My first wife and I were Godparents to one of Don's girls and I wrote this at the time.
Don was married to my first wife's best mate in Manchester and they knew him from his days at Man U.
I got on really well with Don and we stayed with them in Crowthorne, Berkshire, and they stayed with us in Leeds on several occasions.
By the way, Don joined us with 16 matches left and we were in 12th position - he played 11 and scored 3 under Martin Peters and if a player wanted to speak to Martin Peters, they had to make an appointment.
On the day of the match, my then father-in-law and I were sat in the JSS and we had gifts for one of Don's girls as it was her birthday and we had agreed to meet him after the match.
When Don finally went to take the penalty, my father-in-law (who had know Don since he was a lad at Man U) said to me, "Don's taking it - no chance he'll score."
When the game was over, we went round to the player's entrance and waited for Don. We asked for a message to be taken to him that we had the gifts - a message came back to leave them with the doorman as it was going to be a long time before they could leave.
Next day, in the evening, we phoned Don's wife to see how he was and she told us this.
"We had Sunday dinner and I left Don to wash up. I heard the dishes clattering as he put them into the sink and I could hear the water running. I was playing with the kids in the lounge for a while and suddenly realised there was no noise coming from the kitchen but there was no sign of Don who used to love playing games with his daughters.
I went to the kitchen to see that the sink was overflowing and there was water every where.
Don was slumped over the table with his head in his hands shaking his head as he relived the match and the missed penalty. He had told me that John Matthews was down to take penalties but he had refused. No-one else would step up so Don took the responsibility even though he was absolutely no penalty taker.
He was reliving the match and hates himself and blames himself but what could he do? No-one else would take the penalty."
Don Givens has always been blamed for taking us down and to me, the blame has always rested with Martin Peters. He took over in January from Harry Haslam when Harry was ill and we were 12th in the table with 16 to play.
Another sh1te manager!
The attached photo at our place in Leeds in the early 80's: from left; my Father in law, Moi, Mrs BoSS I's biological brother (she was adopted by my in-laws), and Don Givens far right.
He was gutted and he told me once that whenever he drives near Sheffield, he wears a mask!!!
