Everybody has a past. You can't blame him for that

I'm not old enough to see Don play but I was chatting at a function with Ian Brooke and when I asked him which players from their era would look good in the modern era he said he'd enjoy playing but said he'd have to bring Don with him. The others all agreed. They all said he was ahead of his time and could put them through a gap in the tightest defenses

Seem to remember it was in an interview/documentary and it was because he was left out of the Wakey Wembley team.

Around 1960 I watched all 3 local teams and Don at Fev with Mullaney were my fave half backs. Wonder how good they would be in the modern super league era with the firmer pitches.

Neil was never left out of a Wembley team. He didn't play on 68 because he was injured after the board made him play a midweek league game with a smaller injury when he wanted to pull out to make Wembley. How life could have been different.

The Fev thing I was meaning was as his first club.

Wasn't that why his brother ended up taking the ill-fated kick?

Yes, Neil says so on an interview that he would have taken the kick which would have spared Don, he doesn't say whether he would have got it though. He also states Don had a fragile side to his personality and that it wouldn't have affected him as much had he missed it, or words to that effect.

Seem to remember the injury in ‘68 also denied Neil the captaincy of the touring ‘Lions’.

I thought that was expectedly classy from him.
He clearly would have kicked that goal but he didn't say that so that it didn't reflect badly on Don (who was an accomplished kicker in his own right). He concentrated on the mental health side and how he'd have like to have spared his brother.

Quite a few years back I remember either a statement or an interview with Neil where he said that as a promising and highly regarded young player, he went home one day and was told a pro club had come knocking.When told it was Wakey he was decidedly underwhelmed and said he didn't particularly like Trinity.He DID sign up and the rest is history. Thank god!

Correct, a groin injury, they said if he didn’t play in the midweek game he wouldn’t play in the final. Played, aggravated it more no final. I bet he felt like knocking their heads together.

I must admit, when I heard it my first thought was that it was a weak bluff. Who would actually leave Neil out of any team. Poor form on their part. Changed the club's history in a big way.
I'd give him a game now if he fancied it.

Although it was the year we won the Championship, so was it a vital game?

Just checked details with Trinity Heritage.

It was actually the GB selectors that made him play a friendly for GB against Halifax to prove his fitness for the tour.
Friday 3rd May 1968

On Saturday (the day after) we played Hull KR in the Championship Final which we won. Playing both games aggrevated his injury so he actually missed the tour and Wembley which was Saturday 11th May.

That schedule is ridiculous. Cost him and Wakefield a lot.