Former Glamorgan coach John Derrick has died aged 54
Wednesday 22 March 2017 13:08, UK
Former Glamorgan coach and player John Derrick has died at the age of 54.
Derrick, who played over 200 matches for Glamorgan and New Zealand's Northern Districts between 1983 and 1991 as a seam bowler and lower-order batsman, was diagnosed with a brain tumour last summer.
A statement on Glamorgan's official website 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."
Glamorgan chief executive Hugh Morris, a former team-mate, said: "John Derrick was one of my closest friends in the game.
"He was always a hugely popular member of the dressing room and universally liked throughout the game."
Former Glamorgan and England bowler Simon Jones also paid tribute, tweeting: "Saddened to hear the passing of John Derrick. Coached me, mentored me, amazing man.. RIP JD"
Cwmaman-born Derrick moved into coaching after his playing career finished and quickly rose through the ranks at Glamorgan.
He was Duncan Fletcher's assistant when Glamorgan won the county championship title in 1997.
Derrick took charge of his beloved Glamorgan five years later and steered them to National League titles in 2002 and 2004.
He also led Glamorgan to their only Twenty20 Finals Day appearance in 2004, as well as winning promotion in the county championship.
Derrick was replaced as coach in February 2007, but he remained in Welsh cricket and was appointed national performance director of the Cricket Board of Wales in 2010.
He was working in that role in charge of all the Wales age group sides, as well as the senior women's team, when he was taken ill last summer.
