I suppose it depends how you choose to look at that issue...

Yes the players are reasonably well paid... when compared to nurses, policemen, firemen ect... however their potential life time earning from their chosen profession is far, far less... and the differential for the time they have an rl career (some 10 or 12 years) does not set them up for the rest of their lives as would a soccer player in the premiership.

We ask these young men to put their bodies on the line every week for our entertainment... then we (the fans ) cast them on to the scrap heap when they are worn out or too old... for me this is a way that we can show our appreciation of those that do it with a degree of loyalty to one or two clubs.


however noone is reaching into your pocket and forcing the hard eaned penny from your grasp... testemonials are voluntary and should stay that way!

look at it as a leaving collection for a valued work colleague and friend.

Some do, at the higher end of the scale at least.

Big fan of JD and what he's brought to our club but i would never call him a "Legend" that words used to often these days.

I dont think any of them get paid anywhere near enough.

Compare them to other sports players.

Remember the dedicate their whole life to it up to the age of 35-40 and when they finish many will not get another job paying anywhere near their previous job (where they were top of their tree) and will have to re-train again.

These people are professional sports people, putting their body on the line and being viewed on sky sports. Im not sure the money should be anywhere near football but do think they should be able finish their sporting life with a comfortable amount of money.

This is an argument for testimonials I can never understand. Not many people stay in their chosen profession for their entire lives either through choice or by circumstance. My view is that they should feel themselves lucky to have been paid well to play sport for a significant portion of their working lives. Why can't they go and do 20/30 years in a factory job like others have to do or retrain for another job? I believe that testimonials have long since had their day unless the money is going to charity.

Testimonials ask fans to dig into their pockets in order to give the recipient a healthier financial future. However the majority of the people being asked to donate are less well off than the person who will benefit.

I'm not blind to that, but it's not beyond the pale to expect these lads to make some provision for their future whilst they are earning significantly more than the average joe; I know of several former professional RL players who have business interests that they built up whilst still playing. Thesedays, most clubs with a decent infrastructure will have someone in place to help and advise players with that kind of stuff, so it's easier than it ever was.

Personally, I don't mind the testimonial match for players who have achieved something special - I understand it's a tax-free lump sum and could be considered a 'golden goodbye' at the end of ones career; that's fair enough. What I don't like however is the testimonial strip-show, testimonial race night, testimonial shirt etc etc that seems to be the standard fare thesedays.

I don't disagree with you, in terms of rewards from the club. It's the same as any job in any industry.
Just because you are a nice guy doesn't get you a higher paid job (sometimes!)

But in the case of the entertainment industry, as is the case for these guys, there are two interested groups: the people who pay you the money and the people who are entertained.

Fans have a tendency to glorify very small incidents that meant a lot to them personally, rather than in the bigger picture of the sport itself, and there is nothing wrong with that. That's why we all come to watch, to be entertained, sometimes inspired, sometimes we gain great memories that last a life time. And most are not shared, they are personal to you.

Players like Neil Fox have entertained a lot of people for a long time. He is by your definition a legend because of his scoring abilities and the influence he had on the game at club and international level. If you are in the Guinness Book of World Records you deserve to be called a legend.

On the other hand you occasionally get a player, who through great endeavour, passion, loyalty and personal integrity gives people great memories and inspires those people who have watched (and played with them) to want to say a special thank you in return.

That is what is happening for JD.

His name will never be spoken in the same list as Wally Lewis and Neil Fox from a legend of the game point of view, and to be honest nor should it. He is not as good at the game as they are, on all kind of levels. I’m sure he would say the same.

And when I make the list of people who have entertained me in this sport I will say I was lucky enough to see Wally Lewis play live for Wakefield, see Toppo play for Wakefield at Wembley, and even luckier to see Neil Fox at the end of his career….along with others.

But when I make the list of players who have entertained me but also inspired me with their passion for the game and their personal integrity and their leadership in tough times, both on and off the field……JD will be top.

And for that, whether we do it through an official testimonial or whether we call him a legend of the club, or give him money by buying a DVD of his career or just by speaking to the guy personally at a party to say goodbye, I’m glad I will get the chance.

So does sentimentality have a place in the game. Damn right it does.

Do not think you will find many that will disagree with that, sums it up perfectly for me.

--don't see anything wrong at all with testimonials i have thoroughly enjoyed the events i have attended and so have a lot of people. nobody is forced to get involved . . its just a lot of people having a good time and at the same time showing their appreciation for someone they believe has done a great job for the club whats wrong with that. in jd's case,my personal opinion, he has always lead by example, been a fantastic role model for the younger players , a great captain and ambassador for the club.. best of luck to him

as in most cases but it is not compulsory to donate

Exactly, no ones forced to go or to add to Testimonials but everyone wants to point out its wrong, either join in or don't, its that simple.

Is it being covered by his other employers? BBC Leeds
?

It is as simple as join in or not however it is also simple that on a forum people can discuss their opinions upon testimonials.

Is freedom of speech allowed?

Go forward ten years and imagine a parade at Newmarket of Wakefield players from the last decade. Who would get the biggest cheer? For me, it would be JD, and I think it's great that there was a leaving do where fans could mix with players and wish him all the best for the future.

And they have, everyones offered opinion, no ones been shot down, no one died.

No

Thats not speech, just a few Emo's

A very reasoned response...

I thought so

It won by a nose, well done.

brought a tenner in for me

Down to the jockey not the horse