Mike Bailey
Posted on: Wed 17 Nov 2004
Mike Bailey spent all but 16 games of his 18 year playing career with Wolves and Charlton Athletic. Mike was born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire on the 27th February 1942, and he played his early football for Gorleston before moving to Charlton as an amateur trialist in 1958. In March, 1959, he signed for the club as a professional and his qualities as a leader were soon obvious as he skippered his way through the junior teams until he made his first team debut in December, 1960.
It was certainly a debut to remember, but for all the wrong reasons. Plymouth Argyle were the opponents and the man Mike was marking was Wilf Carter, who bagged five goals. Mike, however, went on to make nearly 200 appearances for Charlton. Whilst at the Valley he made five appearances for his country at Under 23 level, and for the full England side he collected two caps - against the United States and Wales in 1964.
Sadly, that year he broke a leg, the interruption bringing an early end to his international career. Having recovered from his injury, Mike brought his Charlton side to Molineux in November, 1965. In a cracking match he was one of two Robins who excelled that day, the other being keeper Mike Rose whose acrobatics defied the Wolves forwards time and time again.
But Bailey's midfield prompting turned a half-time deficit into a 2-1 lead, the skipper getting one of the goals himself, and earning the chance to put the game even further out of Wolves' reach, but Fred Davis superbly saved his team-mate's spot kick after Bailey had been fouled. Later Wolves got the equaliser they deserved, but manager Ronnie Allen must have seen enough to convince him that Bailey was the man to lead the team back into the first division and he signed him for £40,000 in March, 1966.
Mike made his debut on March 12th in the home draw against Southampton and for the rest of the season and the following two he was only to miss two matches. He arrived a little too late in that first season to make any real impression and Wolves, although they obviously had the talent to get back into the First Division, lacked the consistency needed for promotion.
But the following campaign saw a different story. Only lapses in the final two away games cost Wolves the championship, and they returned to the top flight as runners-up to Coventry City. It was perhaps more than a coincidence that the only game Mike missed that season was the last one at Selhurst Park, in which Wolves were hammered 4-1 when victory would have given them the title.
They say that 'one man doesn't make a team', but Mike's leadership was such a driving inspiration that he was sorely missed in the Palace game. His qualities were recognised that year though when he was named as the Midland Footballer of the Year.
The next three seasons brought about a slow acclimatisation to the top flight before the team slipped into gear, starting the seventies with a highly creditable fourth place in the League, with the skipper holding silverware - the Texaco Trophy - up to the crowd for the first time in his career. The following season, after an 11 game unbeaten run, Mike received a bad injury in a cup-tie against Leicester.
At the time, in that particular game, Wolves were one up and dominating affairs. But the loss of Bailey that day seemed to have an immediate affect on his team, and Leicester took the tie to a replay which they won. Wolves won only six more League games that season, although they performed marvels in the UEFA Cup in which they were so unlucky to lose in the final.
The following 1972/73 season was a heartbreaking one for Bailey, the team and supporters, when the semi-final stage of both FA and League Cups were reached only for defeat to be tasted on both occasions. But, in March 1974, Wolves did make it to Wembley, and it was Bailey who threaded the ball through to Alan Sunderland whose cross was converted by John Richards for the winning goal in the League Cup Final against Manchester City.
At last the team had got some reward for the flowing football they played, and it showed in the captain's ear-to-ear grin as he lifted the trophy high into the Wembley air. The following two seasons brought about a decline in the club's fortunes, and they were relegated to the Second Division once again. It was to prove only a short stay, and it was also to be Mike Bailey's last season for Wolves.
After playing the first ten games, he travelled with the team to Blackpool on October 30th. At half-time he was replaced after suffering a re-occurrence of a thigh strain and that was to be the last that was seen in gold and black of the barrel-chested Bailey. After a successful testimonial Mike left the club the following summer and played for Minnesota Kicks in the North American Soccer League.
He returned to this country for a spell as player/manager of Hereford United. Since then he has managed Brighton and Hove Albion, and Fisher Athletic in the Vauxhall Conference League and was involved with the backroom staff at Portsmouth. He is currently involved with scouting work for Everton.
