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Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:09 am
by ClaretTony
Just heard the sad news that Rocky (Derek) Mills has passed away overnight. I believe he was close to his 79th birthday.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:13 am
by durhamclaret
Rocky had his fair share of people knocking him over the years for various reasons however he was a true claret and loyal supporter, god bless Rocky, “who are yer” RIP.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:14 am
by TonbridgeClaret
Sad news indeed. RIP Rocky.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:14 am
by ClaretTony
Loud mouthed, abusive, but heart of gold.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:14 am
by bodge
That’s a real shock,probably the most well known of our supporters and provided a lot of amusement,a fiercely loyal claret who will be sadly missed.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:16 am
by DukeOfBar
attack, attack, attack... RIP Rocky!

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:17 am
by Quickenthetempo
Rest in peace Rocky.

As dedicated as any Burnley fan could be.

A character, but would talk to anyone.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:17 am
by ClaretPete001
Didn't know him to speak to but was always around on a matchday even if you couldn't see him.

RIP and condolences to the family.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:17 am
by CoolClaret
Really tragic news - a proper legendary character who loves Burnley FC with all his being; passion personified.

I’ll miss seeing him dishing out his war crys…

RIP Rocky

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:17 am
by quoonbeatz
Great wrestler, a scream like a banshee. 'Character' probably doesn't do him justice. Sad news. RIP.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:18 am
by HahaYeah
What a character, sad to hear of his passing. RIP.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:18 am
by superdimitri
Get into them up there buddy.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:18 am
by shulgin
Sad news. A true character. Although I though he started to look frail recently. RIP.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:19 am
by Tall Paul
RIP Rocky

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:20 am
by Swizzlestick
A flawed character but his passion was unquestioned. As staunch a supporter of the club as you're ever likely to find. RIP

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:24 am
by ClaretAL
We all know supporters in our own circles that cut them in half and its Burnley FC, and who have been absolute staunch Clarets for ever, however there are very few Clarets that every other Claret knows, and Rock was/is one of them. RIP Rocky.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:24 am
by Bosscat
A true character indeed ... he was great fun on the Dublin trip in 2017...
20170716_105911-1.jpg
20170716_105911-1.jpg (347.39 KiB) Viewed 6938 times
Dingles Bar in Dublin

RIP Rocky

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:24 am
by burnleytom
One of the few people in the world who took genuine offence to being greeted by their real name 😝 Only made you want to do it more…..

Another face that has just always been there for as long as I’ve followed us gone. Very sad.

Golden Gamble sales to go down the pan.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:25 am
by ClaretTony
shulgin wrote:
Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:18 am
Sad news. A true character. Although I though he started to look frail recently. RIP.
Very frail, and I believe he suffered a heart attack overnight.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:25 am
by Dark Cloud
That's absolutely awful news. Surely there isn't a single claret who hasn't either met him or knows who he is. Everybody loved him and yet nobody wanted to sit next to him at games! A very sad day.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:29 am
by tiger76
Sad to hear, I never had the pleasure of meeting Rocky, but his tales are legendary on this forum, and he was a dyed in the wool Claret that's for sure.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:30 am
by Boss Hogg
Didn’t know him but was hard not to know of him. One of my earliest memories of going to Turf Moor many years ago is of him screaming every time a goal kick was taken. Clubs needs characters and supporters like this. RIP.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:31 am
by jrgbfc
Will definitely be strange not seeing(or hearing) him at an away game. RIP Rocky.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:32 am
by RammyClaret61
I’d say rest in “peace”. But I don’t think Rocky knew the meaning of the word. He’ll be stood at the Pearly Gates shouting to St Peter. WHO ARE YA, WHO ARE YA, WHO ARE YA!!!

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:33 am
by conyoviejo
RIP Rocky..A true Claret.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:34 am
by ALP
Sad day indeed for Burnley, he was as mad as a box of frogs but I always got on with him. I once swapped seats with him and his Mrs at PNE, no way was he sitting behind me, I would have been soaked 😁.

God bless him and may he rest in peace.

