Rocky RIP

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:09 am

Just heard the sad news that Rocky (Derek) Mills has passed away overnight. I believe he was close to his 79th birthday.

durhamclaret · Post by **durhamclaret** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:13 am

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.

TonbridgeClaret · Post by **TonbridgeClaret** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:14 am

Sad news indeed. RIP Rocky.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:14 am

Loud mouthed, abusive, but heart of gold.

bodge · Post by **bodge** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:14 am

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.

DukeOfBar · Post by **DukeOfBar** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:16 am

attack, attack, attack... RIP Rocky!

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:17 am

Rest in peace Rocky.

As dedicated as any Burnley fan could be.

A character, but would talk to anyone.

ClaretPete001 · Post by **ClaretPete001** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:17 am

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.

CoolClaret · Post by **CoolClaret** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:17 am

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

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:17 am

Great wrestler, a scream like a banshee. 'Character' probably doesn't do him justice. Sad news. RIP.

HahaYeah · Post by **HahaYeah** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:18 am

What a character, sad to hear of his passing. RIP.

superdimitri · Post by **superdimitri** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:18 am

Get into them up there buddy.

shulgin · Post by **shulgin** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:18 am

Sad news. A true character. Although I though he started to look frail recently. RIP.

Tall Paul · Post by **Tall Paul** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:19 am

RIP Rocky

Swizzlestick · Post by **Swizzlestick** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:20 am

A flawed character but his passion was unquestioned. As staunch a supporter of the club as you're ever likely to find. RIP

ClaretAL · Post by **ClaretAL** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:24 am

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.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:24 am

A true character indeed ... he was great fun on the Dublin trip in 2017...

: 20170716_105911-1.jpg (347.39 KiB) Viewed 6840 times

Dingles Bar in Dublin

RIP Rocky

burnleytom · Post by **burnleytom** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:24 am

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.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:25 am

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.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:25 am

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.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:29 am

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.

Boss Hogg · Post by **Boss Hogg** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:30 am

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.

jrgbfc · Post by **jrgbfc** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:31 am

Will definitely be strange not seeing(or hearing) him at an away game. RIP Rocky.

RammyClaret61 · Post by **RammyClaret61** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:32 am

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!!!

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:33 am

RIP Rocky..A true Claret.

ALP · Post by **ALP** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:34 am

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

timel0veandtendayi · Post by **timel0veandtendayi** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:35 am

Hope he greets St Peter with an "EeeEEeeEeEEEeee".

RIP.

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:35 am

Sad news, he had been a shadow of himself in recent times.

RIP Rocky

LoveCurryPies · Post by **LoveCurryPies** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:35 am

Helping the Police…

turbo5 · Post by **turbo5** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:36 am

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

Claret Till I Die · Post by **Claret Till I Die** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:36 am

Sad news. Not all claret legends wore the shirt

claptrappers_union · Post by **claptrappers_union** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:36 am

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?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:38 am

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 (106.62 KiB) Viewed 6531 times

: Rocky Italy.jpg (116.98 KiB) Viewed 6531 times

fanzone · Post by **fanzone** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:38 am

Sad sad news

Funkydrummer · Post by **Funkydrummer** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:38 am

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.

Woodleyclaret · Post by **Woodleyclaret** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:40 am

When we beat PNE with a injury time winner Rocky lept on me dragging me down screaming YES ! A real fan RIP

TomtheClaret · Post by **TomtheClaret** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:41 am

"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

Pad1951 · Post by **Pad1951** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:42 am

I never met him but I always heard him.
RIP Rocky

Barlickclaret · Post by **Barlickclaret** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:44 am

So sad. one of life's characters, will be sadly missed on match days. RIP rocky.

BigChaCha · Post by **BigChaCha** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:46 am

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.

Andingle · Post by **Andingle** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:48 am

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

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:49 am

RIP Rocky

Gerrin to em

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:49 am

RIP, spend to him a few times and behind the bravado and bluster there was an intelligent caring man.RIP.

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:52 am

RIP, Rocky. Never knew him. I knew who he was, alright. Who didn't?

Claretmisterg · Post by **Claretmisterg** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:52 am

RIP Rocky.

Walkerpool · Post by **Walkerpool** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:53 am

He always made away games more enjoyable RIP your voice in the crowd will be missed.

Pearcey · Post by **Pearcey** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:55 am

Sad news. RIP Rocky.

SammyBoy · Post by **SammyBoy** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:58 am

Ah what a bloke, once upon a day I think he sold my Dad and his mates their winning Golden Gamble ticket. RIP!

pistol · Post by **pistol** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:59 am

Sad news.

Brilliant character who will be sadly missed.

RIP Rocky

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Thu Jun 30, 2022 11:03 am

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.