Fast Lane to Shangri-La - The Story of a Rugby League Family

Book Description
Fast Lane to Shangri-La is the unique autobiography of a professional rugby league player. Dave Sampson's book tells the story of growing up in a Yorkshire mining community, signing as a professional player in the early 1960's for Wakefield Trinity along with his brother Malcolm and subsequent career as a professional player and then coach. Both funny and moving, Dave's book portrays a vivid picture throughout. From his early years growing up near Wakefield, a playing career spanning 20 years with Wakefield Trinity, Bramley and Castleford and more latterly his time as coach with Castleford and the ill-fated clubs of Doncaster and Nottingham. Fast Lane to Shangri-La also tells the story of other members of this sporting family, including Denise, a former Olympic sprinter, Paul who plays Rugby Union with Wasps and England and Dean who recently nothed up his 400th first team appearance for Castleford Tigers.
Excerpted from Fast Line to Shangri-La; the story of a rugby league family by Dave Sampson. Copyright 2001. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
…it went like this. Harold Poynton to Ken Hirst, Ken on to me, it would not be in my hands long enough to pick up sweat before it was in Oupa's then BANG! I'd been hit by a train….my shoulder was broken, clean as a whistle and I knew it. So did Paddy Armour, our physio. 'Sorry young Sampson, you're off, cummon.'
The game had not stopped and from the resultant scrum, Hunslet's Dave Smith, their winger was coming up the touchline. Instinctively I pulled away from Paddy and set to cut him off when a voice bellowed, 'Leave the bastard, he's mine!'…