Gilhooley Mike Image 1 Hull City 1921

Description

Glencraig, Fife born centre half Mike Gilhooley played junior football with Glencraig Celtic in 1912 and joined Abercorn in 1913 before moving to Vale of Leven in 1914. During the First World War he served in the Highland Light Infantry and he joined Clydebank in 1918, before he signed for Second Division Hull City for £2,500 in July 1920, a then club record, making his Football League debut at West Ham United that August. He scored his only career goal for Hull in a 1-0 win over Bristol City in October 1921 and after 72 appearances he was signed by First Division Sunderland for £5,250 in late February 1922, briefly a British record fee although it lasted only a few days, very soon after winning his first and only Scotland international cap, when he played in a 2-1 defeat to Wales at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham at the beginning of March.

However Gilhooley was a fringe player at Sunderland, making only 19 appearances over the next three years as he struggled with injuries, and moved on to Second Division club Bradford City in May 1925, where he made 53 appearances before being released after their relegation in 1927. He finished his professional career with a single season at Queen’s Park Rangers, joining them in May 1927, making 9 appearances during 1927-28, before returning to Scotland to join non league Troon Athletic in 1928.