The Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield United icon who played against stars like Matt Busby and took part in D Day landings

It was a different era to the world of the likes of Billy Sharp.
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Footballs were heavier, pay was a fraction of modern levels, and careers were cut short by war.

That was the world in which Mick Killourhy made his name as a professional footballer in the 1930s.

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Michael Killourhy, holds a picture of his late father Michael 'Mick' Killourhy.Michael Killourhy, holds a picture of his late father Michael 'Mick' Killourhy.
Michael Killourhy, holds a picture of his late father Michael 'Mick' Killourhy.
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Like Billy Sharp, Mick played for both Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield United.

But almost 90 years since Mick was banging in goals for the two clubs, his son, Michael, says he has only a single picture to remind him of his dad’s glory days.

Michael, aged 83, remembers little of his dad on the pitch. He was not born until 1937, and two years later Mick’s career was effectively halted by the outbreak of World War Two, which saw him called up to the Coldstream Guards.

Now he is hoping to track down pictures of his dad to help him build up a better picture of his father's high flying football career.

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Michael, from Lakeside, Doncaster, himself played rugby during his time as a pupil at Doncaster Grammar School in the 1940s and 50s, and admits he was never as good as his dad at football. Instead, he made a living as a dentist, working at a surgery in Bentley.

The Killourhy family moved to England when Mick’s dad, Michael’s grandfather, a miner, moved to Wigan from Ireland for work. After leaving school Mick played for Wigan Borough, the precursor of the modern Wigan Athletic.

He was soon scouted by top clubs, with Tottenham, Arsenal and Sheffield United said to be looking at him. Arsenal were the dominant team of the day, winning the league five times during the 30s.

He was signed by top flight Sheffield United in 1932. MIchael says his dad was told he should join the Blades by his mum, because they had an Irish Catholic as manager.

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But by 1936, he was not playing as often as he wanted, and transferred to Doncaster.

Football was stopped by the outbreak of war in 1939, which saw him playing matches for the London clubs as a guest, while based in Aldershot with the army. His time in the army also saw him involved in the Normandy Landings in 1944 with the Coldstream Guards armoured division.

Mick shared many of his memories with his son.

They included playing against Matt Busby, an opponent he always praised. Busby, a left half for Manchester City and later Liverpool, marked Mick, who was an inside right. “He had a hard game, but always spoke well of him.” said Michael.

He also spoke highly of this former Blades team mate Jimmy Dunne, who he described as the best header of the ball he had ever seen, heading it all the way to the half way line.

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His dad also used to speak of the time he took a penalty in front of the Kop at LIverpool’s Anfield stadium. Mick was well known for being able to bend the old fashioned, heavy footballs.

"He was a good penalty taker,” said Mick. “He had a penalty late on. But on that occasion he screwed it wide in front of the Kop. Apparently the Kop went mad.”

In a rough era, he said a wet sponge was the only treatment for injuries. His father was knocked out playing the game on a number of occasions, and once broke his leg in two places.

But if his dad was fouled in his days at Rovers, he would have defenders on his own side who would look after him.

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"Syd Bycroft was the hardest defender he ever met,” said Michael. He would take on anyone who injured my dad on the pitch. He was always the hatchet man. There was also a full back who was similar, Arthur Rodgers. He went on to run a pub in Doncaster.”

He said the family lived close to Syd, in Town Moor, and added off the pitch he was a gentle giant, who also went on to coach the team.

He also said his dad was close to an international call up.

“They wanted to call him up to play for Ireland,” he said. “He was picked, but they were not able to play him because he wasn’t born there. It’s all changed now, though. He could have played under modern rules.”

When he returned from the war, Mick played for Denby United. After retiring he worked in a number of jobs including as a salesman at the John Hills biscuit company and in the personnel department at British Bemberg, later ICI. He also took up golf, and was one of the most successful players at Wheatley Golf Club and in the Sheffield Union of Golf Clubs championships.

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Even after his playing career had ended, people still spoke to Michael about his dad. His patients at the dental practice where he worked used to ask him: “Are you Mick’s lad?”

Although much has been said in recent years of the head injuries footballers can suffer from heading footballs, Mick never suffered from dementia as a result of his involvement in the game. He died at the age of 91 in 2002.

Despite his stories, the only picture Michael has of his dad in his playing days is an old black and white photograph of him in the red and white stripes of Sheffield United.

He is keen to hear from anyone who is able to share pictures of his dad’s career.

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"I have so many tales about him, but just the one picture,” said Mick. “I’d love to know if anyone has any old pictures of him.”

Email Michael on [email protected] or call him on 01302 535019.

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