That try at Wilderspool v Cas where he picked the ball up from dummy half and skinned Graham Steadman as if he was stood still. What a player and what a nice bloke too.

Have to say though, still don't know how he was awarded 'that' try at Leeds......

Although it was some years ago now I answered an appeal for witnesses to the incident involving Des Drummond and a Widnes supporter at Naughton Park. I was duly called to the court and put in the witness box under oath. The place was packed but got my nerves under control. I was asked various questions by the prosecuting QC bearing in mind the incident took place right in front of me. The questions were: Did you see the plaintiff being punched by Mr Drummond. To Which I replied: No it was more of a push from Mr Drummond with the heel of his hand. My missus has hit me much harder when I've been late in on a Friday night. One of the other questions was: Did you hear the plaintiff racially abuse Mr Drummond. To which my reply was: I was stood directly behind the plaintiff but couldn't hear what was being said because of the noise of the crowd. What I could see was the plaintiff stabbing his index finger at Mr Drummond but I assumed it wasn't the plaintiff asking Mr Drummond about his wife and kids. After this there was laughter in the court and I knew then Des would be found not guilty. I didn't commit perjury, simply embroidered the truth just a little bit. Des must have been impressed by my evidence for he attended my birthday party a few months later and presented me with an expensive pair of leather gloves. To say I was shocked when I read of his passing in today's newspaper would be an understatement..Des,playing legend and gentleman RIP

Terrific anecdote, enjoyed that one, and that particular match.

I never saw Dessie play in the flesh ,just highlights of matches. Such a shame, RIP Des.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi5nz12IMV4 saints fan here,Des was a real opponent,fast,tough,good footwork,played well above his weight. Was always someone you had to keep an eye on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi5nz12IMV4 saints fan here,Des was a real opponent,fast,tough,good footwork,played well above his weight. Was always someone you had to keep an eye on

There was a cup tie at Wilderspool where Dessie tried to go through Phil Vievers, who I think still managed to somehow stop him scoring. Vievers didn't know what planet he was on for a while after, but managed to complete the game. Vievers had earned my respect after that match, and no doubt Dessie's as well.

Thanks for the sincere post from a Saints fan, who isn't a WUM or a troll.

Was that the game when Vievers tried to go low on him and Des just stepped into him and hit him with what can only be described as an iron thigh ? Bet Vievers was seeing stars for hours afterwards.

Yes, but many of the team I grew up watching (first season 1991-92) have gone too early:

Brian Johnson (coach), Mike Gregory (captain), Neil Kenyon and Des Drummond.

Greg Mackey (another club captain), who arrived the season before, went to Hull, and then returned the season after.

David Myers (Wire then onto Wigan), who preceded my first Wire game by only a few months.

Paul darbyshire

Correct, most of them taken far too young. Whenever I think back I remember Wires players frozen in time; young, fit, with all their lives and talents before them not as getting older, greyer, fatter like most. Sad, but what a way to be remembered, gladiatorial and mighty.

Not to derail the thread, but what actually happened with Myers at Wire?

Signed from Widnes then basically didn't want to play for us and forced a transfer to Wigan as I recall. We seemed to have a lot of decent wingers at the time anyway (Drummond, Forster, Rob Myler, Kenyon who was lightweight but ran in hat-tricks against weaker teams), and some not so great (Rick Thackray, Paul Williamson, Thorniley when he played on the wing).

Anyway, sad for the bloke, crashed on the M6 as I recall.

My parents in their late 80s are bemoaning the fact that all they seem to get invited to is funerals these days!
Got to the stage that they took it in turns to attend them. And now their friends tend to be from a different generation.
We're all getting older I tell ya.....

Dezzie was one tough nut and a supreme athlete.
He wasn't the complete rugby player by any means, but I always expected something when he got the ball out on the wing or in broken play.
And as for tackle hits....
RIP

If my memory serves me right and hopefully someone can remember that long ago but didn’t Des headbutt a New Zealand player in a midweek tour match as that sticks in my mind only because I was standing right in front on the said incident?

Dezzie’s tackle technique seemed to be “lead with the head”. No thought of self preservation, so it might have just been a standard tackle that you saw.

It was the Auckland touring team. I was at the game, if I remember correctly we got beat 22-16, but dessie still managed to score in his own style by laying out the Auckland full back with his head!!

A BRUTAL match, played in dreadful conditions.

Yes his face was a right mess.The man was fearless no matter who the opponent and still my fav all time Wire.

Dessie came in the kings head a couple of seasons ago,great to chat with him he said no one really recognises him in Bolton yet he got mobbed in the pub and outside on winwick street,,
Sleep tight Des Drummond..

One of the highlights of playing Widnes was seeing him against offiiah !! Also his interactions with the Widnes fans were always good lol

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/36 ... s-drummond

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/36 ... s-drummond

Sleep well Dessie. Gone too soon.