Foley: Michael (Mick)

1910-1919 (Leeds City Player Details) (Leeds City War-time Guest Player Details)

Wing Half

Born: Dublin: 1892

Debut: v Blackpool (h): 03-09-1910

5’8” 11st 10lb (1912)

Nicknamed “Boxer”, Foley was one of three Shelbourne players recruited by Frank Scott-Walford prior to the 1910-11 season, the others being George Cunningham and Joe Enright. After signing for Leeds City in May 1910 he started at Inside Right for the first two games of the season but lost his place firstly to Billy Gillespie and then Tom Mulholland and made just two further appearances, once at Left Half and the second at Centre Half. Foley was one of the shining successes of the Irishmen recruited by City and remained on their books until the club’s demise in 1919. In his second season he again failed to claim a regular spot and had to be content with just nine starts as a striker or inside forward. Those few games did prove his striking ability, netting twice, the first as an inside left in a 2-4 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 6th January 1912 and the second was on 16th March when he got United's only goal in a 1-2 defeat at Bradford Park Avenue. His patience was rewarded as he became a regular the following season, missing just two games, the opening game of the season on 7th September 1912, when City were humbled in a 0-4 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage and the second in a 1-2 home defeat by Grimsby Town on Christmas Day, making the Left Half position his own and finding the net four times from that position. He was an ever-present in the 1913-14 season and all his games were at Left Half, except one lone appearance at Inside Left, but did not score once. In the final season before WW1 he missed just three games as the regular Left Half. He was absent for the fourth game of the season as United went down to Hull City at Elland Road by 2-3. Three games later he missed the 2-2 home draw with Arsenal on 3rd October 1914, then the 0-0 draw with Bury at Gigg Lane on 21st November 1914. He was again the ever-present Left Half in both Competitions in the first War-time season, scoring just one goal when he opened the scoring on New Year's Day in a 3-0 win at Hull City. But, then returned to Ireland for the duration of the war. He was back with City at the recommencement of Football League fixtures in 1919-20, and played in five of the eight fixtures at Left Half until the club's demise. He returned to Shelbourne in 1920 and soon established himself as one of the countries top players, winning an Irish Cup medal in his first season back with Shelbourne. He went on to represent the League of Ireland five times and was captain of the first Irish team which played Italy in Turin on 21st March 1926. The Irish team also included two ex-Leeds United men in Bob Fullam and John Joe Flood, who were both then paying for Shamrock Rovers. It was Foley’s only Irish Cap.