"HOW do you feel as a teenager walking out at Wembley? It was unbelievable. It's a chance of a lifetime for any young lad."

Those were the words of York-born Harry Deighton, for whom today's Powergen Challenge Cup final will evoke memories of the time he made history when Huddersfield last reached the showpiece event.

Deighton, then aged 18 years and seven months, became the youngest player to appear in a post-War Challenge Cup final when his Huddersfield team took on Wakefield in 1962.

He would have been the youngest-ever but for a 17-year-old winger called Reg Lloyd, who had played in the 1937 final. Lloyd had apparently gone to Wembley as a spectator but was called up at late notice after illness swept through the team.

More than 81,000 attended the 1962 final, and Deighton, now 62, who lives in Rawcliffe, said: "It was the biggest game of my life, it's got to be. It was the Challenge Cup final.

"I wasn't overawed, though. I had an old head on young shoulders. You had to in those days. It was a rugby league side then, not kick and rush like nowadays. They were hard men."

As for the game itself, which Wakefield won 12-6, Deighton said: "I hardly remember a thing. I remember walking out and little bits of the game, but most of it is just blank. I could never remember much about games I played in."

One thing he can remember is the controversy that, he maintains, cost Huddersfield the cup.

"I was picked to mark Neil Fox at centre and Gwyn Davies was to play at stand-off but he pulled out at the last minute and I moved to stand-off. It disrupted our plans."

It was reported that Davies had a hip injury, but Deighton revealed: "He pulled out because of a dispute over payment. I told him he could have my wages - I would have played at Wembley for nothing - but he said it was a matter of principle.

"Gwyn Davies was a match-winner and I still believe if he'd played, we would have won.

"We played Wake-field again the week after in the old Championship final, Gwyn Davies played and we beat them easily.

"The cup final was the first time my mum had watched me play and it was a big disappointment to lose."

Deighton had begun his rugby days at the old York Imperials club before signing for Huddersfield aged 17, breaking into the first team in the following season.

He had five years at Fartown and, after a short break from the game with a back injury, joined home-town club York, whom he captained before retiring aged 29. His dad, also called Harry, and brother Ronnie also played for York for many years, while grandson Joe has taken up the sport, playing for York Acorn juniors.

Deighton, an apprentice car mechanic when starting his career, later began a coal delivery business with his late brother Ronnie, and is now a taxi driver in York.

He is still a member of the Huddersfield Players' Association, but is disappointed he received no invitation to today's showpiece.

"I would have thought they'd invite the old players from the last time Huddersfield were there," he said.

"It's 44 years since they last got to the final and I was hoping for a phone call. They've moved from Fartown to the Galpharm Stadium now and they've got a different name, the Giants, so things are different, but I'm still a bit disappointed in them.

"I'll still be supporting them, though. I wish the lads well."

As for their hopes against Super League leaders St Helens, he said: "If they play like they did against Leeds (in the semi-final), they've got a chance.

"They've got to get in among them and spoil them. They can't let St Helens run about and play. They've got to get in between them, tackle them hard and knock them out of their stride. If they don't, St Helens will run all over them.

"I think they will be up for it but if St Helens score a couple of quick tries, that might knock heart out of them."

Huddersfield's former St Helens prop, Keith Mason, was last night ruled out of today's final against his old club after injuring a hamstring in training, but Giants captain Chris Thorman, who also had a hamstring problem, was passed fit.