Dereck Phillips, 1939–2016
Football Coach
When a broken leg ended his football playing days Dereck took a part time job as a coach at the Leominster Youth Club. When more young people wanted to join Dereck laid on extra sessions on other nights, ensuring all could join in. He did this in his own time, helping players who couldn’t pay their club fees or football gear. He devoted over 30 years to helping the young people of Leominster.
Dereck Phillips was a welder by trade, known to all as Kumsha, and was a hometown hero in Leominster.
He broke his leg playing football and could no longer actively play so he decided to help young people by stepping in as a coach. In 1972 he took on a part-time job at the Leominster Youth Club and began coaching football sessions on Tuesday nights. Because so many kids were interested, he expanded the program to other nights, ensuring everyone could join in. What’s impressive is that he did all of this in his spare time because he cared deeply about the young people in Leominster.
His dedication didn’t go unnoticed, and he was promoted to Assistant Youth Leader. In this role, he organised outdoor football games on the weekends. To the kids, he was not just a coach; he was like a trusted friend. They respected him and felt comfortable confiding in him. Dereck had a generous heart. He often helped kids who couldn’t afford club fees or football gear, covering their costs. His support helped many young people stay on the right path and away from trouble.
Under his guidance, the indoor boys’ and girls’ football teams consistently did well in regional finals. He led an indoor football youth team to the national final for seven years running, and in 1983 his under-18s boys’ team won the national finals. This was a significant achievement, not only for Leominster but for all who knew him.
After retiring from his job as a welder, Mr Phillips took up a post as a caretaker at the Minster College to continue being able to support the town’s youth.
Dereck devoted 30 years of his life to helping young people in Leominster. He earned the respect and admiration of both young and old in the community. His memory serves as a reminder of the positive impact one person can have when they care and give back to their community.
In 2016 a memorial plaque was been installed in the nut grove, close to the former Leominster Youth Centre, where Dereck Phillips gave up hours of his time to help the town’s young people.
