Bryson arrived as a hard-working midfielder with promise, but it didn’t take long for Derby fans to realise they had a gem on their hands.
His relentless energy, tireless work ethic, and eye for goal quickly made him a fan favourite. In his eight years with the Rams, Bryson made over 250 appearances, scored 42 goals, and became the heartbeat of the side during some of Derby’s most competitive Championship campaigns.
The 2013–14 season remains iconic. Under Steve McClaren, Derby pushed hard for promotion and Bryson was at the centre of everything. He scored 16 goals from midfield, including a memorable hat-trick in the 5-0 thrashing of arch-rivals Nottingham Forest. That campaign earned him the club’s Player of the Year award for the second time – an honour he had first received in 2012 and would win again in 2014. He joined Kevin Hector and Steve Buckley as the only players to win the award three times, underlining his legendary status.
Beyond the statistics, Bryson embodied what Derby County fans admire most: commitment, consistency, and passion. He wasn’t the flashiest name or the most hyped signing, but he delivered week in and week out. In an era of inflated transfer fees and short-term signings, the £350k spent on Bryson looks increasingly like daylight robbery.
Even as the club has moved on and undergone numerous rebuilds, the legacy of that transfer still lingers. Derby have had bigger signings and splashed more cash in the years since, but few – if any – have offered the same return on investment as Bryson. It’s a benchmark of value and loyalty that’s hard to replicate.
For all the ups and downs at Pride Park over the past decade, one truth remains: Derby County absolutely smashed it with Craig Bryson. And it’s very possible no deal will ever top it.
