Mike McCulloch
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" McCulloch (26 April 1891 – 21 August 1973) was a Scottish professional footballer who played predominantly as an inside forward
and occasionally as a wing half
.
, McCulloch started his career as a junior player with his hometown club Denny Hibernians before turning professional when he joined Falkirk
in July 1913. In eight years with the club, he was made team captain and played over 160 first-team matches for the side. He also made appearances for the Scottish Junior International team during his time with Falkirk. In the summer of 1921, McCulloch moved to Heart of Midlothian
on a free transfer. He spent one season with Hearts before joining Football League Third Division North
side Nelson
for a fee of £150 in June 1922.
McCulloch made his Nelson debut in the first match of the 1922–23 season, a 2–6 loss to Bradford Park Avenue
on 26 August 1922. He scored his first goal for the club the following week in the return match at Seedhill
. After appearing in all of the first 23 matches of the campaign, he spent a spell out of the side following the signing of Dick Crawshaw
. McCulloch returned to the first-team towards the end of the season, playing the final four games of the season at the unfamiliar position of right half-back. Altogether, he played 28 matches and scored six goals in his first season with Nelson, as the team finished champions of the Third Division North, thereby gaining promotion to the Football League Second Division
for the first time in their history.
It was McCulloch who scored Nelson's first ever goal in the Second Division, in the 1–1 draw with Clapton Orient on 25 August 1923. After three matches of the season, he was again moved to right half-back, a position which he kept for the rest of the first half of the campaign. Following the 1–1 draw with Fulham
on 22 December 1923, McCulloch was dropped from the team and spent a long period in the reserves. Nelson supporters made clear their disappointment at the omission of McCulloch, with several letters being written to the Nelson Leader
questioning the team selection. He was briefly reinstated to the team at the end of the season, scoring in the 1–3 defeat to Leicester City
before playing his final match for Nelson on 26 April 1924 in the 0–1 loss to Leeds United
.
McCulloch joined Third Division North side Chesterfield
on a free transfer in June 1924. However, he found it difficult to break into the first-team, playing only three matches for the club before leaving to join Football League Third Division South
outfit Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in March 1925. He scored one goal in 10 league appearances for Bournemouth before being released at the end of the season. . McCulloch returned to his native Scotland and had a short spell with Scottish Football League Second Division
club St. Bernard's before retiring from football. He remained in Scotland following the conclusion of his football career, and died in Edinburgh
on 21 August 1973, at the age of 82.
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
and occasionally as a wing half
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
.
Life and career
Born in Denny, FalkirkDenny, Falkirk
Denny is a town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland, formerly in the county of Stirlingshire. It is situated west of Falkirk, and north-east of Cumbernauld, adjacent to both the M80 and M876 motorways...
, McCulloch started his career as a junior player with his hometown club Denny Hibernians before turning professional when he joined Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
in July 1913. In eight years with the club, he was made team captain and played over 160 first-team matches for the side. He also made appearances for the Scottish Junior International team during his time with Falkirk. In the summer of 1921, McCulloch moved to Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
on a free transfer. He spent one season with Hearts before joining Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
side Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
for a fee of £150 in June 1922.
McCulloch made his Nelson debut in the first match of the 1922–23 season, a 2–6 loss to Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
on 26 August 1922. He scored his first goal for the club the following week in the return match at Seedhill
Seedhill Football Ground
The Seedhill Football Ground was a football stadium in Nelson, Lancashire. It was the home of current North West Counties League Division One side Nelson F.C. from 1905 until 1968. Nelson later moved to Victoria Park, before the ground was demolished in 1980 to make way for the M65 motorway...
. After appearing in all of the first 23 matches of the campaign, he spent a spell out of the side following the signing of Dick Crawshaw
Dick Crawshaw
Richard Leigh "Dick" Crawshaw was an English professional association football player. He played as an inside forward. Born in Manchester, he played in the Football League for Manchester City, Halifax Town and Nelson....
. McCulloch returned to the first-team towards the end of the season, playing the final four games of the season at the unfamiliar position of right half-back. Altogether, he played 28 matches and scored six goals in his first season with Nelson, as the team finished champions of the Third Division North, thereby gaining promotion to the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
for the first time in their history.
It was McCulloch who scored Nelson's first ever goal in the Second Division, in the 1–1 draw with Clapton Orient on 25 August 1923. After three matches of the season, he was again moved to right half-back, a position which he kept for the rest of the first half of the campaign. Following the 1–1 draw with Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on 22 December 1923, McCulloch was dropped from the team and spent a long period in the reserves. Nelson supporters made clear their disappointment at the omission of McCulloch, with several letters being written to the Nelson Leader
Nelson Leader
The Nelson Leader is a weekly newspaper published every Friday for readers in the town of Nelson in Pendle, east Lancashire. It is edited from the 'Leader-Times' series of newspapers' offices in Nelson, Lancashire.-Editorial Variants:...
questioning the team selection. He was briefly reinstated to the team at the end of the season, scoring in the 1–3 defeat to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
before playing his final match for Nelson on 26 April 1924 in the 0–1 loss to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
.
McCulloch joined Third Division North side 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...
on a free transfer in June 1924. However, he found it difficult to break into the first-team, playing only three matches for the club before leaving to join Football League Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
outfit Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in March 1925. He scored one goal in 10 league appearances for Bournemouth before being released at the end of the season. . McCulloch returned to his native Scotland and had a short spell with Scottish Football League Second Division
Scottish Football League Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
club St. Bernard's before retiring from football. He remained in Scotland following the conclusion of his football career, and died in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on 21 August 1973, at the age of 82.