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Derek Whitehead dead at 81: Former Warrington goalkicking full-back who won Challenge Cup dies after illness
Derek kicked over a thousand goals for club and country
DEREK Whitehead, former fullback for the Warrington Wolves, has died at 81.
The rugby league club confirmed that Derek passed away on Saturday at a nursing home in Swinton, after moving in shortly before Christmas 2024.
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Derek notably lifted the Lance Todd Trophy - awarded to the man of the match - after kicking seven goals to beat Featherstone Rovers in the 1974 Challenge Cup final.
It was the first time the club won the competition for 20 years.
He was inducted into the Warrington Players' Association Hall of Fame in 2008 - after a career of almost 500 matches and over 1,100 goals across all his clubs.
Derek debuted for Swinton's first team in 1964, where he became a regular on the wing for three seasons.
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His true aspirations lay in the fullback position - but it was firmly occupied by Swinton legend Ken Gowers.
Derek kicked 260 goals in 99 appearances for the side, before seeking new pastures.
He moved to Oldham in 1968, where he sent another 139 between the posts, before joining the Wire [Warrington] the following year.
A statement from the club said: "Warrington Wolves send their condolences to his wife Ann their twin girls Jayne and Joanne, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and the rest of his family.
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"He will be sorely missed by those who knew him."
Derek used the old-fashioned toe-poke kicking style.
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At Warrington, he was asked whether he had tried the more modern round-the-corner technique.
Derek admitted he had, but that the results had been less than desirable - so stuck with what he knew.
The accomplished fullback went on to play three times for Great Britain in 1971, and five times for Lancashire in 1973 and 1974.
He joined the coaching staff at Warrington after an impressive 274 appearances.
Derek started out life as a bacon butcher at Morris & Jones Cash n' Carry in Pendlebury.
He lived out his years as a popular figure in Swinton & Pendlebury - devoting his time to his family and his beloved past time fishing.
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Warrington coach Billy Benyon wrote in his testimonial brochure: "Derek was a truly thinking footballer, capable of turning a match.
"His ability has always been unquestioned in the professional rugby game, a truly great competitor, and one of the finest goalkicking full-backs that rugby league has known."
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