UTC

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:35 am
by timel0veandtendayi
Hope he greets St Peter with an "EeeEEeeEeEEEeee".

RIP.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:35 am
by JohnMac
Sad news, he had been a shadow of himself in recent times.

RIP Rocky

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:35 am
by LoveCurryPies
Helping the Police…

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:36 am
by turbo5
So Sad I had the pleasure of sharing coaches with him on many an away day. Definitely a character that will be solely missed
RIP Rocky a true Legend of Burnley football club

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:36 am
by Claret Till I Die
Sad news. Not all claret legends wore the shirt

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:36 am
by claptrappers_union
Sad news. I didn't know him personally, but I sat near him at many away games. True character and Claret and Blue through and through. Was it him who used bellow the battle cry over the visiting keeper's goal-kicks in the 1990's?

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:38 am
by ClaretTony
Couple of pics - one with Rockette at Cork in 2013 and then the one on a searing hot day in Italy in 2006 when he was suffering from sun stroke.

Rocky Cork.jpg
Rocky Cork.jpg (106.62 KiB) Viewed 6629 times
Rocky Italy.jpg
Rocky Italy.jpg (116.98 KiB) Viewed 6629 times

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:38 am
by fanzone
Sad sad news

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:38 am
by Funkydrummer
Very sad indeed, a real character and a Claret through and through.

I used to sit near him in the Jimmy Mac lower stand and he provided some of the entertainment at times.
He even turned up at one game straight from his wedding ceremony, both dressed in their wedding
clothes, complete with flowers !!!!

He will be sadly missed - he was a fixture around the club for many many years. Going to be very
strange (and quiet) without him around.

RIP Rocky. Thoughts are with your friends and family.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:40 am
by Woodleyclaret
When we beat PNE with a injury time winner Rocky lept on me dragging me down screaming YES ! A real fan RIP

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:41 am
by TomtheClaret
"Golden gamble, get ya money out ya tight bastards!"
Rip Rocky. Good pals, with my dad, also a Derek, met again in a bar, in Southend 1997.
Few pints for them at the Dingles bar in the sky. Back with his Rockette

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:42 am
by Pad1951
I never met him but I always heard him.
RIP Rocky

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:44 am
by Barlickclaret
So sad. one of life's characters, will be sadly missed on match days. RIP rocky.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:46 am
by BigChaCha
I've lived in many towns and have never met as many characters as I have as when I lived in Burnley and he was one of them. You don't seem to see them so much these days... The type of character that I wouldn't want to spend more than 5 minutes with but at the same time you wouldn't want them any other way.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:48 am
by Andingle
Love him or not , he was a real character and a diehard Claret, his screech always made me smile.
You could always hear Rocky before you could see him.
RIP Rocky , who are ya 😔

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:49 am
by ŽižkovClaret
RIP Rocky

Gerrin to em

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:49 am
by bfcjg
RIP, spend to him a few times and behind the bravado and bluster there was an intelligent caring man.RIP.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:52 am
by Quicknick
RIP, Rocky. Never knew him. I knew who he was, alright. Who didn't?

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:52 am
by Claretmisterg
RIP Rocky.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:53 am
by Walkerpool
He always made away games more enjoyable RIP your voice in the crowd will be missed.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:55 am
by Pearcey
Sad news. RIP Rocky.

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:58 am
by SammyBoy
Ah what a bloke, once upon a day I think he sold my Dad and his mates their winning Golden Gamble ticket. RIP!

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:59 am
by pistol
Sad news.

Brilliant character who will be sadly missed.

RIP Rocky

Re: Rocky RIP

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 11:03 am
by jedi_master
As a young kid on the Beehole End, I was I remember just staring at Rocky everytime as he made his shout/cry that sounded like a vulture about to pounce on its prey. I asked my Dad many times “Why does that man always make that noise?”, “because he’s Rocky”. I just accepted that logic!

He is synonymous with my earliest memories of going to Turf Moor, and even though I never actually met him (in terms of having a conversation), he was just part of the furniture. Very sad news, RIP to him.