Death of cup legend

WARRINGTON Wolves have been deeply saddened to hear of the death of former player Derek Noonan, who played in the legendary all conquering 1974 Challenge Cup Final team.
It’s almost 35 years to do the day that Derek picked up his winners medal. All at Warrington Wolves pass on their deepest condolences to the Noonan family.
Derek was one of Alex Murphy’s first signings for Warrington in 1971, he had been a winger at St Helens RUFC. He made his debut at centre on 2 October 1971 in a 16-18 defeat to Hull at Wilderspool. In that first season he played 24 matches, including 7 as substitute, playing wing, centre and stand off, scoring 8 tries.
Derek was a regular in the team over the next few years in what was one of Warrington’s most successful periods in their history.
He played in the centre in Warrington’s four major trophy winning sides of the 1973/4 season, The Captain Morgan Trophy, Player’s No.6 Trophy, in which he scored 2 tries, Challenge Cup and Club Merit Trophy.
The following season he played at stand-off in the replayed BBC Television Floodlight Trophy final and centre in the Challenge Cup final.
Noonan was a classy centre whose defence was very strong. He also had pace that allowed him to play at stand-off or on the wing. He made 147 appearances for Warrington including 7 as a substitute and scored 34 tries.
Derek’s abilities were recognised at international level with three appearances for England, scoring one try, whilst at Warrington. This included being selected by England for the 1975 World Cup in Australia. He also scored 5 tries in 5 appearances for Lancashire.
Noonan left Warrington in January 1976 for his home town club St Helens. He made a further two Wembley appearances whilst with Saints, winning one and losing the other. He made 127 appearances, scoring 38 tries in five seasons before ending his career at the new Fulham club.
Derek had been ill for some time. He attended the opening of the Hall of Fame Lounge in 2007 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium meeting up with many of his team mates from the 1974 and 1975 Wembley finals. A true gentleman, Derek Noonan will be sadly missed.