Mick Fairclough

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Mick Fairclough
Personal information
Date of birth October 22, 1952 (1952-10-22) (age 55)
Place of birth    Drogheda, Ireland
Playing position Midfield / Striker
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1968-69
1970-71
1971-75
1980-83
1984
Drogheda Youths
Drogheda United
Huddersfield Town
Dundalk
Drogheda United
120 (69)

35 (2)
150 (64)
   
National team
1970
1971-82
Republic of Ireland Amateur
Republic of Ireland

3 (1)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Mick Fairclough (born October 22, 1952 in Drogheda) was a former Irish professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Huddersfield Town in England & Drogheda United & Dundalk in Ireland.

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 17 he played in the 1971 Senior FAI Cup Final with Drogheda who lost to Limerick after a replay.

Mick was bought by Huddersfiled 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 made his 1st International appearance for the Republic of Ireland in 1972 against West Germany and scored one of the goals in the 3-1 victory. He also travelled with the International team to the Mini World Cup in Brazil in 1972.

Mick received a serious leg injury in 1973 and this ultimately ended his career prematurely in 1975. Mick 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 and won FAI League & Cup medals. He scored in the 1981 Cup Final against Sligo Rovers and also scored against Totenham Hotspur in the 1982 European Cup Winners Cup 1st leg, in the 1-1 draw in Oriel Park.

Mick also played twice for the Republic of Ireland in 1982 against Chile and Trinidad & Tobago. He then returned to Drogheda United where he started his career and finished playing there in 1984.

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