Derek Pyke

Derek Pyke
Personal information
Born December quarter 1959[1]
Leigh, Lancashire, England
Playing information
Position Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1978–88 Leigh
1988–90 Widnes 66 0 0 0 0
1990–91 Oldham 5 0 0 0 0
Total 71 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Lancashire
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org

Derek Pyke is an English former rugby league footballer who played as a Prop for Leigh, Widnes and Oldham. He also played at representative level for Lancashire.

Pyke started his career in rugby union, where he was an England schoolboys international,[2] before switching codes and joining Leigh.

In January 1988, Pyke was signed by Widnes in exchange for former Great Britain captain Harry Pinner and £50,000.[3] He played 66 games for Widnes, and also played in the team that won the 1989 World Club Challenge.

In 1990, Pyke was sold to Oldham for £50,000, but suffered a serious knee injury after playing just a few games for the club. After failing to make a full recovery from the injury, Pyke announced his retirement at the end of the 1990–91 season.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Irvine, David (10 October 1979). "Victims of the code war". The Guardian (London). p. 25. (subscription required (help)).
  3. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Paul (12 January 1988). "Widnes pull in Pyke". The Guardian (London). p. 27. (subscription required (help)).
  4. ↑ "Injury forces Pyke to retire". The Guardian (London). 23 May 1991. p. 17. (subscription required (help)).

External links