Mick Leech
Encyclopedia
Mick Leech was an Irish professional football player who made his name with Shamrock Rovers in the 1960s.
He was signed by Paddy Ambrose
and Liam Tuohy
for Rovers in September 1966 from junior side Ormeau. He spent 6 weeks in the reserves before he made his first team debut against Dundalk at Milltown
on New Year's Day 1967. Rovers drew 1-1 and Mick was substituted by Billy Dixon
in the second half.
Leech scored his first goal for the Hoops on 4 January 1967. He played his first FAI Cup
tie for Rovers in the semi-final against Dundalk and scored Rovers' goal as they drew 1-1. The Hoops made no mistake in the replay as Mick scored twice in a 3-0 win. He went to score the second equaliser in the final against St Pat's and Mick Leech had his first Cup medal while still a teenager.
That summer Rovers toured the United States
as Boston Rovers
and at the tours end he, along with Paddy Mulligan
were offered terms by the locals http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1967/0711/Pg003.html#Ar00309:8DEB51900B68909B51933B68829C77859C8E.
In 1968 Leech again stamped his mark on the Cup, scoring twice both in the semi-final and the final. It was during the following season, 1968/69, that Mick really stormed on the scene as he notched up an incredible total of 56 goals during the season. These included 2 in the Cup Final replay against Cork Celtic. He was top league goal scorer that season with 19 goals.
Tuohy managed the Irish team that took part in the mini World Cup in Brazil in 1972 and two of the best players he had were Mick Leech and Mick Martin
.
Mick became disheartened with the game and left Rovers, in a swap with Tommy McConville
in December 1973 for Waterford http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1973/1215/Pg003.html#Ar00303:5183F452F40E5303F454140E54E3F458040E.
In December 1975 Leech played in an exhibition game at Croke Park
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1975/1212/Pg003.html#Ar00308:50061552562D50A5CC51F5EE5205CE52B5ED52B5CC5495EE.
He returned to Milltown in September 1976 when Seán Thomas
signed him http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1976/0924/Pg004.html#Ar00408:1C34CB1E94E21F44CB2214E204B5620715770BA5A30E05B81115F01396051395F013C60513D5F014460505A61508162B0D665F0FC6740A66A80CD6BD and the following month, he scored his 250th goal in senior football when his 30 yard shot in the last minute beat Sligo in Rovers' only win to date in the League Cup. When Johnny Giles
took over the following season Leech didn't figure in his plans and he moved to Bohemians.
He later played for Drogheda United
, Dundalk F.C.
and St Patrick's Athletic. He was assistant manager at Dundalk in the 1981/82 season.
One of the greatest ever strikers in the League of Ireland Mick Leech made 6 appearances in European competition for the Hoops. He also earned 4 Inter-League caps scoring once and scored 84 league goals and 18 goals in the FAI Cup. He is 14th all time goalscorer in the League of Ireland http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html
He also played 8 times for the Republic of Ireland national football team
, scoring twice. His international debut came on 4 May 1969 in a 2-1 defeat to Czechoslovakia
in a World Cup
qualifier in Dalymount Park
.
Mick later managed Athlone Town in the 1990/91 season.
His son Mark Leech
currently plays for Shelbourne F.C.
. His brother Bobby also played for Rovers and Home Farm.
He was signed by Paddy Ambrose
Paddy Ambrose
Patrick "Paddy" Ambrose was a professional football player and coach from Dublin, Ireland.Signed by Jimmy Dunne from junior side Clontarf, he was associated with Shamrock Rovers from 1948 to 1973, firstly as a player and then as a coach.He made his debut against Transport in Bray on 28 August...
and Liam Tuohy
Liam Tuohy (footballer)
Liam Tuohy is a former Irish footballer and manager. During the 1950s and 1960s. Tuohy played as an outside left for Shamrock Rovers, Newcastle United, and the Republic of Ireland. In 1959 while playing for Ireland, Tuohy scored the first ever goal in the history of the European Championship...
for Rovers in September 1966 from junior side Ormeau. He spent 6 weeks in the reserves before he made his first team debut against Dundalk at Milltown
Glenmalure Park
Glenmalure Park, often simply known as "Milltown", was a football stadium on the Southside of Dublin city in Ireland. Located in the suburb of Milltown, it was home to Shamrock Rovers from 1926 to 1987, when it was sold to property developers by the club's directors...
on New Year's Day 1967. Rovers drew 1-1 and Mick was substituted by Billy Dixon
Billy Dixon
William "Billy" Dixon scouted the Texas Panhandle for the Army, hunted buffalo for the train companies, defended the Adobe Walls settlement against Indian attack with his legendary buffalo rifle, and was one of eight civilians in the history of the U.S...
in the second half.
