Place of birth Drogheda, Ireland Name Mick Fairclough Years Team Role Footballer | 1970–1971 Drogheda 1971–1975 Huddersfield Town | |
Full name Michael Joseph Fairclough Date of birth (1952-10-22) October 22, 1952 (age 63) | ||
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 Youth Cup medal in 1970 scoring in the replay of the final. At age 18 he played in the 1971 FAI Cup 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, Crystal Palace, Everton, Spurs & Wolves. He also represented Ireland in the International match against the West German Olympic team.
Mick received a serious leg injury against Walsall on September 17, 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 March 2, 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 season which meant qualification for the 1980–81 UEFA Cup. Fairclough made his European debut against F.C. Porto in the Estádio das Antas on September 17, 1980. That season he scored the winner in the semi final of the FAI Cup and scored in the Final against Sligo Rovers. -
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 also scored 3 goals in the 1981–82 European Cup Winners' Cup against Fram Reykjavik and Tottenham Hotspur in Oriel Park.
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.