Derrick ‘embodied’ the good of cricket

TRIBUTES have been paid to former Glamorgan coach and all-rounder John Derrick, who has died at the age of 54.

Derrick led the county to two National League titles in 2002 and 2004, while also earning the team promotion in the County Championship. He also worked for the Cricket Board of Wales having made over 200 Glamorgan appearances.

Derrick was taken ill in August of last year, subsequently undergoing brain surgery and chemotherapy.

In a statement, Glamorgan said: “JD embodied all that is good about cricket at both professional and club level. Glamorgan CCC, and Welsh cricket as a whole, has lost a great and loyal servant, and the game will be very much the poorer for his passing.”

Derrick made his senior county debut aged 20 and became a regular member of the Glamorgan first team, with his county career spanning from 1983 to 1991. In that time, he recorded a highest score of 78 not out and a best bowling performance of 6-54.

After hanging up his spikes, Derrick moved into coaching and was involved with the first team in the late 1990s, before taking over on a more permanent basis in 2002, being replaced as coach in 2006.

Former Glamorgan batsman Mike Powell added: “What people forget about John is he is our most successful coach. He’s a true icon of Glamorgan and Welsh cricket.

“He was a mentor for me beyond cricket. He went deeper than that. How I behaved, how I conducted myself is all from John.

“He encouraged so many people to take up the sport and excel than what they would have been without him.”

Following news of Derrick’s illness, a fundraising dinner organised by Glamorgan and the Professional Cricketers’ Association in December 2016 paid for modifications to his house, so that he could continue to live at home while undergoing chemotherapy.

Glamorgan chief executive Hugh Morris said:“John was always a hugely popular member of the dressing room and universally liked throughout the game. He was a great servant to cricket in Wales both on and off the field and will be sadly missed by us all.”