Dickie Rooks

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Dickie Rooks, born Richard Rooks on 29 May 1940 in Sunderland, England, was an English footballer who played as a centre half. He came through Sunderland’s youth system and turned professional in June 1957, making 34 league appearances for Sunderland until 1965. He then moved to Middlesbrough in August 1965 for £20,000, playing 136 league games and scoring 14 goals until 1969. In June 1969 he joined Bristol City for £17,000, where he made 96 league appearances and scored 4 goals until 1972. In July 1972 he left Bristol City to become a player-coach at Willington. He later managed Scunthorpe United from November 1974 for about 14 months, until January 1976. After that, Rooks coached Zanzibar and worked as an FA Coach for Tyne & Wear linked to Sunderland’s School of Excellence. When he retired from football, he became a self-employed builder in Sunderland. Dickie Rooks died on 6 April 2024 in Sunderland, aged 83.