Mick Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mick" Sullivan (born 12 January 1934 in Leeds
, West Yorkshire
) is an English
former professional Rugby League World Cup
winning footballer of the 1950s and 60s. He (along with Garry Schofield
) holds the record for the most appearances for the Great Britain Lions
with 46.
Sullivan signed with Huddersfield
in 1952 as an 18 year-old right winger. He made his debut for the Great Britain national side
during the 1954 World Cup
in France against the Australian team. Sullivan went on to appear in the final and help Great Britain to claim the first ever World Cup. He scored atry against Australia in 1960, when he became the only British player to win the World Cup twice.
Sullivan was signed by Wigan
for a record fee of £9,500 in 1957. (based on average increases in earnings, this would be approximately £433,000 in 2009).
He was later signed by St Helens for a new world record fee of £11,000. (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £411,000 in 2009).
Sullivan played his first game for St Helens in January 1961.
while at Huddersfield in 1955 against Other Nations, in 1956 against France, while at St. Helens in 1962 against France, and won caps for Great Britain
while at Huddersfield in 1954 against France (2 matches), New Zealand, and Australia, in 1955 against New Zealand (3 matches), in 1956 against Australia (3 matches), in 1957 against France (3 matches), France, Australia, New Zealand, while at Wigan against France (2 matches), in 1958 against France, Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1959 against France (2 matches), and Australia (3 matches), in 1960 against France (3 matches), France, New Zealand, and Australia, while at St. Helens in 1961 against France, and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1962 against France (3 matches), Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand, and while at York in 1963 against Australia (World Cup 1954 3-caps, 1-try, 1957 3-caps, 3-tries, 1960 3-caps, 1-try).
Mick Sullivan also represented Great Britain
while at Huddersfield between 1952 and 1956 against France (2 non-Test
matches).
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former professional Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
winning footballer of the 1950s and 60s. He (along with Garry Schofield
Garry Schofield
Garry E. Schofield OBE is an English retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 1990s. At the time of his retirement he was the most-capped Great Britain player of all time along with Mick Sullivan, with 46 appearances. He also won three England caps, making him the highest...
) holds the record for the most appearances for the Great Britain Lions
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
with 46.
Sullivan signed with Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in 1952 as an 18 year-old right winger. He made his debut for the Great Britain national side
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
during the 1954 World Cup
1954 Rugby League World Cup
The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954 and officially known as the "Rugby World Cup". The prime motivators behind the idea of holding a rugby league world cup were the French, who were short of money following the seizing of their assets by the rugby union in World War II.The...
in France against the Australian team. Sullivan went on to appear in the final and help Great Britain to claim the first ever World Cup. He scored atry against Australia in 1960, when he became the only British player to win the World Cup twice.
Sullivan was signed by Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
for a record fee of £9,500 in 1957. (based on average increases in earnings, this would be approximately £433,000 in 2009).
He was later signed by St Helens for a new world record fee of £11,000. (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £411,000 in 2009).
Sullivan played his first game for St Helens in January 1961.
International honours
Mick Sullivan won caps for EnglandEngland national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
while at Huddersfield in 1955 against Other Nations, in 1956 against France, while at St. Helens in 1962 against France, and won caps for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
while at Huddersfield in 1954 against France (2 matches), New Zealand, and Australia, in 1955 against New Zealand (3 matches), in 1956 against Australia (3 matches), in 1957 against France (3 matches), France, Australia, New Zealand, while at Wigan against France (2 matches), in 1958 against France, Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1959 against France (2 matches), and Australia (3 matches), in 1960 against France (3 matches), France, New Zealand, and Australia, while at St. Helens in 1961 against France, and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1962 against France (3 matches), Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand, and while at York in 1963 against Australia (World Cup 1954 3-caps, 1-try, 1957 3-caps, 3-tries, 1960 3-caps, 1-try).
Mick Sullivan also represented Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
while at Huddersfield between 1952 and 1956 against France (2 non-Test
Test match (rugby league)
A Test match in rugby league football is a representative match between teams representing members of the Rugby League International Federation.The definition of a Test match differs from that of an international match...
matches).
External links
- Mick Sullivan - Wigan Career Page @ Cherryandwhite.co.uk
- Mick Sullivan - St Helens Career Page at saints.org.uk
- Mick Sullivan at narlvi.co.uk
- Mick Sullivan at rlhalloffame.org.uk
- Mick Sullivan at britannica.com
- Mick Sullivan at rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk
- International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org