KWAME Thomas became the latest player to graduate from the Academy to Derby County's first team.
The 19-year-old striker made his debut as a substitute in the defeat at Leeds a week ago.
Derby's team also included Will Hughes, Jeff Hendrick and Lee Grant, who all came through the club's youth system.
Other names to make the step up in recent years include Chris Riggott, Tom Huddlestone, Giles Barnes and Steve Elliott.
Lee Holmes became the club's youngest-ever player when he appeared against Grimsby Town on Boxing Day 2002 as a 15-year-old.
His record was broken by striker Mason Bennett in October 2011.
Marcus Tudgay, Lee Camp and Adam Murray have also come through the system, along with Mark O'Brien, Miles Addison, Lewin Nyatanga and Izale McLeod.
Turn the clock back further and the names of Ron Webster, Steve Powell and Peter Daniel spring to mind.
Webster, Belper-born, was in the League Championship-winning sides of 1971-72 and 1974-75 and helped the Rams win the Division Two title in 1968-69.
Powell, Derby-born, was the club's youngest-ever player when he made his debut at 16 in a Texaco Cup tie against Stoke City at the Baseball Ground in October 1971. He helped Rams to their two League Championship successes.
Daniel, born in Ripley, helped Derby out of the Second Division in the late Sixties and won a League Championship medal in 1974-75, when he was voted player of the year.
We asked fans to name their favourite home-grown players. Here's what they said:
Group Shelts: I don't think there has been or will be many better than Will Hughes.
Ashley Wilkinson: Chris Riggott was always a brilliant centre-half, when on the pitch, but hard to look past Will Hughes for pure, natural talent.
Rob: Ron Webster – legend and from Belper. He won things, too.
Ian Pemberton: Steve Powell. I think the word for him is "tenacious". Tom Huddlestone was a terrific player but was at the club at the wrong time and "given away".
Martin Dempster: Steve Powell – always played with 100% commitment.
Keir McEvoy-Robinson: Jeff Hendrick, in recent years. He rarely puts a foot wrong and scores a fair few goals, too.
Rob A Eyre: Tommy Huddlestone, mountain of a man and pings passes for fun. Wish we had him now.
Punjabi Rams: Steve Elliott. A passionate Derby lad. Remember one of his early games at Anfield when we won 2-1, he was superb at the back.
The Rams Collection: Go back a bit further and you have David Langan, Peter Daniel and Ron Webster.
El D: Tom Huddlestone in midfield. That passing range! Currently, Will Hughes of course. I see him being most successful when we look back at his whole career.
Neil Hunt: For the sheer excitement whenever he got the ball Giles Barnes, while Adam Murray had so much potential but never realised it.
David Martins: Will Hughes for me but look out for Farrend Rawson and Tom Koblenz to break into the first team soon.
Nick Calvert: Giles Barnes. Exciting player with lots of skill.
Brazilram: Will Hughes, for me. He is getting better every season and maturing into a top-class player.
Mick Buxton: Ron Webster, Derbyshire-born, 18 years at the club, two League Championship medals, 455 appearances. Loyal. Great right-back.
KieranD92: From our first team now, Will Hughes. From previous Rams players, it has to be Tom Huddlestone.
Saul Fulda: Has to be Will Hughes for me! What he has achieved already at 19. He can go very, very far in his career.
Andy Buckley-Taylor: Will Hughes – 100-plus games, 19 years old, says it all.
Derby Ram: Tom Huddlestone. Would love to see him back here some day.
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