Remembered for missing a last-minute conversion for Wakefield in the famous 1968 'watersplash' Challenge Cup final against Leeds, he died early yesterday in Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, after a long illness.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats general manager Francis Stephenson said the club had been told by Don's brother and former team mate, Neil.

Mr Stephenson said: "Don was a great servant for Wakefield Trinity. It is a very sad loss for both this club and Featherstone.

"We knew he had been ill for some time, but it still comes as a shock. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

"The name Fox has long been synonymous with this club and he was a proud part of that.

"Although he will be remembered for missing the kick in the 1968 final, people should not forget that he won the Lance Todd Trophy in the same match for playing so brilliantly."

The Fox brothers, Don, Neil and Peter, from Sharlston, all found Rugby League fame.

Send us your tributes to Don Fox

Don holds the Featherstone Rovers record for tries scored, 162, and is third in the club's all-time goal-kicking charts with 503 in 369 appearances

But the most famous incident in his long and successful career was his failure right in front of the posts at Wembley.

His despair after missing what should have been the match-winning last kick, and commentator Eddie Waring's subsequent cry of "He's a poor lad!", became one of Rugby League's most enduring images.

In front of 87,000-strong Wembley crowd, Fox sliced the ball wide and the final whistle was blown immediately, giving Leeds a dramatic 11-10 victory.

Wakefield fans turned out in force two days later to welcome the team home.

As the players made their way to a civic reception, 5,000 people, standing 10-deep, lined the street.

They carried banners urging Don Fox, then 32, to carry on playing. Prior to Wembley he had said he might retire.

They proclaimed him the "greatest", cheered him and chanted his name.
He did indeed carry on playing, and when he retired in 1971, he had made more than 500 appearances, accumulating 1,755 points.


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