Derek Draper RIP

The word, or the label, legend is quite often bandied about quite freely and sometimes with questionable justification. However, on many occasions such a label is fitting and fully deserved. In the case of Derek Draper, the legend label is so very well deserved. Derek was without doubt a Chester FC footballing legend.

Football fans of a certain vintage age, old enough to remember football pre-Sky; pre-VAR and pre-diving prima donna’s will fondly recollect football of that long lost 1970’s generation when, to coin the cliche, men were men and football was so much more than the next TV deal, or inflated sponsorship’s and questionable agents. Derek Draper was from that bygone era. And he played his football as it should have been played. With passion, dedication, loyalty, great skill and large helpings of endeavour.

Let’s take a quick look at Derek Draper’s career shall we.

Derek Draper RIP

Much loved Derek Draper played for Chester between the years of 1969 and 1977. In all he made 322 league appearances for Chester, scoring 54 goals in the process. Derek’s road to Chester and Chester FC legendary status began back in Swansea on the day he was born in 1943. He became a professional footballer with his hometown club, Swansea City in 1962.

Following transfers to Derby County and Bradford Park Avenue, Chester manager Ken Roberts paid £5,000 to bring Derek to Chester in 1969. And what a great bit of business that was for Chester.

Derek Draper Style

My recollection of striker’s in the 1970’s era was that most teams played with a huge, target man type of striker, who was very physical with significant aerial abilities. More often than not, they would be accompanied by a smaller, more mobile strike partner. In the case of Alan Warboys and Bruce Bannister of Bristol Rovers, they formed a lethal partnership that was often referred to as “Smash and Grab.” Warboys was the more physically imposing target man and Bannister was the smaller partner who linked up so effectively.

Derek Draper though in the same era, was a totally different type of striker. I suppose in some respects he was ahead of his time as his style is more suited to today’s modern striker’s style. More involved, a wide range of skills, great vision and very tactically aware. Think along the lines of an early version of Bobby Firmino in terms of style.

Although, not very tall, he was a great header of the ball. Maybe not out jumping or out muscling massive centre-halves, but he was an expert of the near post, flicked header. That was one of his trademark contributions. A very tactically astute and positively effective team member.

1974-75 Season

Derek Draper made a huge contribution to Chester’s on field successes throughout his career. But probably his most significant contribution was in the 1974-75 season. That was the year Chester won promotion from the old Fourth Division for the first time and in spectacular style, made it to the semi-finals of the League Cup. Arguably, back then the League Cup (now known as the Carabao Cup) was a tougher competition to progress through if you were a so called smaller club. So, Chester’s achievement in getting to the semi-finals as a Fourth Division team was immense.

And Derek Draper made a hugely significant contribution to both the League Cup and the promotion winning efforts. Rather than go into too many details of that season in this post, why not relive one of the highlights of that season. Chester’s amazing 3-0 victory against current English champions at the time, Leeds United.

Suffice it to say, Derek Draper’s efforts that season and every other season earned him the right of being known as a Chester FC legend.

Derek Draper After He Hung Up His Boots

Derek played his last game for Chester against Plymouth Argyle in April 1977. This also marked his retirement from the game as a player. After his retirement, Derek was employed in Chester FC’s and he also worked as a postman and milkman in the Chester area. He stayed involved with football though at a local level for a number of years. During this time he managed the very successful Lache BA Sunday League team.

Chester FC also inducted Derek into the club’s ‘Hall of Fame’.

Sadly, in later years Derek had a long-term battle with dementia. His family said: “Derek slipped away peacefully at the Countess of Chester Hospital on Thursday [August 29], surrounded by his family.”

As part of a tribute on the club’s website, Chester FC wrote: “He was an active and respected member of the Chester Former Players’ Association and will be greatly missed by those who had the privilege of playing alongside him or watching him from the terraces.”

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest condolences to Derek’s family and friends. Derek Draper RIP – a true Chester FC legend.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

Thanks for visiting my Chester Lifestyle website and thanks for reading my latest blog post – Derek Draper RIP. A very sad post to write. Derek will be sadly missed but he will leave behind so many great memories for Chester FC fans. Especially those from that epic 1974-75 season. 

To see all of my other blog posts on a variety of topics, then visit HERE.

And going off on a complete tangent and as this is Chester related website. Here’s the “help support a local small business” section. 

As This Is A Chester Related Website

As this is a Chester related website, you may be looking for the ideal Chester related gift for your loved ones. If so, then have a look at my Chester section of my new Etsy store. You can find out more about my Etsy store HERE.

Plenty of originally created downloadable digital artwork for you to have a look at HERE. And, as I say, a variety of Chester related products to choose from. Like this artwork image of Chester Bandstand in The Groves: