Mick Harford - Playing Career

Playing Career

Born in Sunderland, Harford joined Lincoln City in 1977. He was at Lincoln for just over three years before he moved on to Newcastle United in a £180,000 transfer. After just 19 appearances and eight months at Newcastle, Harford moved on again, this time to Bristol City for £160,000 in August 1981. Seven months later, Harford had impressed enough to gain a move to Birmingham City for £100,000 in March 1982.

Harford continued to impress at Birmingham and in December 1984, then Luton Town manager David Pleat added Harford to his side for a £250,000 fee. In his time at Luton, Harford earned himself two England team caps, making his international debut against Israel in February 1988. He also featured against Denmark in a September 1988 fixture.

Harford was part of the side that won the League Cup in 1988 for Luton against Arsenal. He also scored in the Final the following year as Luton went down 3–1 to Nottingham Forest. He is often voted the best ever Luton Town player, such is the regard he is held in at Kenilworth Road. He was a key player at Luton until his transfer to Derby County in January 1990 for £450,000. Even after his transfer, Harford managed to help the Hatters in their fight against relegation, as in the last game of the season Derby County played Luton Town, and Luton needed the win to stay up. Harford managed to head the ball from outside his own box, past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, into his own net as Luton won the game and avoided relegation. Several years later, he admitted that the own goal was deliberate. Harford then rejoined the Hatters in September 1991 for £325,000, despite competition from Manchester United. Harford managed a credible 12 goals from 29 league games as the Hatters were relegated from what was about to become the Premier League.

United manager Alex Ferguson has since said that he regrets not signing Harford, as he feels that it would have made a positive difference to their form in the 1991-92 season, when a shortage of goals in the second half of the league campaign cost them the title.

Following Luton's relegation, Harford moved on again, this time to Chelsea for £300,000 in August 1992, but despite being the top scorer at the club, Harford was surprisingly sold on again in March 1993, to his hometown club Sunderland in a £250,000 transfer deal.

During his brief spell at Chelsea, he scored the club's first goal in the Premier League, finding the net in the 84th minute of his debut at home to Oldham Athletic, who swiftly responded with an equaliser to force a 1-1 draw.

He lasted just four months at Sunderland, before moving to Coventry City for £200,000 in July 1993. Despite being at the club for 13 months, Harford only made one league appearance, as a substitute, and despite scoring he never featured for the club again. He had been issued with the number 9 shirt with the introduction of squad numbers in the FA Premier League for the 1993–94 season.

In August 1994, Harford made his last move as a player. He joined Joe Kinnear's Wimbledon side, for £50,000. Harford would go on to make 60 appearances for the Dons, many in midfield, and scored his last professional goal at the age of 38 years and 34 days against West Ham United in 1997, before he moved into a coaching role at Selhurst Park.