Hero and Villain, the Doog, RIP.

[Sultan of Cannock- SRFC]

It was with shock and sadness that i learned on Sunday about the sudden death of ex- Wolves and Northern Ireland striker, Derek Dougan.

He was at Wolves in the early 70's when i first started going to footy back in the days when it cost a 3p bus ride to town and 40p admission for kids to watch to watch the top flight and although i could never be a Doghead he was a hero to me because he was an entertainer and one hell of a good player.

52,000 packed Molineux to see his last appearance against Leeds at the end of 1974/5 season before he fell out of favour with me, certainly, in his time at Kettering Town. The fact that he raised the profile of KTFC in particular and the Southern League in general put my nose at of joint because at the time the Northern Premier League dominated the Trophy and i felt that clubs such as Wigan, Boston, Stafford Rangers, Altrincham, Scarborough and Matlock Town were unfairly overlooked.

I last saw Doog play at centre-half for KTFC in an FA Cup qualifying round tie at West Midland League Darlaston, where the Poppies came away with an extremely fortunate 2-2 draw.

After being in the States for a while, he came back to Wolverhampton in 1982 and was associated with Deadly Doug Ellis in saving the dogheads from oblivion. He then went on to preside over what was for me the "Golden Age" of the mid 80's when he brought in the mysterious Bhatti brothers to take over at Molineux. Doog's stock fell in Wolverhampton as Wolves fell from First to Fourth division in 3 calendar years but it restored his hero status for me and i still treasure my white 4th-division Wolves shirt.It was just a shame when Haywood had to step in and poop my party!

Bye Doog, thanks for all the memories. You were part of my growing up and one the reasons why folk like me can say that we're "chronologically gifted" rather than old.

[bonehead]

I can only echo the Sultan's sentiments.

Some of us are 'chronologically-gifted' enough to remember seeing the Doog when he was at Peterborough Utd. My first ever pro game (Posh beat Luton 2-0) and, the following week, my first ever FA Cup game (drew 0-0 at home to Swansea before stuffing them in the replay). The latter game, I think, still holds the Posh attendance record.

At KTFC he will mainly be remembered for introducing the first shirt sponsorship deal in UK football. In case any of you don't know, KTFC suddenly appeared with 'Kettering Tyres' emblazoned on their shirts. The FA, not surprisingly, got shirty about that, and ordered the club not to wear them again. The wily Doog removed the Y, R, E and S, and the next game the team ran out with 'Kettering T' on their tops. The Doog claimed that the T obviously stood for 'Town' *cough*! After a little while the FA threatened the club with a very hefty fine - the size of which very few Div2-4 teams could afford, let alone KTFC - if they didn't remove the slogan immediately. The other thing he is mainly remembered for is a last-minute winner at Oxford U in an FA Cup replay which bounced off him into the net. Forever afterwards he claimed he was deadly from 1 yard out with no-one defending against him :-)

Match of the Day featured one of his very first games for Wolves and he got a hat-trick against, I think, Hull C. One of the goals was typical Doog: he was out on the right wing just inside the Hull half, the ball was cleared up to him, and he deftly flicked it over his and his defender's heads, ran round the defender, tore upfield and wellied it into the net.

After his association with many clubs, he eventually became instrumental in restructuring the PFA into what it is today.

Farewell, Doog, but it will be a long time before some of us forget you.

[malxscfc]

I confess my ignorance on this bloke, but if you 2 could join forces you could regularly Publish Biographies, I reckon! ;D

Within a dozen paragraphs you've hooked me: his basic background, his career, how he affected your lives, and the anecdotes which are (always) what really clinch the deal!

Top stuff, guys.

Would love to hear more about this guy I'd not even heard of before!