Wolves bid fond farewell to Ockher

WARRINGTON Wolves have bid a fond farewell to their legendary former kitman and groundsman Roy “Ockher” Aspinall who died yesterday (Wednesday) evening in Warrington General Hospital aged 76.
Roy was known by everybody as Ockher and was one of life’s most colourful characters. Although he hailed from St Helens he had been connected with Warrington Rugby League Club for 42 years.
Ockher tells the tale of his early teenage years: “Me and Alex Murphy grew up together in Thatto Heath in the 1950s. He went to the Catholic School and I went to the C of E School. We used to wait for them after school and knock the stuffing out of them. Alex came to see me about it and we have been friends ever since.”
He left school at 15, and being a tough kid led a wild lifestyle.He got involved at Mac Moran’s boxing booths that used to travel round with Silcocks Fairground.
He became friends with the “Big Four” Silcock brothers, Ted, Arthur, Laurence and Herbert and travelled around with the fairground.
Ockher became head doorman at Wigan Casino, before being brought to Wilderspool in 1971 by his good friend Alex Murphy.
As well as head doorman at the Wilderspool Leisure Centre he used to help Jackie Hamblett with ground maintenance. He took over as groundsman in 1979 and also was responsible for the kit. He carried on with these duties for the next 20 years.
Ockher was also the kitman on England’s World Cup tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1975 when Murphy was the coach.
He held a weekly card school at his house on a Saturday night with Les Boyd, Brian Johnson, Bob Jackson and Kevin Tamati, and he never lost. Ockher was a great friend to all the players and staff at Warrington.
One of the highlights of his life was travelling over to Australia and New Zealand in 1997 with the Warrington team that played in the World Club Championship. He came back with shirts from all the Australian clubs to boost his massive collection of rugby league memorabilia.
Rugby league was always close to Ockher; his sister was mother to the Cunningham brothers Eddie, Tommy and Kieron. He was well known throughout the rugby league world. Former players visiting Warrington would often pop into Ockher’s house, next to Wilderspool Stadium to talk about old times.
He always said that Silcocks and Warrington Rugby League Club were the saving of him. He did not like to think what would have happened to him without them.
In later life Ockher was a great reader, he devoured autobiographies. He also travelled a great deal with his family in friends around Europe and visited America. He was regularly seen whizzing around Warrington on his mobility scooter OCK1, which gave him the freedom to get about.
Ockher was a family man, who leaves a wife Sue, sons and grandchildren who he adored. He was one of those colourful characters who could always tell a good story and will be fondly remembered.

Pictures show Ockher at the opening of the club’s Heritage Wall and on the open top bus with Alex Murphy and the Cup winning team in 1974.