Mike Flynn (Footballer)

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Mike Flynn
Personal information
Full name	Michael Anthony Flynn
Date of birth	February 23, 1969 (age 38)
Place of birth	Oldham, England
Height	6'2"
Nickname	Flynny, The Mighty Flynn
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Hyde United
Youth clubs
1985-1987	Oldham Athletic
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1987-1988 1988-1989 1989-1993 1993-2002 2002 2002-2003 2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007	Oldham Athletic Norwich City Preston North End Stockport County Stoke City (Loan) Barnsley Blackpool (Loan) Blackpool Accrington Stanley Hyde United Stalybridge Celtic Total	40 (1) 0 (0) 136 (7) 387 (16) 13 (0) 21 (0) 13 (0) 44 (1) ? (?) ? (1?) ? (?) 697 (25)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of March 14, 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Mike Flynn is a former professional footballer who played in the English Football League.

Contents 1 Oldham Athletic 2 Norwich and Preston 3 A Hatters Legend 4 Barnsley and Blackpool 5 Non-League

[edit] Oldham Athletic

Born in Oldham, Greater Manchester on 23 February 1969 Mike began his career with his hometown club Oldham Athletic first signing apprentice forms in July 1985 before turning professional in February 1987. Mike made an immediate impact with The Latics going straight into the first team and earning a reputation as a no nonsense but classy Centre half. Playing in the old second division Mike was by now attracting attention from some of the bigger clubs and in December 1988 at the age of 19 after 44 games and 1 goal he was on his way to top flight Norwich City for a fee of £100k.

[edit] Norwich and Preston

Mike's time at Norwich was for him a frustrating one though for in his twelve months with the club he failed to make a single appearance but in December 1989 third division Preston North End tabled a bid of £125k which City duly accepted enabling Mike to return to his native North West. Mike's time at PNE was however a difficult one for although Mike's own performances were generally outstanding the club on were struggling with many of there best players being sold to boost the club coffers. Indeed in Mike's time at Deepdale North End sold Tony Ellis, Warren Joyce, Alan Kelly, Martin James, Brian Mooney and Mark Patterson all for large transfer fees. It therefore came as no surprise when Flynn himself was sold to Stockport County in March 1993 for a fee of £150k. In Flynn's three and a half years at Preston he had played 162 games scoring 8 goals.

[edit] A Hatters Legend

Flynn's move to Edgeley Park started a ten year love affair with the club earning him hero status with the fans and Stockport public alike. Rewarded with the supporters player of the year award in the 1993-94 season Mike helped the club to the second division play off final at Wembley only to see his side lose to local rivals Burnley. The following season 1994-95 saw Mike give the captains armband and in 1996-97 captained the side to promotion to the First Division as well as to the semi-final of the League Cup, found 4 of the FA Cup and also the Autoglass Trophy northern final. Indeed Mike was an ever present that season playing a remarkable 66 games. Mike's sterling performances had though not gone unnoticed and when an £800k bid from Birmingham City was rejected by County in February 1999 Mike was somewhat unhappy. He did however sort things out with County and later on in the year signed a new contract with the club. However during the 2001-02 season County began to struggle and when during the season manager Andy Kilner was sacked many thought Mike may be in the running for the job. It wasn't to be though as just before Christmas 2001 Carlton Palmer was given the job and a disillusioned Mike was weeks later loaned out to Stoke City. In Mikes two months at the Britannia Stadium Mike played well in his 13 games but when Stoke boss Gudjon Thordarson decided not to make the move permanent Mike was on his way back to Stockport. Things at Stockport were however strained and just three days after returning he was given a free transfer just ten days before what would have been his tenth anniversary with the club. In all Mike played 460 games for The Hatters scoring 19 goals will be remembered as a Stockport legend for many years to come.

[edit] Barnsley and Blackpool

Upon leaving Stockport in March 2002 Mike signed for Steve Parkin's Barnsley but in little over a year at Oakwell played just 21 games before in January 2003 returning to the North West with Blackpool, initially on loan and then permanently in March of the same year. Again Mike's committed performances made him a firm favourite at Bloomfield Road and he played another 54 games (1 goal) for the club taking his career tally to a mammoth 767 games played and 31 goals scored.

[edit] Non-League

However in September 2004 Mike signed an eighteen month cotract for then Nationwide Conference side Accrington Stanley. Mike played another 45 games for Accy before leaving for Conference North team Hyde United in November 2005 and then more recently in December 2006 Stalybridge Celtic who he still turns out for to this today.