The draw for this was made on 8 December 2014, and Derby were drawn to play Conference Premier side Southport at home.

[22] On 9 June 2014, the club confirmed a friendly against Russian Premier League side Zenit St Petersburg on 22 July, as part of a six-day training camp in Austria.

[24] A home friendly, announced on 13 June 2014, against Scottish Championship team Rangers was played at the iPro Stadium on 2 August 2014.

On 24 July 2014, it was revealed that Thorne suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee, which would see him ruled out for up to nine months.

[34] On 25 June 2014, Derby County received and immediately rejected, an undisclosed bid from Burnley for 2013-14 player of the year winner Craig Bryson.

[36] Young forward Mason Bennett became the last player before the season began to commit to a new contract, by agreeing a new four-year deal at the club on 29 July 2014.

Derby's first deal was announced on 4 June 2014, with young goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell joining from Newcastle United on a free transfer.

[38] With his contract with Newcastle expiring at the end of June, Mitchell officially joined Derby County from 1 July 2014, at the start of the summer transfer window.

[39] The second transfer was another free, Kosovan attacking midfielder Alban Bunjaku, who was previously at La Liga club Sevilla, signed for Derby on 10 June 2014.

[42] During pre-season, Spanish attacking midfielder and youth international Iván Calero joined Derby on a trial period.

[43] Two bids were made for West Brom midfielder George Thorne, who was at Derby on loan last season, to try to bring him to the club again.

[48] The following day, after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical, Thorne joined Derby on a four-year contract.

[50] Derby continued to bring in new players in the transfer window, and on 4 August 2014 Leon Best joined on a season-long loan deal from Blackburn Rovers.

[51] On 6 August, Derby agreed a deal to bring in Real Madrid midfielder Omar Mascarell on a season-long loan.

Morris was also a shareholder in, and non-executive chairman of King, the company behind the highly successful smartphone game Candy Crush Saga.

[56] In the final week before the season began, Steve McClaren, Paul Simpson and Eric Steele all agreed new contracts which run until summer 2017.

On 25 August 2014, Derby County agreed a loan deal to sign defender Ryan Shotton from Stoke City, with a view to a permanent move.

[64] On 30 August 2014, Head Coach Steve McClaren revealed that last season's top scorer Chris Martin had agreed a new four-year deal with the club.

On 1 September 2014, the last day of the summer transfer window, Derby County signed German midfielder Tom Koblenz from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim.

Following this, on 20 October 2014, England U21s goalkeeper Jack Butland was brought in on a month-long loan from Stoke City as cover for Grant.

[71] On 3 October 2014, defender Kieron Freeman joined League 2 side Mansfield Town on a 93-day emergency loan deal.

[72] On 21 October 2014, Norwegian goalkeeper Mats Mørch joined Conference North side Leamington in a loan deal until 31 December 2014.

On 18 November 2014, Derby extended Jack Butland's loan at the club by a further week to remain as cover as first choice goalkeeper.

[77] The following day, striker Darren Bent joined Derby on loan for the rest of the season from Premier League club Aston Villa.

[78] After being on trial, Swedish defender Isak Ssewankambo joined Derby County on 12 January 2015, on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

[80] On 16 January 2015, Spanish centre-back Raúl Albentosa joined Derby County from La Liga club SD Eibar on a 2+1⁄2-year contract.

[82] On 9 January 2015, Alefe Santos joined League One club Notts County, on a one-month youth loan deal.

On 2 February 2015, the last day of the mid-season transfer window, Derby County signed winger Tom Ince from Premier League club Hull City, on loan for the rest of the season.

[95] Also on transfer deadline day, midfielder Jesse Lingard signed on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season.

The main shirt sponsor was online takeaway company, JUST EAT, and their logo will be on the front of the Derby County kits.