Derek Whitehead RIP
April 5th 2025
The Heritage trust were saddened to hear of the death of ex-Roughyed Derek Whitehead aged 81. Derek passed away on Saturday, 5 April at Fountain’s Nursing Home in Swinton having been admitted shortly before Christmas 2024.
He signed for Oldham from Swinton at the start of the 1968-69 season and went on to play 49 matches for the Roughyeds scoring two tries and 139 goals. In his first season he topped the goals and points charts for Oldham with 115 goals and 236 points.However, the club couldn’t resist an offer from Warrington the following season and so Derek left to join the ‘Wire’ in October 1970.
At Warrington he notably lifted the Lance Todd Trophy after he kicked seven goals in the 1974 Challenge Cup final as Warrington beat Featherstone at Wembley.
He returned to Oldham in 1988 as assistant coach to Tony Barrow.
The condolences of the Heritage Trust and all of the Oldham RL community go out to all of Derek’s family and friends.