlfriend was in the ward. They called her and she was all over the place. My mum was in hysterics and they drove down that night. I don’t know if it was a reaction to the anaesthetic but I’ve had five operations before and nothing has ever happened like that. I’m just happy to be here. I’m looking at life in a different light now. They’ve done loads of further tests on my heart and I’ve had the all clear. I went into training the day after and I think the lads were surprised to see me! When I returned our gaffer was calling me Lazarus!"

Exactly one month after suffering his injury, McEveley returned to the first team on 20 November 2009. He went on to start eight successive games, playing with a mask to protect his cheekbone. McEveley then entered into negotiations to sign a new contract, with his contract expiring at the end of the season. He made his 100th appearance for Derby when he started in the penultimate game of the 2009–10 season against Bristol City before scoring his fourth of the campaign with the opener in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City. This proved to be his last significant appearance in a Derby County shirt as on 5 May 2010 the club stated he would not be offered a new contract, formally leaving on the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2010. He ended with 101 appearances and six goals from his three and a half years with the club.