Funeral of Wakefield Trinity star Derek ‘Rocky’ Turner to be held next week

The funeral of former Wakefield Trinity star Derek ‘Rocky’ Turner will take place next week.
Derek TurnerDerek Turner
Derek Turner

Mr Turner died on July 31 aged 82, it was announced by the club earlier this month.

His funeral will be held at Christ Church South Ossett, Vicar Lane, on Thursday, August 20 from 1pm.

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He was an £8,000 record signing from Oldham by Wakefield in March 1959 before going on to coach at Castleford.

Neil Fox, who played with Mr Turner at Wakefield, said: “Derek was a great guy not just on the field but off it as well.

“I’ve been to quite a few events recently and one question I always get asked is who was the best player you’ve every played with or against and I have said Derek Turner.”

Mr Turner, of Ossett, was part of the Wakefield team that won the Challenge Cup in 1960, 1962 and 1963.

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He played for Yorkshire and Great Britain before returning to Wakefield as coach in the 1980s.

Mr Fox said: “His signing from Oldham was the best move Wakefield Trinity ever made because we wanted somebody like Derek to build the team around. That’s why we won the Challenge Cup three out of four seasons.

“It was just such a shame we didn’t win the Championship while Derek was there. That would have been the icing on the cake.”