Michael Pollitt
Encyclopedia
Michael Francis "Mike" Pollitt (born 29 February 1972) is an English footballer who plays for Wigan Athletic
as a goalkeeper.
, Lancashire
, Pollitt began his career at Manchester United
turning professional in the summer of 1990 following a two-year apprenticeship. On 5 October 1990 Pollitt joined Oldham Athletic
on a month's loan as back-up for Jon Hallworth
but did not make a senior appearance during his time at Boundary Park
. In January 1991 he joined then Football Conference
side Macclesfield Town
, also on loan, debuting in the 1–1 away draw with Boston United
on 5 January 1991. After a further appearance in a 2–0 FA Trophy
defeat at home to Gretna
the following week, Pollitt returned to Old Trafford
. Pollitt was released by Alex Ferguson
at the end of the season.
ahead of the 1991–92 season but was forced to play a supporting role to regular custodian Gary Kelly
. On 26 March 1992 he joined Lincoln City
on loan for the remainder of the season as cover for Ian Bowling
following the departure of Matt Dickins
to Blackburn Rovers
and was not called upon to make an appearance.
He began the 1992–93 season on loan to Football Conference
side Altrincham
debuting in the 1–0 home defeat to Gateshead
on 25 August 1992. He played in the next three league games before heading back to Gigg Lane
.
who fractured his foot in a 3–1 League Cup
defeat away to Crystal Palace
two days previously. Pollitt made his Football League debut in the 1–0 home defeat to Shrewsbury Town
on 26 September 1992 and made five league appearances for the club, one of which came against his parent club Bury, before relinquishing his place to the returning Bowling. Pollitt however remained on loan at Sincil Bank
and at the end of the second month, Lincoln officially took over the remainder of Pollitt's Bury contract. Following a brief sojourn to appear a further time for Altrincham in the 2–0 home victory over Welling United on 19 December 1992, he managed to displace Bowling from the Lincoln side over the Christmas fixtures and a series of impressive displays saw him rewarded with a new two-year contract in March 1993. He began the 1993–1994 season as the Imps first-choice goalkeeper before briefly losing his place to John Burridge
over the Christmas and New Year fixtures and permanently following the signing of Andy Leaning
in March 1994. In the summer, one of the first acts of newly appointed Lincoln manager Sam Ellis
was to transfer list Pollitt and Dave Ridings and Pollitt soon agreed a move to Darlington
.
. In his time at Meadow Lane
, Pollitt failed to dislodge regular custodian Darren Ward and had to wait until 22 February 1997 before making his County debut in a 2–0 away defeat to former club Bury. Seeking regular first-team football, Pollitt was sent out on loan to four different clubs during the 1997–98 season.
, from 1998 to 2000 and 2001 to 2005. Between these two spells was a season at Chesterfield
. Pollitt was very highly regarded at the South Yorkshire club, and whilst at Rotherham he registered the highest number of clean sheets (77) in the club's history. He was regarded as "one of the best goalkeepers outside the Premiership" during his time at Rotherham.
After serving 6 years at the club Pollitt is regarded as a Rotherham United legend and one, if not the best keeper in the clubs history. Following the clubs relegation to League One in 2005, Pollitt made a move to Wigan Athletic, who had just won promotion to the Premier League.
and Sunderland
but his move to Wigan (initially as cover for existing goalkeeper John Filan) following advice from Paul Barlow, gave him the chance to play Premiership football. His outstanding performances earned him a regular first team place, and in February 2006 he helped Wigan to a place in the 2006 League Cup Final. A hamstring injury in the opening minutes of the final meant that he had to be substituted in the 15th minute, and was replaced by Filan.
Despite being an English goalkeeper playing in the Premiership and playing a part in the success of Wigan Athletic in the 2005–06 season, Pollitt was not considered by Sven-Göran Eriksson
for inclusion in the England squad
for the 2006 World Cup
.
In November 2006 Pollitt joined Ipswich Town
on loan for a month. However, he was recalled by Wigan after only one game because of injury worries within the Wigan squad. He was then loaned to Burnley
for a month in January 2007. He played four matches for Burnley and was recalled with one match left on his loan deal after Chris Kirkland
picked up an injury. He agreed to a new one-year contract with Wigan in May 2009
and subsequently extended his deal by another year in May 2010. The deal was extended for a further year in July 2011, which will ensure that Pollitt will remain at the club after his 40th birthday.
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
as a goalkeeper.
Manchester United
Born in FarnworthFarnworth
Farnworth is within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. It is located southeast of Bolton, 6 miles south-west of Bury , and northwest of Manchester....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Pollitt began his career at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
turning professional in the summer of 1990 following a two-year apprenticeship. On 5 October 1990 Pollitt joined Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
on a month's loan as back-up for Jon Hallworth
Jon Hallworth
Jonathan Geoffrey "Jon" Hallworth is an English former professional goalkeeper.-Club career:Hallworth began his career as a trainee at Ipswich Town before signing a professional contract...
but did not make a senior appearance during his time at Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
. In January 1991 he joined then Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
side Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
, also on loan, debuting in the 1–1 away draw with Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
on 5 January 1991. After a further appearance in a 2–0 FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
defeat at home to Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
the following week, Pollitt returned to Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
. Pollitt was released by Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
at the end of the season.
