25-05-2022, 08:16
May 25:
Just an international match to report on today. On this date in 1966, Mick Meagan of Huddersfield Town played for Ireland in a friendly match in Liege against Belgium. The Irish won 3-2.
I don't remember Mick playing for Town, though he was there when I started going. He was a defender and earned 12 caps for his country as a Town player. He had been at Everton before us and won the league title with them in 62/63.
He came to Town in 1964 when he was 30 years old and before he left for Halifax in 1968 he had made 131 appearances.
His name may not be one of the most famous ones in Huddersfield Town history, but he does have a place in the history of his country. That's because he has the distinction of becoming the first Republic of Ireland manager when he was appointed in September 1969. Before this, they used to pick the team by a selection panel.
He picked himself for his first match in charge, against Scotland, but then decided to stop. That was his 17th and final cap.
He had a couple of years in charge, which were far from successful, failing in both the World Cup and European qualifiers.
He will be celebrating his 88th birthday on Sunday, but I reckon I'll have enough to write about on that day, so an early happy birthday, Mick and hope you're celebrating a great victory for your old club.
![[Image: WudhbNq.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/WudhbNq.jpg)
Just an international match to report on today. On this date in 1966, Mick Meagan of Huddersfield Town played for Ireland in a friendly match in Liege against Belgium. The Irish won 3-2.
I don't remember Mick playing for Town, though he was there when I started going. He was a defender and earned 12 caps for his country as a Town player. He had been at Everton before us and won the league title with them in 62/63.
He came to Town in 1964 when he was 30 years old and before he left for Halifax in 1968 he had made 131 appearances.
His name may not be one of the most famous ones in Huddersfield Town history, but he does have a place in the history of his country. That's because he has the distinction of becoming the first Republic of Ireland manager when he was appointed in September 1969. Before this, they used to pick the team by a selection panel.
He picked himself for his first match in charge, against Scotland, but then decided to stop. That was his 17th and final cap.
He had a couple of years in charge, which were far from successful, failing in both the World Cup and European qualifiers.
He will be celebrating his 88th birthday on Sunday, but I reckon I'll have enough to write about on that day, so an early happy birthday, Mick and hope you're celebrating a great victory for your old club.