BIG HOWARD wrote:
after reading your book again, the part where your father took you across the road to see johnny whiteley climbing out of a pub cellar in his job as a drayman, reminded me of a day i was in town with my father when instead of getting the bus home i was dragged into paragon station where my dad got 2 platform tickets we strolled up to a short slightly bow legged chap in a trilby and my father spoke to him and "wished him all the best." as we left i said "who was that" my father puffed out his chest and said "son that is the best hooker you will ever see" it was tommy harris getting the train to join up with the great britain squad. great diary as always wilf keep up the good work
Saw Tommy Harris play his first game for Hull in the early fifties and he was one of my all- time favourite players. The finest and most memorable game I saw him play was at Wembley in 1960 when despite Hull being on the end of a 38-5 defeat by Wakefield Trinity he won the the Lance Todd trophy even though he had to leave the field injured with about 15 mins left in the match. As he walked along the touchline back towards the dressing room he was loudly applauded with the Wakefield fans joining in. Also late in the first half after he split the defence with one of his speedy runs he was flattened by a high shot and heavily concussed, leading to him being taken from the field for a couple of minutes to recover his senses. Not sure who flattened him - could have been Derek ' Rocky' Turner who had a great duel with rival skipper Johnny Whiteley throughout the match.
