Mick Fairclough

Mick Fairclough

Personal information
Full name	Michael Joseph Fairclough
Date of birth	October 22, 1952 (1952-10-22) (age 59)
Place of birth	Drogheda, Ireland
Playing position	Midfield / Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1970-1971	Drogheda	14	(1)
1971-1975	Huddersfield Town	35	(2)
1980-1983	Dundalk	150	(48)
1984-1986	Drogheda United	?	(11)
1986-1987	Sligo Rovers	?	(0)
1987-1988	Newry Town
National team
1982	Republic of Ireland	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Michael Joseph "Mick" Fairclough (born October 22, 1952 in Drogheda) was a former Irish professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Drogheda United, Dundalk and Huddersfield Town.

Mick started his football career with Drogheda Youths and won an FAI Youths Cup medal in 1970 scoring in the replay of the final. At age 18 he played in the 1971 Senior FAI Cup Final with Drogheda who lost to Limerick after a replay.

Mick was bought by Huddersfield Town (who were then in the old 1st Division) in August 1971 and made his 1st team debut against Wolves in October 1971. He made 20 appearances in the 1971/72 season including games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Spurs & Wolves.

He won a full International cap for the Republic of Ireland in 1972 in the Mini World Cup in Brazil and also won two full caps in 1982 after his successful comeback from injury.

Serious Knee Injury

Mick received a serious leg injury in 1973 and this ultimately ended his career prematurely in 1975. He was out of football for 5 years and then made a comeback in the League of Ireland with Dundalk after receiving treatment from Bobby McGregor the renowned Northern Ireland Physio. Mick played for Dundalk for a further 4 years where he was top scorer for 3 consecutive seasons during which time he won FAI Cup and League medals. He scored in the 1981 Cup Final against Sligo Rovers and also scored against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1982 UEFA European Cup Winners' Cup 1st leg, in the 1-1 draw in Oriel Park.

In 1984 he left Oriel Park to return to Drogheda United where he started his career and finished playing there in 1986.

This was a truly remarkable comeback after his career was ended with a very serious leg injury in 1975.

After Football

Following his early retirement from professional football Mick returned to college and then progressed into the I.T. Business where he has been very successful in his career. He has held senior management positions in a number of multi-national companies and is currently working in the Software Division of the IBM Company in Ireland.

Honours

• League of Ireland
  • Dundalk F.C. 1981-82

• FAI Cup
  • Dundalk F.C. 1981

• League of Ireland Cup
  • Dundalk F.C. 1980-81

• President's Cup: 2
  • Dundalk F.C. 1980-81, 1981–82

References

The Complete Who's Who of Irish International Football, 1945-96 (1996):Stephen McGarrigle

Persondata
Name	Fairclough, Mick
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 22, 1952
Place of birth	Drogheda, Ireland
Date of death
Place of death