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Chamber pays tribute to Derek Dooley Print E-mail
Thursday, 06 March 2008

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce today paid tribute to Derek Dooley following the announcement of the death of the soccer legend.

Chief Executive Nigel Tomlinson – a personal friend of Derek – said: “He was an outstanding gentleman of football. He will be missed by not only the football community but the Sheffield business community where he was welcomed everywhere he went.

“He had the ability to unite the city and families – my father was a Wednesdayite and I am a United supporter yet we never had a difference of opinion when it came to Derek,” added Nigel.

Former Sheffield United chairman Derek, MBE, die aged  78.

Throughout his dynamic but all too brief career as a prolific goalscorer of immense power with Sheffield Wednesday, and then through a variety of roles including  administrator, manager and Chairman with the Blades and the Owls, Derek was one of the most universally popular and distinguished figures in the game.

His extraordinary career saw him respected by supporters of both city clubs, and the award of an MBE in 2006 was an honour he typically regarded as something that Sheffield should share, rather than just himself.

It was achieved after suffering the tragic loss of his leg as a young player, and his wisdom and support was appreciated by a multitude of people within the game.
 
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