I'm so sorry to hear that. Please pass my condolences to his wife.

He was a much respected member of the site and will be a tremendous loss to our Doncaster community.

Although I did not now him personally, I felt I did over the years on the forum.
I am really really sad to hear this news.
God bless him and I am thinking of his family at this sad time

RIP my friend; it has been a pleasure knowing you over the last few seasons. I'll try and keep up some postings from the USA but will never be able to match what you contributed to this forum.
Bally I'll send a personal note to Donna.

I was aware that Derek had been very ill. I am terribly sad to have been informed that he has passed away.

Having worked in Doncaster Town Centre and the Redhouse area over several years now I always read through his posts, indeed all posts on the Donny board.

This is so sad to hear. My deepest condolences go to Derek's family at this awful time.

Really sad news Bally and thanks for the update.
I hope he can see the Rovers from the Keepmoat in the sky.
Deepest sympathy.

Sad news. Rest in peace Newyankee

Sad news indeed, a great contributor to this board and a true DRFC fanatic. Never met him but felt I knew him well. I always enjoyed reading his posts. Deepest sympathy and condolences to his family

The news I've been dreading.

We only spoke over a few pints when we met in the pub the last time you came over. I shall remember fondly the chat and the laughs we shared talking about the Rovers of yesteryear.

My thoughts n prayers go out to the family.

R.I.P. Yankee mate, till we meet again at the great supporters club in the sky.

The news we have all been dreading.
He was an inspirational contributer to this forum.His knowledge of Rovers and the Dons was second to none.
We have lost a true Rovers & Dons legend.
Newyankee RIP ⚽️🏉

So sorry to hear this very sad news Mickyb. Like so many, I never knew or met Derek but I viewed him as a football friend - a comrade in the Doncaster Rovers cause. Please pass on my condolences and deepest sympathy to his family at this very difficult time. He will be truly missed.

Very sad news. Although I have never met NY personally, like everyone else on here I have enjoyed greatly his insight and contributions for the last few years, RIP sir - you will be missed.

Although he was three or four thousand miles away physically, his thoughts, comments and the underlying shared common affection for DRFC put him close to all of us on here.

Dependability and honesty shone through, an ideal friend and surely respected by all those with whom he came into contact.

He will be long remembered.

Such sad news! I saw Derek as a friend one in which I had the pleasure of meeting and one day hoping would return to see Rovers play again. His contribution to this page and the Rovers forum will be greatly missed! Please pass on my condolonces to Donna Bally and thanks for keeping us in the know as to how he had been doing.

RIP Derek

I will miss Derek's thoughtful and sometimes controversial contributions and my condolences to his family.

So sad, particularly for his family and friends. I will miss his insights.

may you spirit fly free, and your light shine on the ones you loved.

You will be sadly missed may your God be with you.

So sorry to hear this news.
We will miss you.

God bless you NY.

I know I am new to site but I on the occasions I read articles new Yankee always had an input and was in most discussions and will be sadly missed.

Sad news.
So sorry to all his family and friends.
Take Care all of us.

Could I just update you please on a meeting I had with Liam Scully at The Keepmoat today and I shall be brief. Firstly the club are keen to acknowledge Derek's participation and support over his lifetime.

Timescale is Two Weeks. for first two items.

A photo of Derek and a Eulogy will be placed in the match programme of Rovers v Newport County on 17th September.
On the same Day around 2.15pm in The Belle Vue Bar, a short announcement will take place regarding Derek's passing and the customers will be invited to raise their glasses in memory of Derek.

Timescale 4 -6 weeks.
A plaque with wording supplied by Donna will be raised and mounted in the Memorial Garden at The Keepmoat in memory of Derek, the cost to be passed to anyone wishing to donate in memory of Derek. I am to liaise withe the VSC ref this.

An approach was made to the club by a work colleague of Derek's regarding the predicament. A letter was sent by Charles Swallow on behalf of the club to Derek but sadly he died without seeing it, but the framed letter was presented to Donna at Derek's funeral which took place on Saturday. The Club have been thanked and Charles in particular.

I also thanked Charles personally in the ticket office today. Well Done Rovers.

And as it is known, there is more important things in life than just football.

I will keep you appraised of the issues with your permission.

Thanks for the update about what is being done to remember Derek. Please keep us informed and how we can contribute.
I put my thoughts in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Obituary Guest Book and sent a personal note to Donna. It is still difficult to believe he is no longer there on the other end of a telephone call or email.

Donna said the same to me last Wednesday. I told her that I do not need to because he will be sat next to me on the settee on match days. She said the comment did help a lot

I am pleased that the club have acknowledged Derek's devotion; indeed they exceeded my expectations when I said that he ought to be acknowledged in some way.

For once, I logged on to Rovers' Player on Saturday well before the broadcast would start, but for some technical reason my PC did not pick up the pre-match comments and it was not until I switched to the laptop that the sound was coming through and I heard Tom Biltcliffe's final phrase of a sentence obviously referring to Derek mentioning Milwaukee or Wisconsin and it pleased me greatly.