Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Thu Nov 15, 2018 10:11 pm  

What a winger this lad was, signed for Wakefield aged 24, was then the only 2nd player to convert to rugby league being a Camebridge Blue.Had speed to burn, side step of either foot but also had the ability to stop dead for defenders to fly last & miss him, then he would set off again. I think if I remember right he scored 3 tries on his debut against Warrington @ Belle Vue.
However after a spell of three years the club tried to sell him as they said they needed the money ? They did not tell him their intent & he read in the news papers they had accepted a fee, cannot remember which club it was.
He did not play for the money, he said, I do not want to leave or play for anyone else ! He also said the fans were so good to him & that he could not leave them.
Wakefield said they would put him on the transfer list ! He then said I retire & he left the club, Sad in a way @ 27.
To this day I do not know what has happened to him ?
Does anyone know anything ?

Re: Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Fri Nov 16, 2018 6:37 am  

I just remember him being forever knuckled by opposing players. Always thought he gave up the game more because he was pee'd off with that rather than the other stories. Similar to Keith Smith.

Re: Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Fri Nov 16, 2018 8:02 am  

Another great winger who scored some spectacular tries.
I think the story at the time, as I remember, was that he had bad stomach ulcers and had to retire!
A sad loss to the fans and the club.
Last I hear he was supposedly living in Reeth North Yorkshire.

Re: Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Fri Nov 16, 2018 10:14 am  

He describes himself as an economist and retailer ,and aging ex RL pro on ‘twitter’ and is based in Burford.
He follows Trinity and RL on ‘twitter’ being a follower of Trinity Heritage , Jim Mills , and Danny Kirmond.
Yep was a great winger, 3 caps for Yorkshire and was on verge of GB squad.
Holds match try scoring record of 7 jointly with Freddie Smith.

Re: Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Fri Nov 16, 2018 10:40 am  

great winger for Trinity. He developed what a lot of supporters deemed was "a lack of confidence", but could well have been due to what Trinity 1315 says above
Very speedy and tended to hug the touch line rather than turn inside.

Re: Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Fri Nov 16, 2018 10:49 am  

Keith was up there with the best in my opinion. He came to the club just as we were on the way down. He had a terrific side step and plenty of pace.
Since he left I can't really think of anyone better who has played for us on the wing since, other than TJ.

Re: Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Fri Nov 16, 2018 11:07 am  

Trinity 1315, I seem to remember the ulcer thing was a lad who came from Hull and played centre, very talented, something like Stuart Wainman?
Remember Keith Slater, fantastic speed and skills.
While we are at it, who was the winger who tried to kick the ball over the Calder on t.v. am sure it was a winger (was that Slater of D.Smith?)

Re: Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Fri Nov 16, 2018 12:16 pm  

Saw him score 7 tries in a game v Ackworth at BV in the challenge cup.

He alongside Keith Smith and Mike Lampowski were great RU converts in that era.

Re: Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Fri Nov 16, 2018 12:24 pm  

Prince Buster wrote:

Keith was up there with the best in my opinion. He came to the club just as we were on the way down. He had a terrific side step and plenty of pace.
Since he left I can't really think of anyone better who has played for us on the wing since, other than TJ.

Incredible talent Johnstone when at only 22 he's up there with great names like Slater and others. Take a bow young man

Re: Anyone remember Keith Slater. : Fri Nov 16, 2018 12:34 pm  

ricardo07 wrote:

Saw him score 7 tries in a game v Ackworth at BV in the challenge cup.

He alongside Keith Smith and Mike Lampowski were great RU converts in that era.

Are you confusing this with the seven he scored against Hunslet in a league game? Seven is the club tries in a match record he shares with Fred Smith.

He had a great partnership with Jack Marston back in the day but do remember his retirement seemed to come out of the blue. It wasn't long after that Dave Smith arrived on the scene so we weren't short of a good winger for too long.