Derek Whitehead
Derek Whitehead was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain national [rugby league team|Great Britain] and Lancashire, and at club level for Folly Lane ARLFC , Swinton, Oldham and Warrington, as a goal-kicking.Background
Whitehead was a pupil at Swinton High School|Cromwell Road Secondary Modern School for Boys] in Pendlebury from 1955 to 1959. He died in Swinton, Greater Manchester on 5 April 2025, at the age of 81.Playing career
International honours
Whitehead won caps for Great Britain while at Warrington in 1971 against France, and New Zealand.Whitehead played, scored seven goals, and was man of the match winning the Lance Todd Trophy in Warrington's 24–9 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1974 Challenge Cup Final during the 1973–74 [Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1973–74 season] at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1974, in front of a crowd of 77,400, and scored two goals in the 7–14 defeat by Widnes in the 1975 Challenge Cup Final during the 1974–75 Northern [Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1974–75 season] at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1975, in front of a crowd of 85,998.County Cup Final appearances
Whitehead played in Oldham's defeat by St. Helens in the Lancashire Cup">Lancashire rugby league team">Lancashire Cup Final during the 1968–69 Northern [Rugby Football League season|1968–69 season] at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968.Whitehead played and scored a try in Swinton's 2–7 defeat by Castleford in the 1966 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1966–67 Northern Rugby [Football League season|1966–67 season] at Wheldon Road, Castleford on Tuesday 20 December 1966, played 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, and scored a goal 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.Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances
Whitehead played, and scored a try, and 6-goals in Warrington's 27–16 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1973–74 [League Cup (rugby league)|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 goals in a Regal Trophy Final with 6-goals, this was extended to 8-goals by Frano Botica, Derek Whitehead set the record for the most points in a Regal Trophy Final with 15-points, this was extended to 16-points by Frano Botica.Whitehead played, scored two goals, and was presented with an 80oz magnum bottle of Captain Morgan Rum in Warrington's 4–0 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1973–74 Captain Morgan Trophy Final during the 1973–74 season at the Willows, Salford on Saturday 26 January 1974, in front of a crowd of 5,259.Testimonial match
Whitehead's Testimonial match at Warrington took place in 1980.Honoured at Warrington
Whitehead is a Warrington Wolves Hall of Fame inductee.