Whilst my wife and I have been in isolation we have been changing our dining room into a playroom as a surprise for the grandchildren when they return. During the rumageing I came across an old autograph book which belonged to my youngest son in the 80s. Hear are a few names you may remember, Phil Eden, Paul Mallinder, Billy Conway, Chris Perry, Nigel Bell, Andy Wilson, Ray Price, Richard Slater Andy Kelly, John Hurst, Julian Russell, Linton Morris, Mark Conway, Dave Toplis, Gary Hagerty, plus a few I couldn't make out. This was a nice find and goes to show these things are worth keeping, just wish I could find mine from the 60s.

That was a good team in the 80s.

I still have mine from a little earlier than that - a muddy Autograph from Wally Lewis. Others included Alex Murphy & ellery Hanley. My grandmas milkman played for Carlisle (called Sammy Sanderson I think ) & he kindly took it to games and asked the opposing team to sign for me. Never met the gent but an amazing thing to do & made me as a young lad well happy.

Not quite on the same theme, Oddshape, but whilst looking through sources that i haven't looked at for a long time; mainly for something to do in theses strange times, I came across a collection of old benefit booklets for various Trinity stars. Those that I discovered were in pristine condition. I was aware of where certain booklets were ie those for David Topliss and Nigel Bell, but I also found ones for Terry Crook, Neil Fox, Roy Bratt and Harold Poynton. The latter, titled "Challenge for the Championship", was a thickish book describing how we achieved the elusive Campionship trophy, and obtained it personally from HP himself. very interesting reads.

Still have mine from the 60's and fond memories of collecting the autographs!

I was never a big collector of autographs and apart from that of the great Neil Fox and Tom van Vollenhoven my prized possession was that of of my hero Jan Prinsloo, who on arriving to play for Trinity, moved into a house opposite us on Flanshaw with his family. I was about 14 at the time and eventually plucked up the courage to go across and ask him for his autograph which he gladly signed on his kitchen worktop over his name in an old St Helens programme that I had. Rather amusingly, the lady who lived next door to him was a bit of a Hyacinth Bouquet sort of character and on hearing of his imminent arrival told all the neighbours that a member of South African royalty was coming to live next door.... A Prince Lou!! Honestly!!

Love that redscat very funny, those South Africans were lighting fast and exciting to watch with ball in hand. By the way I also found lots of 50s and 60s programs.

I've got a book from about 1988 to 1993 with most of the teams at the time.

Aye we all remember the South Africans or most of them anyway, but who can remember that winger we signed who only played a handful of games, Jan Loitret, that might get you thinking.

Having supported Trinity for nearly 40 years now I could pick a fair few teams like that one. That was probably the first though. The first of a number of teams that we have created that with a little more investment could have been something special.

I’d virtually stopped supporting Trinity by late 2015 for this very reason. Since then it’s all changed and although we are yet to truly break through it feels very close now or at least it did pre Corona.

Fingers crossed we come through intact and can carry on the good work.

I remember the name but he was just before my time, but I think he was the catalyst for Alan Skene coming over, and of course, others followed.

Like 1315, I only have vague memories of Jan Lotriet, but am I correct in thinking that the South African that was in the vanguard was one, Ivor Dorrington, who I recalll played in the pack?

I started watching trin in 1958 the same time as he signed for the club, I say that but to be honest I only went to about half a dozen games that first season so I don't remember him either but for some reason I never forget his name, according to Wikipedia he only played 3 games for the club the first being at Cas away in which he scored a try and as a 10 year old I probably didn't even know where Cas was never mind going there, so straight away that's a third of the games he played gone, I think that maybe i might have seen him play, with me remembering his name but I honestly don't know, I do remember Ivor Dorrington in the second row so at a guess I'd say he was probably the first South African here but I don't know for sure.

The official list of Wakefield Trinity players states that Ivor Dorrington made his debut in 1958 and his last match was in 1959-60 season, wayne. He played 12 games.
The most recent South African that I can bring to mind is Nick Du Toit.