Deron Thorp

(Nov 8 2006). Sad news has reached us about the passing of ex-Barcelona Dragon and Cheddarhead Hall of Famer Deron Thorp. Deron was a ‘one in a million’ personality, and never failed to make us laugh whenever we encountered him during his playing days in Europe. He leaves us all far too soon. We send our condolences to Deron's family and friends, especially wife Gillian and his 2 daughters Kiki and Nikki.

Deron was a director of S.H.I.P. Aid - a non-profit organization that provides assistance to poverty-stricken members of the international community.

READ ABOUT S.H.I.P. Aid

"I am honored to be a member of cheesehead Hall of Fame. Not bad work for a couple of Scottish nobs!!!"

[It's Cheddarhead you Yankee Clown!]

Deron Thorp was one of the mainstays of the Dragons excellent offensive line in their last 2 World Bowl berth seasons - 1997 and 1999. At 6-8 and 324lbs, he was an imposing force at right tackle, providing great pass protection for Jon Kitna in 1997, and then using to his run blocking skills to help Lawrence Phillips to a record 1,000 season in 1999.

Deron played his college ball at Nevada, where he was part of a conference winning side in each of his 4 seasons. However he was not drafted when he graduated from college, and he signed on as a free agent with the Ravens in their inaugural season in Baltimore in 1996. Released by the Ravens in pre-season, Deron signed on with the New York Giants after the 1996 season, where upon he was allocated to the Dragons for the 97 World League season.

Deron started at right tackle for every game in 1997, participating in every offensive snap (623). He was rewarded for his solid play, with a World Bowl ring, winning the championship by beating Rhein 38-24 in front of their own fans, and being named Most Improved Player on the Dragons roster by coach Jack Bicknell.

Deron and loving wife!

Deron tells the next chapter of his foot-balling journey in his own words,

"After winning the world bowl in 1997 (a season which we defeated the bloody Claymores twice), I went to camp with the NY Giants. I was on the Giants active roster for 1 game, and then I was put on the practice squad. 10 games into the season, the NY Jets pulled me off the Giants practice squad to be on their active roster. I remained on the roster for the rest of the 97 season. In 1998, I went to camp with the Jets, but was released, 6 games into the season, I was picked up by the Detroit Lions and placed on the practice squad. I remained on the practice squad for the rest of the season. I then went to NFL Europe in 99, ran into a couple of wankers in a Scottish bookstore, and well the rest of the story is pretty much well documented on the web site".

So the Lions sent him back out to Europe in 1999, and that meant a return to Sitges (the small resort town in which the Dragons are housed) for #79. Once again Deron anchored the right side of the Dragons offensive line, as Lawrence Phillips ran roughshod through the league. He was deservedly named All-World in 1999, and once again found himself in the World Bowl at season's end. However, this time the Dragons were defeated by the Galaxy 38-24 and Deron's quest for a 2^nd ring fell short. His luck at making an NFL roster came up short too - as the Lions let him go during the 1999 pre-season.

Deron's European legacy however will not be forgotten, as he made his mark off the field with his relentless partying in Sitges! (see Great Deron Moments below). Whether it was shouting "SHEEPSHAGGER" to Claymores fans, drinking himself into unstable 324lbs of body mass, harassing local residents or night-clubbing with a Cheddarhead on, Deron was hard to miss!

Deron Thorp - one of NFL Europe's party people!

Deron's 324lb frame is double the Cheddarheads combined!

• World Bowl 97 - We first met Deron the night before the big game, We were searching for coach Jack Bicknell in the foyer of the Hotel Subur, when big #79 came out the lift, grabbed Shuggie and demanded that Preston took a photo of the two of them. Would you say no to this man?
• Week 4, 99 Season - On the Saturday afternoon before Sunday's game we are quietly minding our own business in the book store Waterstones when we run into Deron and Marco Martos. We explained that the store didn't sell liquor!
• Week 8, 99 Season - One of the most unforgettable nights of the 99 season. We had hauled our sorry asses back to Sitges after a heartbreaking 42-35 loss, and with our season in ruins faced an uncomfortable night with the jubilant Dragons players in the Sitges Sports Bar. But Deron, and some of the other guys soon lifted our spirits. During the course of the evening Deron set a record by donning the Cheddarhead for several hours. This included a drunken ramble through the streets of Sitges to several nightclubs. With wife hanging off him, he would be yelling at every passer-by that the "CLAYMORES SUCK" or that we were "SHEEPSHAGGERS". Once inside the nightclubs the cheddar would remain on, even when talking to the FOX boys, or shaking his booty out on the floor. Finally we managed to grab it back off him, and headed out the club to the beach for a more relaxing atmosphere. As there was no-one around (it was 5am), this soon turned into skinny dipping - no problem. But then guess who showed up? Deron, and wife in tow! By this time the giant O-lineman could barely stand as he shouted at Preston to "SHAVE YOUR HAIRY ASS YA SHEEPSHAGGER". And so on ... He finally left, and after putting our clothes back on, we headed back to our hotel. We had to walk past the Dragons hotel, and big surprise we get harassed again by big #79! But then finally, finally we got back to our beds just before the sun came up!
• World Bowl 99 Week, 99 - We were in Dusseldorf the Tuesday before the big game for "World Bowl Talk" (where each team was supposed to send down one player to the Knoten bar, and the fans get to ask them all sort of questions in an organised forum). Frankfurt decided to send star WR Mario Bailey, while the Dragons decided to down an O-lineman who turns out to be none other than ... Deron Thorp! Most of the discussion was about Ralf Kleinmann's inability to beat the Dragons the week before, and Deron seemed far too quiet, so we decided to ask him a couple of questions,

Deron shows off some moves on the dance floor

To go back to the Cheddar Hall of Fame click here!

To go back to the main menu instead click here!