I NEVER had the privilege to see Derek Dooley play, but I can still remember how my grandfather, an avid Wednesdayite, idolised him. He looked on him as Wednesday's messiah - the one who would herald a return to the glory days at Hillsborough.
When Dooley so cruelly lost his leg, it broke my grandfather's heart. I don't think that he went to a football match after that, but he did tell me about Dooley's exploits, although his goal scoring record speaks for itself.
I can't remember my g
randfather's reaction to Dooley's infamous Christmas Eve sacking by Wednesday, but I imagine it would be one of total disgust.
In a sense, however, it was this incident that precipitated Dooley becoming an even greater Sheffield footballing legend than he already was.
In the normal course of events, it would be unthinkable for someone of Dooley's standing to cross 'the great divide', but that is what he did.
It says so much that a true Owl could also become a true Blade.
As an avid Wednesdayite myself, I like to think that Dooley never lost his first love and that his heart was with Wednesday on derby days.
John Furniss, Duncombe Street, Sheffield S6. DEREK Dooley was, without a doubt, the greatest football star this country ever knew.
It is a pity he couldn't have fulfilled his ambition to have played for England, but a cruel accident cut his career short.
No other man has earned the respect of supporters from both clubs as Derek has. He had time, no matter how busy, for everyone.
SN Watson, Norfolk Road, Sheffield S2. READ MORE OF OUR REPORTS ON DEREK DOOLEYSee tributes to Derek from our readers and add your own message in our book of condolenceHere's a song to unite both Blades and OwlsThanks for everything DerekFuneral address for city's great sonhref="http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/DOOLEY-A-world-apart-from.3879453.jp">A world apart from today's millionaire players
Reflections on his life and timesYOUR LETTERS: Wednesday's messiah and country's greatestYOUR LETTERS: Let's have a statue we can all shareMore letters.The full article contains 365 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