WOLVES PLAYING CAREER 1965-1977
League Appearances 360(1) Goals 19
FA Cup Appearances 18(2) Goals 2
League Cup Appearances 29
European Games Appearances 9(1) Goals 2
Other Appearances 16 Goals 2
TOTAL APPEARANCES 432(4) GOALS 25
It was certainly a debut to remember, but for all the wrong reasons. Plymouth Argyle were the opponents and the man Mike was marking was Wilf Carter, who bagged five goals. Mike, however, went on to make nearly 200 appearances for Charlton. Whilst at the Valley he made five appearances for his country at Under 23 level, and for the full England side he collected two caps - against the United States and Wales in 1964.
Sadly, that year he broke a leg, the interruption bringing an early end to his international career. Having recovered from his injury, Mike brought his Charlton side to Molineux in November, 1965. In a cracking match he was one of two Robins who excelled that day, the other being keeper Mike Rose whose acrobatics defied the Wolves forwards time and time again.
But Bailey's midfield prompting turned a half-time deficit into a 2-1 lead, the skipper getting one of the goals himself, and earning the chance to put the game even further out of Wolves' reach, but Fred Davis superbly saved his team-mate's spot kick after Bailey had been fouled. Later Wolves got the equaliser they deserved, but manager Ronnie Allen must have seen enough to convince him that Bailey was the man to lead the team back into the first division and he signed him for £40,000 in March, 1966.
Mike made his debut on March 12th in the home draw against Southampton and for the rest of the season and the following two he was only to miss two matches. He arrived a little too late in that first season to make any real impression and Wolves, although they obviously had the talent to get back into the First Division, lacked the consistency needed for promotion.
But the following campaign saw a different story. Only lapses in the final two away games cost Wolves the championship, and they returned to the top flight as runners-up to Coventry City. It was perhaps more than a coincidence that the only game Mike missed that season was the last one at Selhurst Park, in which Wolves were hammered 4-1 when victory would have given them the title.
They say that 'one man doesn't make a team', but Mike's leadership was such a driving inspiration that he was sorely missed in the Palace game. His qualities were recognised that year though when he was named as the Midland Footballer of the Year.
The next three seasons brought about a slow acclimatisation to the top flight before the team slipped into gear, starting the seventies with a highly creditable fourth place in the League, with the skipper holding silverware - the Texaco Trophy - up to the crowd for the first time in his career. The following season, after an 11 game unbeaten run, Mike received a bad injury in a cup-tie against Leicester.
At the time, in that particular game, Wolves were one up and dominating affairs. But the loss of Bailey that day seemed to have an immediate affect on his team, and Leicester took the tie to a replay which they won. Wolves won only six more League games that season, although they performed marvels in the UEFA Cup in which they were so unlucky to lose in the final.
The following 1972/73 season was a heartbreaking one for Bailey, the team and supporters, when the semi-final stage of both FA and League Cups were reached only for defeat to be tasted on both occasions. But, in March 1974, Wolves did make it to Wembley, and it was Bailey who threaded the ball through to Alan Sunderland whose cross was converted by John Richards for the winning goal in the League Cup Final against Manchester City.
At last the team had got some reward for the flowing football they played, and it showed in the captain's ear-to-ear grin as he lifted the trophy high into the Wembley air. The following two seasons brought about a decline in the club's fortunes, and they were relegated to the Second Division once again. It was to prove only a short stay, and it was also to be Mike Bailey's last season for Wolves.
After playing the first ten games, he travelled with the team to Blackpool on October 30th. At half-time he was replaced after suffering a re-occurrence of a thigh strain and that was to be the last that was seen in gold and black of the barrel-chested Bailey. After a successful testimonial Mike left the club the following summer and played for Minnesota Kicks in the North American Soccer League.
He returned to this country for a spell as player/manager of Hereford United. Since then he has managed Brighton and Hove Albion, and Fisher Athletic in the Vauxhall Conference League and was involved with the backroom staff at Portsmouth. He is currently involved with scouting work for Everton.
WOLVES PLAYING CAREER 1965-1977
League Appearances 360(1) Goals 19
FA Cup Appearances 18(2) Goals 2
League Cup Appearances 29
European Games Appearances 9(1) Goals 2
Other Appearances 16 Goals 2
TOTAL APPEARANCES 432(4) GOALS 25
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