Introduction
Neil Wilkinson (16 February 1955 – 2 August 2016) was an English footballer. A right-back, he made 112 league appearances in a nine-year career in the Football League, turning out for Blackburn Rovers, Port Vale, and Crewe Alexandra. He won the Third Division title with Rovers in 1974–75.
Playing career
Wilkinson began his career with Blackburn Rovers, who finished third in the Third Division in 1972–73 under the stewardship of Ken Furphy. They dropped to 13th in 1973–74, before new boss Gordon Lee guided them to promotion as champions in 1974–75. Jim Smith then took charge at Ewood Park, as Rovers retained their Second Division status with mid-table finishes in 1975–76 and 1976–77. Wilkison then spent a brief time in South Africa, before he returned to England to join Fourth Division club Port Vale in June 1978. He played nine competitive games for Dennis Butler's "Valiants" in 1978–79, before being transferred to Warwick Rimmer's Crewe Alexandra, along with £3,000, in exchange for Kevin Tully in October 1978. The "Railwaymen" finished bottom of the Football League in 1978–79, and under Tony Waddington's stewardship had to re-apply for re-election again in 1979–80, before rising to 18th place in 1980–81.
Statistics
- Sourced from Neil Wilkinson profile at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Blackburn Rovers | 1972–73 | Third Division | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973–74 | Third Division | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1974–75 | Third Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1975–76 | Second Division | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 1976–77 | Second Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
| Port Vale | 1978–79 | Fourth Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 1978–79 | Fourth Division | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| 1979–80 | Fourth Division | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 1980–81 | Fourth Division | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Total | 75 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 80 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 112 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 131 | 0 | ||
Honours
- with Blackburn Rovers
- Football League Third Division champion: 1974–75