Derek Whitehead

Derek Whitehead
Personal information
Full name	Derek Whitehead
Playing information
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	13 st 0 lb (83 kg; 182 lb)
Position	Fullback
Club
Representative
	Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

Derek Whitehead is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 1970s. From 1955 to 1959 he attended his local secondary school, Cromwell Road Secondary Modern School for Boys in Pendlebury. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and Lancashire, and at club level for Folly Lane ARLFC [1] (in Pendlebury), Swinton, Oldham and Warrington, as a Fullback, i.e. number 1.

Playing career

Derek Whitehead won caps for Great Britain while at Warrington in 1971 against France (2 matches), and New Zealand.^[1]

Derek Whitehead played Fullback, scored seven conversions and won the Lance Todd Trophy in Warrington's 24-9 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1974 Challenge Cup final during the 1973–74 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1974, and scored two conversions in Warrington's 7-14 defeat by Widnes in the 1975 Challenge Cup final during the 1974-75 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1975.

Derek Whitehead played Left-Wing, i.e. number 5, in Oldham's defeat by St. Helens in the 1968 Lancashire Cup final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968.

Derek Whitehead played Right-Wing, i.e. number 2, and scored a try in Swinton's 2-7 defeat by Castleford in the 1966 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1966–67 season at Wheldon Road, Castleford on Tuesday 20 December 1966, played Fullback in Warrington's 0-0 draw with Salford in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1974–75 season at The Willows, Salford on Tuesday 17 December 1974, and played Right-Wing, and scored a conversion in the 5-10 defeat by Salford in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final replay during the 1974–75 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Tuesday 28 January 1975.

Derek Whitehead played Fullback, and scored a try and 6-conversions in Warrington's 27-16 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1973-74 Player's No.6 Trophy final during the 1973–74 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 9 February 1974. Derek Whitehead set the record for the most conversions in a Regal Trophy (or precursors) final with 6-conversions, this was extended to 8-conversions by Frano Botica, Derek Whitehead set the record for the most points in a Regal Trophy (or precursors) final with 15-points, this was extended to 16-points by Frano Botica.

Derek Whitehead's Testimonial match at Warrington took place in 1980.

Derek Whitehead is a Warrington Wolves Hall of Fame inductee.^[2]

^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
^ "Hall of Fame at Wire2Wolves.com". wire2wolves.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.