when you read on his profile he retired in 81/82 after helping underbank win the Holliday cup as a player coach, something I never knew

Yes Neil played in four decades . I remember it being commented on at the time of his retirement.

Of all the subjects we talk about on this forum, this is my favourite.
I'm old enough to have seen him play but not for Wakefield in his prime.

Sadly I started watching Wakey a season or two after Wally Lewis was with us. So I've missed 2 Trin greats in Lewis and Fox, Thankfully through an RL DVD site membership and other sources I'm able to relive Fox in his prime.

The Hearns say we don't have any famous names in the game anymore, well a new Neil Fox would certainly help rectify that.

Here's something else I bet you didn't know old lad, the first four games he played for Bradford he got the man of the match award.

And he had a stint off season in New Zealand.

if there was a player like Neil fox available We wouldn' get him cause we won't spend the Damn salary cap even tho he'd bring lots more money thru the turnstiles & possibly some silverware. We'd have to get him at Neil's original salary to sign him now

I started watching Trinity as an eight year old in 1956 just as Big Neil was breaking into the first team as a sixteen year old prodigy. Whilst being too young to appreciate the finer points of the game and his own particular skills, I recall he soon became the talk of Wakefield amongst all the young 'uns interested in the game. All the kids playing rugby on the street and the playing fields wanted to be Neil Fox. By the early sixties he had already become a legend. I must admit I capitalised on his fame. By virtue of his name being short and simple his autograph was very easily forged, and as a kid I made several copies and sold them in the school playground at 6d (2.5p) a time. I honestly cannot think of a sportsman that is more representative of his tome town than NEIL FOX!!!

I think we have a modern day hero that young and old can appreciate in Johnstone.

Indeed, Tom is a fantastic talent that we as a club have done extremely well to keep hold of.