Former Blackburn Rovers teammates Derek Fazackerley and John Waddington remember their time playing with Neil Wilkinson, who has sadly passed away.
Neil made 30 appearances during his five years at Ewood Park, winning the Third Division title with Rovers during the 1974-75 season.
The right-back spent a brief period with Port Vale before transferring to Crewe Alexandra in 1978 where he made 75 appearances, retiring from football in 1981.
Assistant Head Coach at Oxford United, Derek Fazackerley recalls his memories of Neil…
Neil joined the club a couple of years after myself in the early 70's and as a local boy was proud and thrilled to play and represent his home town club and the one he supported as a youngster.
He was great company and a lively character who's pleasure I had on many of our away trips, one I remember vividly was an overnight boat trip to Denmark to take part in an end of season trip of 5 games in 7 days. Our voyage across wasn't the best preparation for the coming hectic schedule.
On another occasion we went down to Bisham Abbey to train prior to a cup game at Charlton. This was not uncommon as the pitches were often flooded in Blackburn, so Jim Smith (the manager at the time) decided to take us there for a few days to prepare for the cup fixture.
A couple of nights before the game, a few of us had a oujia board out, not the wisest thing! It must have spooked Neil as he woke up in the middle of the night shouting and screaming waking everybody in our dormitory (that was the sleeping arrangements at the old Abbey in Bisham).
Just a couple of the many memories I have of Neil in his short career at Blackburn before he went off to play in South Africa. He was a good lad and a real team player, someone who will be sadly missed by his family and friends.
John Waddington fondly and jokingly recalls the flying full-back…
It was Neil who probably invented, in 1975, the ‘Wing Back’ position of recent years… Mainly because he was always far ahead on the ‘wing’ and never ‘back’ as he was supposed to be!
This often made a massive problem for the centre back who was constantly dragged out of position to cover for Neil. The last thing a cumbersome centre back needed was to be confronted by a flying winger.
Whenever Neil went forward, his hearing capability disappeared as well. If there had been a gate at the end of the wing, he would have probably run through that as well!
Neil will be sadly missed and I would like to send my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Neil's funeral service was held today at St John the Divine Church, Lytham and was attended by many of his former colleagues and the PFA. All at the Union would like to offer sincere condolences to Neil’s family, friends and former teammates.
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