Oulton Raiders say club will never be the same again after death of coach Rocky Whitehead, aged 73

Rocky Whitehead died on Sunday night at St James' Hospital in Leeds, aged 73, after having a heart attack at the beginning of December and then contracting coronavirus.

He spent more than three decades being the life and soul of Oulton Raiders and last night colleagues said the club "would never be the same again".

Floral tributes are being laid at the club house where he spent many years representing the rugby, cricket and football sides of the club.

Andy Williamson, current first team player and under 18s coach, at Oulton Raiders and said he had tears streaming down his face as he read the tributes and as he tried to write one for the club.

He said: "He was crackers but definitely the life and soul. A lot of people have said as we stood outside the club house and raised a glass, the club will never be the same again. We will make sure he is remembered, that will definitely happen. He had an Oulton Raiders blazer and tie and no-one wore our badge with as much pride as he did."

Mr Williamson, who has known Rocky, whose real name is Stephen, for 17 years, recalled the fun times they had on club away days and the impact he had on getting young children into rugby and sport with his team Rocky's Giants - specifically for children aged three to six.

He said: "Kids aged two to three came from all over to move to Rocky's Giants. There are more clubs doing it now, but kids could not play until they were seven but he wanted them as soon as they could walk and talk. So many people have messaged me that I have played with or managed, and lads that have played for Hull, Leeds and York saying how welcoming he was when they came to our club.

"He was not just about the rugby. It is a sports and social club with cricket and football and he was on the committee of that. When the fixtures came out, he would be there every weekend and we could have been at Cumbria, Wigan, Hull. There is always an after-match presentation and he would end up taking over the microphone and do some jokes and a sing-song - that was a regular occurrence."

Rocky was originally from Chesterfield and a football fan. He moved to Hunslet after meeting his wife to be, Margaret, in the 1970s and became a die-hard Wakefield Trinity fan. He wanted his son, Chris, to play football but at the age of four, no clubs were taking children so young so Chris started playing rugby and Rocky started coaching working with former British rugby league referee, George 'Fred' Lindop.

Rocky's Giants, as they were called, are still going today and over the years have seen many youngsters go on to be professional players in the Super League.

In 2012 he was recognised for his contribution to the community game at Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s 'Celebration of Rugby League' dinner with a lifetime achievement award. He was commended for his inclusive approach to coaching, recruiting and inspiring children and adults of all abilities. He was also given the BBC Unsung Hero Award for the Yorkshire Region at the Sports Personality of the Year Awards and carried the Olympic Torch through Beeston for the London Olympics in 2012.

Away from sport he was a plasterer and a devoted family man to son Chris and daughter Katie and later to his three grandchildren Ellie, 22, Archie, 18 and Norah, aged nine months.

Chris told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "There was a running joke that he never worked outside of Rothwell. We think he artexed everybody's ceiling in the 1970s and then plastered over them all again over the next few years. He was known for making a big mess in everybody's houses but everybody loved him because he was singing and telling jokes.

"He was known for being an entertainer and used to carry an Elvis costume and mask and was known throughout amateur rugby league for that. There is a sense of relief that he is no longer suffering and that is overtaken by pride when you look at the messages that we are getting. His lasting legacy will be the amount of young people who will remember him and that he taught about rugby."

Ash Handley, winger and centre for the Leeds Rhinos, recalls missing out on Rocky's Giants as he was nine when he went to Oulton, but even at that age, was aware of the regard Rocky was held in.

He told the YEP: "Everyone used to go on about him, and everyone spoke highly of him. He was Mr Oulton. He started the foundations of how the club should be run and had an effect on every age group that has gone by. Coaching players that went on to be professionals - he had that impact."

Sam Horner, Community Clubs Development Officer at Leeds Rhinos Foundation said: “Rocky Whitehead was a man who taught me and many others about life and people and always saw the positives. He spent the vast majority of his spare time inspiring children to take up the sport, remain fit, socialise and develop their confidence. He was a legend of junior rugby who developed many players over many years.The world has lost a true superstar.”

Plans are already in the pipeline for a fundraising day or event in Rocky Whitehead's memory in aid of charity.

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