Wednesday Legend Dooley Dies

RIP

hopefull this is something that won't be spoilt on here/ United site by people arguing. It's a big shame for both teams, Wednesday for his on the pitch ventures & the Blades for his off the field ones. Truly is a great shame, RIP

a real gentleman who served both clubs magnificently, derek dooley you are my footballing hero, godbless.

Incredibly sad news. When I was younger my late father, a Wednesdayite, would tell stories about the great players that he had seen, Finney, Mathews, Mortenson and co, but his eyes would light up and his enthusiasm would rise when he got onto ‘the Dooley days’ “they’d try an kick im up int’air but they wunt stop im scorin” As a legend who gave so much to Sheffield Wednesday, he was disgracefully treated by the club, firing him from the managers position on Christmas Eve, when in fact it was the board structure and chairman that was really to blame for the clubs demise. Dooley should have been moved upstairs and given a position for life. As an Owls supporter, I believe our greatest embarrassment is the way in which Dooley was treated, while the club on the other side of the city opened it’s doors, made him welcome, treated him with the respect he deserved and made use of his obvious charm and talent. In March 1992 at the pleading of the Wednesday Chairman Dave Richards, Dooley returned, for the Sheffield derby, to Hillsborough for the first time in 20 years, as the special guest. The reception he was given by all four corners of the ground on the most partisan of occasions was memorable and deeply touching. United went on to win the game 3-1. In a sense, Wednesday got what they deserved that evening. I was never lucky enough to meet ‘the legend’, to shake his hand, to say “thank you” and to apologise. I did see him around the City on a number of occasions, but I was always too respectful to invade his privacy. On one such sighting I recall him sitting at the top of Fargate by the old fountain, with his family, happy and smiling. There was a special aura around him. It is a wholly appropriate image which thankfully, some 35 years later, is still very vivid in my mind. My condolences and best wishes to all his family and friends

Condolences to his family from all at Rotherham Vital. RIP Derek

Paul Walker on Radio Sheffield wants them to call the next derby the Dooley Derby! Which would be fitting. I would also like to see a statue but there could be some controversy as to which ground/ where in Sheffield?

by the way DB2002 would just like to say what a good read that was and made so much sense, nice one mate and well put!!

oorrection bfl1889 - Dooley was a wednesday fan

DB2002 - really enjoyed your earlier post. Was at the derby game in '92 and had forgotten Dooley making an appearance. I've mentioned on Vital Sheff U when he came on the pitch to sing a Sinatra number at the end of our 05/06 promotion season - think that'll be my lasting memory of him.

No bfl1889, he was a wednesday fan. He 'converted' to the dark side of the city when we at S6 treat him awfully. RIP Dooley, legend

How old are you bfl1889? How long have you been following the blades?

But not long enough to know that Dooley was a wednesday fan???