Derek Grace played for Exeter City between 1962 and 1965. He joined the club from Queens Park Rangers and later played for Gillingham. He was a member of the team that won promotion in 1963/64.

Originally an apprentice with Queen’s Park Rangers, Derek signed his first full professional contract with Exeter City in May 1962. Making a solitary appearance in 1962/63 - at Rochdale on 11 May 1963 towards the end of a season extended because of the ‘big freeze’ - he went on to play an important part in the 1963/64 promotion season by contributing four goals from 32 starts invariably wearing the number ten shirt in City’s line-up.   

Asking for a transfer on two occasions in May 1964 and January 1965, Derek’s path as a professional footballer was never so smooth again as he made just seven appearances for City during 1964/65. A free transfer to Gillingham followed at the end of the season and, after a mere four league games for his new club, he dropped out of the Football League in 1967 to join Margate. By now working in a school in Bromley he went on to play for Dartford before trying his luck with Berea  Park in Pretoria, South Africa. Heading back to Kent he briefly appeared for Maidstone United before a spell in Canada with London City (Ontario) and further Kentish wanderings with Gravesend & Northfleet and Herne Bay. 

Eventually favouring a return to South Africa, Derek Grace died in Cape Town on 8 January 2019.