Re: May 11th 1968 : Sun May 13, 2018 7:09 pm  

Redscat wrote:

You need to be of a certain age Upandunder. Are you saying that you'd have had the same sentiment if it had happened to Sam Tomkins, Kevin Sinfield or Luke Gale? I wasn't there myself as I was married two months later and the money was needed, but it still touches a raw nerve and I still feel great compassion for DF. Nice to see the old newsreel film of the city as it used to be before it was ruined.

Well I was thinking more along the lines of a game before my time, substitute Halifax for Wakey, or Leeds even, but if I'm gonna be honest, I wouldn't want any player to be effected by an event like Don was, Sinfield, Gale or Tomkins, they're just blokes like me and you underneath it all.
It would be unkind to say if you're tough enough to take the kick you ought to be tough enough to accept the consequence of missing it, which is true, but we're not all made the same, I dunno how an event like that would effect Sinfield, Gale or Tomkins.
Don couldn't get over it that's for sure, 22 years later back at Wembly taking the kick for that interview in 1990, the torture was etched in his face..
I dunno how it could have been different though, apart from not missing of course, and there's always the thought that mebbe if it wasn't that event that broke him, it would have been something else, such was his nature/disposition.

Re: May 11th 1968 : Sun May 13, 2018 7:36 pm  

Upanunder wrote:

Well I was thinking more along the lines of a game before my time, substitute Halifax for Wakey, or Leeds even, but if I'm gonna be honest, I wouldn't want any player to be effected by an event like Don was, Sinfield, Gale or Tomkins, they're just blokes like me and you underneath it all.
It would be unkind to say if you're tough enough to take the kick you ought to be tough enough to accept the consequence of missing it, which is true, but we're not all made the same, I dunno how an event like that would effect Sinfield, Gale or Tomkins.
Don couldn't get over it that's for sure, 22 years later back at Wembly taking the kick for that interview in 1990, the torture was etched in his face..
I dunno how it could have been different though, apart from not missing of course, and there's always the thought that mebbe if it wasn't that event that broke him, it would have been something else, such was his nature/disposition.

Yeah, I agree with you totally on the personal effect it had on Don, or indeed any other kicker, but what made it so much more "personal" to a fan like me and my contempararies was the whole unique events of the day, and that it happened to MY team. My ex-boss lived on the same road in Purston as Don and he told me that he was never the same man after that incident. I think the documentary was really well made and really captured the "feeling" of that day.

Re: May 11th 1968 : Sun May 13, 2018 7:53 pm  

ball-in-hand wrote:

I thought it was an excellent documentary every Wakefield fan should watch. Especially the ones who come on here and slag players off just because of one bad performance. I was there at Wembley 50 years ago and it brought lots of memories back. Players had so much pride in their performance then but I still think most players still do and although some criticism is valid it's important not to make it too personal.

Indeed. Contrast that with the toasting some gave Scott Grix for his unfortunate mistake v St Helens in that crucial Super 8 game last season.

Re: May 11th 1968 : Sun May 13, 2018 7:59 pm  

What a superb documentary. I had a tear in my eye more than once. I was only 5 and vaguely recall being sat with my Dad whilst he watched it on TV. I can't recall his reaction! I suspect he may have left the room!
Most touching was Neil's reactions; the obvious love for his brother and that comment 'I wished it had been me'. And I have never seen that footage of Don kicking it in 1990 in his dress shoes and trousers then doing an ironic celebration. Bless him and rest in peace Don

Re: May 11th 1968 : Sun May 13, 2018 8:00 pm  

I was there. The thing that I'd not realised and that really stood out on the documentary was Don Fox's attitude at the last kick off after the Leeds score. One minute left on the clock but he still hadn't given up. He contrived a trick to get the ball back from the ko which led to Ken Hirst scoring and the rest's history. I was 14 and I cried my eyes out - for myself, for the team but mostly for Don Fox. Great documentary about a great player.

Re: May 11th 1968 : Sun May 13, 2018 8:24 pm  

Watched both earlier on today and had a lump in my throat just watching the crowds both at Wembley and belle view and the atmosphere. It was stuff dreams are made of, local hero’s playing for their local team.
The likes of which will not to be repeated I guess.
When I hear of people dismissing the relevance of the challenge cup I think they do a disservice to the memory’s of players who have give their all for our great club.

Re: May 11th 1968 : Mon May 14, 2018 7:30 am  

charlie63wildcat wrote:

Most touching was Neil's reactions; the obvious love for his brother and that comment 'I wished it had been me'.

At one of the Wakefield Literary Festival days at the Red Shed, Neil said something along the lines of "I wished it had been me, I could have lived with it, Don couldn't"

Re: May 11th 1968 : Mon May 14, 2018 8:17 am  

Hats off to whomever produced that documentary - it was very well done, and very moving.

Well before my time, but my Mum was a big fan - she's never forgiven the referee for the obstruction try; you can watch the footage over and over and fail to see what he thought he saw. On that basis, the fateful kick to win the game should never even have happened - and to see the effect it had on Don Fox for years afterwards was very sad. Poor lad indeed.