Leech scored his first goal for the Hoops on 4 January 1967. He played his first FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
tie for Rovers in the semi-final against Dundalk and scored Rovers' goal as they drew 1-1. The Hoops made no mistake in the replay as Mick scored twice in a 3-0 win. He went to score the second equaliser in the final against St Pat's and Mick Leech had his first Cup medal while still a teenager.
That summer Rovers toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as Boston Rovers
Boston Rovers
Boston Rovers were a United States soccer team that competed in the United Soccer Association league in 1967. The team was based in Lynn, Massachusetts and played their home games at the Manning Bowl. The USA league was actually made up of visiting club teams from Europe and South America...
and at the tours end he, along with Paddy Mulligan
Paddy Mulligan
Patrick Martin "Paddy" Mulligan is a retired Irish footballer who played mainly as a right-back.Mulligan started his senior career playing for Bohemians in 1963. However after only two games he signed for Shamrock Rovers in December 1963...
were offered terms by the locals http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1967/0711/Pg003.html#Ar00309:8DEB51900B68909B51933B68829C77859C8E.
In 1968 Leech again stamped his mark on the Cup, scoring twice both in the semi-final and the final. It was during the following season, 1968/69, that Mick really stormed on the scene as he notched up an incredible total of 56 goals during the season. These included 2 in the Cup Final replay against Cork Celtic. He was top league goal scorer that season with 19 goals.
Tuohy managed the Irish team that took part in the mini World Cup in Brazil in 1972 and two of the best players he had were Mick Leech and Mick Martin
Mick Martin
Michael Paul "Mick" Martin was an Irish soccer player during the 1970s and 1980s.Born in Dublin, he played for Bohemians, Manchester United, Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion, Vancouver Whitecaps, Cardiff City, Preston North End, Peterborough United, Rotherham United and the Republic of...
.
Mick became disheartened with the game and left Rovers, in a swap with Tommy McConville
Tommy McConville
Tommy McConville is an Irish former professional football player.In 1964 he made his debut for Dundalk F.C. and a year later, McConville moved to Bangor but soon returned to Oriel Park for the second time....
in December 1973 for Waterford http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1973/1215/Pg003.html#Ar00303:5183F452F40E5303F454140E54E3F458040E.
In December 1975 Leech played in an exhibition game at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1975/1212/Pg003.html#Ar00308:50061552562D50A5CC51F5EE5205CE52B5ED52B5CC5495EE.
He returned to Milltown in September 1976 when Seán Thomas
Seán Thomas
Seán Thomas was a former Irish football manager who died on 24 June 1999.-Club Management:One of the very first coaches to study for coaching badges Thomas had short spells as coach at Sligo Rovers and Home Farm F.C. before moving to Shamrock Rovers in 1961 for Rovers' tour in the International...
signed him http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1976/0924/Pg004.html#Ar00408:1C34CB1E94E21F44CB2214E204B5620715770BA5A30E05B81115F01396051395F013C60513D5F014460505A61508162B0D665F0FC6740A66A80CD6BD and the following month, he scored his 250th goal in senior football when his 30 yard shot in the last minute beat Sligo in Rovers' only win to date in the League Cup. When Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles
Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s...
took over the following season Leech didn't figure in his plans and he moved to Bohemians.
He later played for Drogheda United
Drogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
, Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
and St Patrick's Athletic. He was assistant manager at Dundalk in the 1981/82 season.
One of the greatest ever strikers in the League of Ireland Mick Leech made 6 appearances in European competition for the Hoops. He also earned 4 Inter-League caps scoring once and scored 84 league goals and 18 goals in the FAI Cup. He is 14th all time goalscorer in the League of Ireland http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html
He also played 8 times for the Republic of Ireland national football team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
, scoring twice. His international debut came on 4 May 1969 in a 2-1 defeat to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
in a World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
qualifier in Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
.
Mick later managed Athlone Town in the 1990/91 season.
His son Mark Leech
Mark Leech
Mark Leech , is an Irish footballer who last played for League of Ireland First Division side Shelbourne...
currently plays for Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
. His brother Bobby also played for Rovers and Home Farm.
Honours
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
: 3- Shamrock Rovers 1967, 1968, 1969
- FAI League Cup: 1
- Shamrock Rovers - 1976/77
- Blaxnit CupBlaxnit CupThe Blaxnit Cup, is a defunct club football competition which featured teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland, in a similar format to the current Setanta Cup...
- Shamrock Rovers 1967/68
- Leinster Senior CupLeinster Senior Cup (football)The Leinster Senior Cup is an association football cup competition organised by the Leinster Football Association. It contested by the top League of Ireland sides based in the province in Leinster along with four Leinster Senior League sides and the two Leinster Junior Cup finalists. The Cup was...
- Shamrock Rovers - 1968/69
- SWAI Personality of the Year
- Shamrock Rovers - 1968/69
- Hall of Fame
- Shamrock Rovers - 1995/96