Derby County fans pray for promotion at cathedral

The service at Derby Cathedral was supported by Derby County FC

Football fans have literally been praying for promotion at a cathedral service to celebrate Derby County FC.

The service at Derby Cathedral included a tribute to former Rams player Dave Mackay, who died recently.

The cathedral choir sang Steve Bloomer's Watching, a song well known to Rams fans.

The service was organised by fan Alan Grimadell, who is also chairman of Derby Civic Society and hopes it will become an annual event.

The service included a tribute to Dave Mackay

"I would like to encourage people into the cathedral who have never ever been in before, so I think with football we can do it," he said.

"We need to have a belief that we are going to go up and football is quite a religion.

"I think the service can run next year, and the cricket club is interested in a cricket service."

The football club's chief executive Sam Rush read one of the lessons.

All of the 850 tickets for the service were taken.

Rammie, the club's mascot, welcomed fans as they arrived at Derby Cathedral