Bury
Pollitt joined BuryBury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
ahead of the 1991–92 season but was forced to play a supporting role to regular custodian Gary Kelly
Gary Kelly (footballer born 1966)
Gareth "Gary" Kelly is an Irish former professional football goalkeeper. He is the son of former Irish international goalkeeper Alan Kelly, Sr....
. On 26 March 1992 he joined Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on loan for the remainder of the season as cover for Ian Bowling
Ian Bowling
Ian Bowling is an English former professional footballer who played as goalkeeper. He is goalkeeping coach and scout at Matlock Town.-Playing career:...
following the departure of Matt Dickins
Matt Dickins
Matthew James "Matt" Dickins is an English professional goalkeeper.Dickins attended All Saints RC Comprehensive school on Granville Road....
to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and was not called upon to make an appearance.
He began the 1992–93 season on loan to Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
side Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
debuting in the 1–0 home defeat to Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
on 25 August 1992. He played in the next three league games before heading back to Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
.
Lincoln City
On 24 September 1992 he rejoined Lincoln City on a month's loan to cover for Ian BowlingIan Bowling
Ian Bowling is an English former professional footballer who played as goalkeeper. He is goalkeeping coach and scout at Matlock Town.-Playing career:...
who fractured his foot in a 3–1 League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
defeat away to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
two days previously. Pollitt made his Football League debut in the 1–0 home defeat to Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
on 26 September 1992 and made five league appearances for the club, one of which came against his parent club Bury, before relinquishing his place to the returning Bowling. Pollitt however remained on loan at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
and at the end of the second month, Lincoln officially took over the remainder of Pollitt's Bury contract. Following a brief sojourn to appear a further time for Altrincham in the 2–0 home victory over Welling United on 19 December 1992, he managed to displace Bowling from the Lincoln side over the Christmas fixtures and a series of impressive displays saw him rewarded with a new two-year contract in March 1993. He began the 1993–1994 season as the Imps first-choice goalkeeper before briefly losing his place to John Burridge
John Burridge
John Burridge is an English former football goalkeeper who played for 29 different clubs in a career that lasted nearly 30 years. Overall, Burridge played 771 league games in the English and Scottish leagues, and several more at non-league level...
over the Christmas and New Year fixtures and permanently following the signing of Andy Leaning
Andy Leaning
Andrew John "Andy" Leaning is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Playing career:Born in Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire, Leaning had trials with York City in 1979 at the age of 16 and he went on to play for York Railway Institute and Rowntree Mackintosh in the Northern...
in March 1994. In the summer, one of the first acts of newly appointed Lincoln manager Sam Ellis
Sam Ellis
Samuel "Sam" Ellis is an English football coach and former player. He left his post as assistant manager of on December 30, 2010.-Career:...
was to transfer list Pollitt and Dave Ridings and Pollitt soon agreed a move to Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
.
Notts County
On 14 November 1995 his one-time Lincoln City manager Steve Thompson, acting as team manager with Colin Murphy as general manager, paid £75,000 to secure Pollitt's services for Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. In his time at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
, Pollitt failed to dislodge regular custodian Darren Ward and had to wait until 22 February 1997 before making his County debut in a 2–0 away defeat to former club Bury. Seeking regular first-team football, Pollitt was sent out on loan to four different clubs during the 1997–98 season.
Rotherham United
Mike Pollitt had two spells at Rotherham UnitedRotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, from 1998 to 2000 and 2001 to 2005. Between these two spells was a season at Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
. Pollitt was very highly regarded at the South Yorkshire club, and whilst at Rotherham he registered the highest number of clean sheets (77) in the club's history. He was regarded as "one of the best goalkeepers outside the Premiership" during his time at Rotherham.
After serving 6 years at the club Pollitt is regarded as a Rotherham United legend and one, if not the best keeper in the clubs history. Following the clubs relegation to League One in 2005, Pollitt made a move to Wigan Athletic, who had just won promotion to the Premier League.
Wigan Athletic
Wigan acquired his services from Rotherham United in June 2005. Prior to Rotherham, Pollitt had also played for Oldham AthleticOldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
but his move to Wigan (initially as cover for existing goalkeeper John Filan) following advice from Paul Barlow, gave him the chance to play Premiership football. His outstanding performances earned him a regular first team place, and in February 2006 he helped Wigan to a place in the 2006 League Cup Final. A hamstring injury in the opening minutes of the final meant that he had to be substituted in the 15th minute, and was replaced by Filan.
Despite being an English goalkeeper playing in the Premiership and playing a part in the success of Wigan Athletic in the 2005–06 season, Pollitt was not considered by Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
for inclusion in the England squad
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
for the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
In November 2006 Pollitt joined Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
on loan for a month. However, he was recalled by Wigan after only one game because of injury worries within the Wigan squad. He was then loaned to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
for a month in January 2007. He played four matches for Burnley and was recalled with one match left on his loan deal after Chris Kirkland
Chris Kirkland
Christopher Edmund "Chris" Kirkland is an English footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. He also has one cap for the England national team....
picked up an injury. He agreed to a new one-year contract with Wigan in May 2009
and subsequently extended his deal by another year in May 2010. The deal was extended for a further year in July 2011, which will ensure that Pollitt will remain at the club after his 40th birthday.