40 years a go today since that fateful day against Salford.

I was there it was a nice sunny day,we were all just expecting a win against Salford and come through with no serious injury's and everyone fit for the CC FINAL.Little did we know what tragedy was waiting for the magnificent MICK SHOEBOTTOM

Was there also, great tradegy, what a player and top bloke. one of my all time greats

My hero was Mick Shoebottom.
He would have been a cracking player in Super League.
It was such a tragedy, that injury, following Dixon's kick. I saw it from close range on that day.
Such a sad end to a career which was full of class, speed, strength and , above all, heart.
RIP Mick.

yes I agree super league was made for him,oh and would he have handled young Master Tompkins in the appropriate way?
I was in the southstand when it happened

Likewise, we knew John Atkinson (well, sort of, we were the kids who were always deliberately kicking a rugby ball into his garden so we could ask for him to throw it back - him and Ron Cowan), and we waited outside the old dressing rooms after the match to ask how Shoey was - Atky was too upset to talk to us so we sort of suspected the worst right from the start.

we could sort of sense something from the southstand,when it took quite awhile and a group of people round him,then a few days later the rumours came round that he would'nt play again.The club and players and their familily's had two major tragedy's in the 1970's Chris Sanderson too rip to both

I too was in the South Stand that fateful day and have to say I never really forgave Dixon. Mick was an outstanding talent who always gave 100% and so full of life. It was heartbreaking to see him some years later working at Makro - such a waste.

RIP Mick - never forgotten

I played in the same school side as John and also knew Ron & Glad Cowan socially. I too remember speaking with the players after the game and as you say they feared the worst.

Mick used to work at Oldham Signs on the Cross Green Industrial Estate, we used to play our games of rugby and cricket on the fields opposite, he would always give us a wave from his workbench by the window. He was and always will be my favourite Leeds RL player

R.I.P Mick

Never saw him play

One of the few players of legendary status at the club .... Someone who's name lives on well after ending playing.

My mates still talk of his greatness.

A sad day for a great player. The family suffered more than this one tragedy as his brother George also had a tragic accident but despite his disabilities he attended the home matches to support Mick and Leeds.

Thanks to NSF for giving us the opportunity to remember Mick. Like others I still remember watching that incident and hearing the news as it came out later. A truly inspiring player and character. Gone, but not forgotten.

Although I only got to see 'Shoey' in his last couple of seasons he was my dad's favourite and the player I'd most looked forward to seeing play.

This image is taken from a Raymond Fletcher piece for the Yorkshire Post in 1993http://www.fotothing.com/photos/3c7/3c7ab22b42516edbbe036f530745e42b.jpg" >

The following image is taken from Ken Dalby's The Headingley Story- Volume 4 - Rugby Cavalcadehttp://www.fotothing.com/photos/191/1915155ac352ca255e425e3957c2433d.jpg" >

And finally this is Mick back at Headingley in '83 to accompany the fantastic article in the YPhttp://www.fotothing.com/photos/8de/8de54c05cf9307c069c6dc82169bab92.jpg" >

There are several poignant comments contained in the piece not least this oneAlthough he still follows the progress - or lack of it - of Leeds, he cannot afford to go more than a couple of times a season. He would always go see them against Hunslet but since they have been in different divisions he restricts his matches to Boxing Day and perhaps a big Cup-tie. "It's frustrating watching because I want to get out there and help them. My heart is still with Leeds and I always want them to win. I can't understand why they aren't doing better. They must have spent over a million pounds but apart from Garry Schofield and Ellery Hanley - great players - what have they got?"[/i

I wish I had time to transcribe the full article.

I trust the Leeds club were suitably shamed by Ray Fletcher's intro to Mick's comment.