DEREK Whitehead has been inducted into the Warrington Rugby League Club Hall of Fame this year.
Here is his career story.
DEREK WHITEHEAD.
Debut: 04/10/1969.
Last game 13/05/1979.
Games played: 245+29.
Tries: 17.
Goals: 713.
Drop goals: 21.
Points: 1516.
When Warrington last won the Challenge Cup at Wembley in 1974, the star was Derek Whitehead.
His man of the match performance, kicking seven goals from all angles including one from halfway, gave him the Lance Todd Trophy in a 24-9 victory over Featherstone Rovers.
A Folly Lane junior, he joined Swinton until former Wire star Gerry Helme signed him for Oldham for £4000 before being a reluctant subject of an enforced cash-raising transfer to Warrington in September 1969.
At full back he stood 5ft 10ins and 13st, a butcher by trade he would carve up many defences with his classic side-stepping attacking runs.
His debut came at St Helens in a 7-11 defeat when he took on the duties of goal-kicking, and this right footed "toe ender" would top the club's charts for the next seven seasons, including a then record matching 162 goals in a season in 1973/74.
He made the most appearances, 46, in that season's all-conquering side.
His two goals, both from 45 yards, saw him win the man of the match as Warrington won the only Captain Morgan Final, beating Featherstone Rovers 4-0 in a dour game.
Six more goals and a try came in a Players No 6 Trophy success two weeks later against Rochdale Hornets 27-16.
He then starred in that Wembley triumph and followed it a week later with two goals as St Helens were vanquished 13-12 in an exciting Club Championship final at Central Park, Wigan.
While at Warrington he won representative honours with five appearances (one try, 15 goals), for Lancashire, and three caps (one try, six goals), for Great Britain in 1971, two against France and one versus New Zealand.
Later in his career he was used more as a reliable utility player until his final game at the end of the 1978/79 league season, at Rochdale, when helping out the club on the subs bench.
He became a member of the coaching staff and in 1979/80 he was awarded a benefit season.
Whitehead, who remained on the coaching staff until 1985, is the club's fifth highest goakicker in history and the sixth highest points scorer in history.
* Check back later today to read what Derek thinks about being inducted into the Warrington Hall of Fame.
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