Michael Joseph Fairclough (born 22 October 1952, in Annagassan) was an Irish former 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 Youth Cup medal in 1970 scoring in the replay of the final. At age 18 he played in the 1971

FAI Cup The Football Association of Ireland Senior Challenge Cup (FAI Cup), known as the Extra.ie FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland (as well as Derry ...

Final with Drogheda who lost to Limerick after a replay. This qualified Drogheda for the Blaxnit Cup where Drogheda lost on penalties to eventual winners Linfield. Mick was bought by Huddersfield Town (who were then in the English Premier Division) in August 1971 and made his first team debut against Wolves in October 1971. He made 20 appearances in the 1971/72 season including games against Arsenal
Chelsea - (see Match Programme)
Crystal Palace, Everton, Spurs & Wolves. He also represented Ireland in the International match against the West German Olympic team, and scored the third goal in a 3-0 win. Mick received a serious leg injury against Walsall on 17 September 1973 and this ultimately ended his career prematurely in 1974. He was out of football for 6 years and then made a comeback in the League of Ireland with Dundalk F.C. after receiving treatment from Bobby McGregor the renowned Northern Ireland Physio. His first League of Ireland game in nearly a decade came at Glenmalure Park on 2 March 1980 when he came off the bench and scored the equaliser for the Lilywhites. This goal helped secure second place in the

1979–80 League of Ireland The 1979–80 League of Ireland was contested by 16 teams, and Limerick United Limerick Football Club ( ga, Club Peile Luimnigh) was an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland who played in the League of Ireland and currently ...

season which meant qualification for the

1980–81 UEFA Cup The 1980–81 UEFA Cup was won by Ipswich Town on aggregate over AZ Alkmaar. According to the 1979 UEFA decision, Fairs Cup entry criteria were finally abolished, and UEFA ranking was introduced. Albania did not join, and it ceded its place to ...

. Fairclough made his European debut against

F.C. Porto Futebol Clube do Porto, MHIH, OM (), commonly known as FC Porto or simply Porto, is a Portuguese professional sports club based in Porto. It is best known for the professional football team playing in the Primeira Liga, the top flight of Portu ...

in the Estádio das Antas on 17 September 1980. That season he scored the winner in the semi-final of the FAI Cup and scored in the Final against Sligo Rovers. - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oJTCoVa2b98 Mick played for Dundalk for a further 4 years where he was top scorer for 3 consecutive seasons during which time he won

and League medals. He also scored 2 goals in the

1981–82 European Cup Winners' Cup The 1981–82 European Cup Winners' Cup was the 22nd season of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, a club football competition organised by UEFA for the national cup winners from each of its member associations. Spanish club Barcelona won the title for a se ...

against Fram Reykjavik. He then scored the equalising goal against the great Tottenham Hotspur team in the dramatic 1-1 draw in Oriel Park in the next round of the 1981 European Cup Winners Cup. He won two full International caps for Ireland in 1982 after his successful comeback from injury. In 1984, he left Oriel Park to return to Drogheda United where he started his career and finished playing there in 1986. See History from Dundalk Museu
Dundalk F.C. History Museum

Honours

* League of Ireland ** Dundalk F.C. 1981–82 *

** 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

Sources

The Complete Who's Who of Irish International Football, 1945–96 (1996):Stephen McGarrigle Gods v Mortals (2010):Paul Keane {{DEFAULTSORT:Fairclough, Mick 1952 births Living people Association footballers from Drogheda Men's association football midfielders Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Republic of Ireland men's international footballers Republic of Ireland men's under-23 international footballers Drogheda United F.C. players League of Ireland players English Football League players Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players Dundalk F.C. players Sligo Rovers F.C. players Newry City F.C. players NIFL Premiership players Transport F.C. players