Dooley’s kick off…
After a short stint with Lincoln City in 1949 Dooley’s football career really took off back home in Sheffield when he joined Wednesday’s third team. Dooley scored 55 goals in 38 appearances and continued to bang them in when he was moved up to the reserves. It was obvious his man had superb striking talent but unfortunately the Owls dropped him after he failed to impress at the chance of joining their first team.

Dooley earned a recall back to the first team against Yorkshire rivals Barnsley two seasons later. He went on to score twice securing a 2-1Wednesday win. Dooley had found his goal scoring touch which led him to become the most prolific scorer in the history of SWFC. He continued this way all season and scored 22 goals in 9 matches. Eventually Wednesday were promoted to Division One as champions! In Dooley’s time at Hillsborough he played 61 games, scoring 62 goals.

A devastating turn…
In February 1953 at just 24 Derek Dooley’s football career and life changed dramatically during a game with Preston North End.

Dooley collided with their goalkeeper, George Thompson, breaking his leg. When it seemed Dooley would fully recovery after 9 weeks in hospital, a nurse noticed he couldn’t feel anything in his toes. His leg cast was removed to reveal an infected scratch. Severe gangrene meant his leg had to be amputated above the knee to save his life. Following the amputation, Dooley recalled, “In my heart and mind I was still chasing the ball down the middle”.

He shall overcome…
The news was obviously a massive blow to Wednesday and would end Dooley’s life and passion as he knew it. But Dooley wasn’t going to let it beat him or keep him away from football. He was quoted to have said at the time that he wanted to remain with Wednesday, “even if I have to be a corner flag”. His determination helped him overcame the trauma and saw him returning to Wednesday. He helped raise funds to make Hillsborough one of the best stadiums in England in time to host matches in the prestigious 1966 World Cup.

Dooley then became Sheffield Wednesday’s manager in January 1971 but enjoyed little success. He boosted the fans but wasn’t helped by a virus outbreak that sidelined 16 players and left part of the stadium in quarantine! Despite an improvement in form the new chairman dismissed Dooley without warning during Christmas 1973. Wednesdayites were outraged as they believed Dooley was doing a far better job then the previous manager, who got them relegated. Bitter about the way he was treated, Dooley turned his back on the Owls and didn’t return to Hillsborough for almost 20 years.

Can’t stop, won’t stop…
Nearly a year after being sacked by Wednesday, Sheffield United invited Dooley to be their Commercial Manager. Dooley was flabbergasted but took the job and stayed with the Blades as they plunged up and down the divisions. It wasn’t always easy for Derek at United. He threatened to resign after the clubs chairman sold their star player, Brian Deane to rivals, Leeds United. Dooley retired 20 years later in 1996 as United’s chief executive.

“A true ambassador of the game and gentleman. Shame there aren’t more like him in the current murky, selfish and avaricious world of English football.”
Chris & Suzanne,Whirlow

But Dooley couldn’t keep away. Three years later, he returned as Chairman and actively supported the decision to make Neil Warnock, manager. Warnock went on to lead United through three Cup semi-finals and in 2006, back to the Premiership. Warnock said of Dooley after his death “Derek was like a father to me and the greatest man I have ever met in football.” With promotion secured, Dooley stepped down and became the Blade’s life vice-president.

“There have been many ideas for memorials to remember Derek Dooley by. Here is one idea I like. ‘The Derek Dooley way’ from Hillsborough to Bramall lane- Linking both sides of steel city football via statues. At the Hillsborough end would be Mr Dooley as a young footballer, in his Wednesday kit. At Bramall Lane in his later years, a chairman and gentleman."
Dan Hall

The king of Sheffield…
At the beginning of his career it looked likely Dooley would go down in Football history for being one of the best strikers of his time. But when he took his last breath at his home in Norton at 78, his legacy had turned into so much more. Dooley dedicated his life to football. Although his career had many triumphs, the tragedies were enough to make most back away from football forever, but Dooley’s courage was unstoppable. To imagine loosing something so important as a leg is unthinkable. And for a footballer? Dooley overcame the torture to remain involved in his biggest love.
His talents, honesty and fighting spirit meant his mistakes and misses were forgiven by fans of both teams and they honored him with the title of ‘The king of Sheffield’. Dooley inspires me because of what he accomplished in his life and for being the only person to achieve the unimaginable - admiration and the upmost respect from both sides of our football-mad city.

By Grace Murray


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