567 Derek Hood

Biography

Right footed utility man Derek Hood joined Hull City on a two month trial during August and September 1977 before signing a contract with the Tigers in October 1977. Hood immediately found himself part of a club destined for relegation and managerial turmoil and made his senior debut late in his first season following a few months spent in City’s Reserves. During the first two months of the 1978/79 season, with City demoted to Division Three, Hood compiled a run of first team starts – however as winter loomed he drifted back to bench duties. In his third season at Boothferry Park Hood rarely made the first team squad and moved on in February 1980.

Derek Hood was born and raised in the Wearside new town of Washington and attended Washington Comprehensive School. He was scouted by Division Two side West Bromwich Albion while playing for Usworth Under-18s in County Durham, signing an apprentice professional contract with the Baggies in July 1975 having already signed associate schoolboy terms two years earlier. Derek was part of Albion’s Under-18s side that lifted the FA Youth Cup in May 1976, but never he made a senior appearance for The Hawthorns side prior to his departure to Hull City in August 1977, which followed an unsuccessful pre-season trial at Shrewsbury Town.

Derek joined Division Four side York City in February 1980 for a £2,000 fee and made his debut that month against Halifax Town, scoring his first goal for the Minstermen four days later against Portsmouth. He immediately became a settled first team asset and his longevity meant he held legendary status amongst the York City fanbase long after he left the club. Over the next three seasons Hood missed only four league games as York finished bottom of Division Four in May 1981, then climbed the table over the next two years – Derek was Clubman of the Year for the 1982/83 season, a far-from-mini achievement. The 1983/84 season saw the Bootham Crescent side sweep aside all-comers with 101 points and 96 goals accumulated thanks to Hood’s promptings and the goals of strike partners John Byrne and Keith Walwyn – Derek ended the season with his first and only winners’ medal despite missing two months to injury early in the season.

Over the next two seasons Hood continued to be a first team regular as York City maintained their momentum and claimed two top half finishes in Division Three. The 1986/87 season saw the Minstermen narrowly avoid relegation back to Division Four and Hood was allowed the join fellow divisional strugglers Lincoln City on loan in March 1984, making 9 appearances during the closing weeks of the season. The 1987/88 season was his swansong at Bootham Crescent as a persistent knee injury saw him sidelined regularly – York City’s slump in form saw them finish bottom of Division Three and return to the fourth tier. When he left York City in May 1988 he had scored 36 goals in 354 appearances.

In June 1988 Hood signed for Northern Premier League side Goole Town, though a pub management course meant he couldn’t take up first team duties until October 1988. He enjoyed a benefit match in November 1988 between the current York City side and a scratch team of York City players from the 1983/84 promotion season – the game was eveidently played at full pelt, Sunderland manager Denis Smith requiring thirty one stitches after a goalmouth scramble. By January 1989 Derek was not a regular starter for Goole and he moved on again, joining Northern Premier League rivals Harrogate Town. In September 1989 Hood suffered an injury to his knee that exacerbated previous wounds and while he battled back to first team action it was clear that he was unable to play regularly, he retired from the game in February 1990.

After football Hood worked in a kitchen manufacturing warehouse and drove a bus before becoming a telephone engineer based in Harrogate, as well as a matchday celebrity in the sumptuous environs of the Bootham Crescent hospitality wing.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 17 December 1958, Washington
Hull City First Game: 15 April 1978, Fulham H (Division Two), 19 years, 119 days old
Hull City Final Game: 8 December 1979, Brentford A (Division Three), 20 years, 356 days old

Clubs

West Bromwich Albion (1975-1977), Hull City (1977-1980), York City (1980-1988), Lincoln City (1987, loan), Goole Town (1988-1989), Harrogate Town (1989-1990)

Hull City Record

Career: 31 apps, 0 goals