rlHmmmm... that's a bit of a shock!rl

That is a bit of a shock.
I knew John when he played for Leeds and for several years later.
Whilst he was a bit of a lad He was always a pretty decent bloke and a great servant to the Leeds team.
Oh how we could do with a winger like John in our team now.

Always a shame when a childhood hero becomes tarnished.

No excuses but doesn't sound like he was in the best frame of mind reading that last paragraph

Whatever frame of mind he was in, he should have been locked up for a year or 2.

Life will catch up on you, no matter who you are.

That famous line springs to mind,

'fall down seven times, stand up eight times'

As far as I’m aware he’s had a pretty clean record till his early sixty’s and this just looks like a one off. Prison is for persistent offenders and not for people who do one criminal act when at their lowest ebb. It’s not like he’s committed murder or caused a lot of distress is it?

Ok he could of done but that’ll play on his conscious until the day that he dies. You won’t see him drink driving again soon that’s for sure!

What a shame - probably one of the greatest ever wingers to play for Leeds.

I was talking to Alan Smith at the 61 reunion dinner at HQ and he was telling us that Atky was at an extremely low ebb due to the situation with his son in law etc. Such a shame and while I'd never ever condone his actions you do get a sense that when someone like John Atkinson says he is racked with guilt then its probably likely that he means every word.

Still a Leeds RLFC legend in my eyes.

There never can be for drink driving.

But I think his mitigating circumstances warrant sympathy.

I agree with most of what has been said here especially no excuse for drink driving.
But Atky was at a low ebb and yes he will be racked by guilt for what he has done.
He has also it seems lost his job as well.
Who knows the arresting officer might have been a little insensitive and heavy handed and John just flipped.
Still a shame for the chap and yes he should know better.
If he is reading this then all the best for the future.

Got to agree "no excuses" but he must of been in a very dark place lets hope he can rebuild his life and move on.

No he shouldn't.

Yeah right....and released a few mass murderers and child abusers early to make room for him.

Really sad to hear the news about Atky. Was one of my first Leeds heroes. My first game saw him score his 300th try in a home tonking by Workington, in the 78/79 season I think it was. Stood down in the old Paddock, and followed all the other kids onto the pitch, when he scored, in an attempt to get his tie-ups from his socks - as happpened during and after games in those days! Absolute class winger. Hope you get back on top soon Atky