In a football career that spanned over 15 years Mick’s last club was Witton, whom he joined in 1972 making his debut at Oswestry Town on January 8th in the team that read: Bell; Moult, Roberts, Haspell, Rogers, Hobson, Farron, Metcalf, Ogden, Carrick & Ratcliffe.

It was Manager Norman Low that secured his signature and when he departed in March 1972 Mick was appointed into the role of Player/Manager with Alan Haspell his Assistant.

Unfortunately the job proved to be too time consuming and at the end of the following 72/73 campaign Mick left Witton to concentrate on his job running his own business, Metlab Supplies Ltd., selling laboratory equipment and chemicals to industry, colleges and hospitals.

His final appearance for us being at the Central Ground on April 28th 1973 against Stalybridge Celtic where the line-up was: McDonald; Swain, Roberts, Mason, Duncan, Curtin, Caric, Metcalf, Skelhorn, Carrick & Hough.

Mick had made in total 58 appearances, 4 as substitute, and scored 4 goals and was succeeded at the helm by his faithful assistant Alan Haspell during the 1973/74 season.

Born at Walton Park, Liverpool on 24th May 1939 but brought up in Saltney, Mick began his career with Everton, before joining Wrexham as a part-timer in May 1957 to allow him to complete a degree course in chemistry. Over the next six years he scored 73 times in 145 games for Wrexham before switching to local rivals Chester for £5,000 in December 1963.

The following season saw Chester score 141 goals in Fourth Division, FA Cup and Football League Cup matches, with Metcalf netting 37 of them!

Between October 1964 and September 1967, Mick started a then club record 127 consecutive league games. His final Football League game was against Workington on 30 November 1968.

So, after scoring 68 times in 221 matches for Chester City, Mick began to look at a career outside football and having obtained a degree in chemistry and maths he took the opportunity of studying on a teaching course. However this meant going part time and so at the start of 1969 he dropped out of league football and joined Altrincham.

After a season at Moss Lane he had a short spell at Bangor City before joining Rhyl. While he was at Rhyl the Welsh club reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

Upon leaving Rhyl Mick had a short spell as Player/Manager of Connah’s Quay Nomads and also played for local Welsh clubs Bethesda Athletic and Hawarden prior to commencing his spell with Witton.

A resident of Connah’s Quay Mick was a proud member of the Blues’ Hall of Fame and an active member of the Chester Former Players Association and will be sorely missed by everyone.