Mullen Jimmy Image 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1939

Description

Newcastle born outside left Jimmy Mullen joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in June 1937, playing for England Schoolboys the same year, and turned professional on his 17th birthday in January 1939, remaining with the club until his retirement in May 1960. His Football League debut came in February 1939, in a 4-1 win over Leeds United at Molineux, he played 13 times before the Second World War forced the abandonment of peacetime football in September 1939. During wartime, he served as a soldier in the Army from 1942 onward, based at Farnborough, Catterick and Barnard Castle and guested for Leicester City.

After the War he resumed with Wolves, playing his last match in March 1959. Very few players who played pre-War football went on to play for longer, Stanley Matthews being one exception. He made 488 appearances in total, scoring 112 goals, helping the club win their only three League Championships (1953-54, 1957-58 and 1958-59) as well as the FA Cup in 1949, when they beat Leicester City 3-1 in the Final.

He also played for England between April 1947, when he made his debut against Scotland at Wembley, and 1954 earning 12 caps. He became England’s first ever substitute in an international on 18th May 1950, scoring against Belgium at Heysel Stadium in a 4-1 win. He also played in the 1950 FIFA World Cup and the 1954 FIFA World Cup. He scored 6 goals, including in the 1954 World Cup against Switzerland in a 2-0 win, a match which proved his final cap. He also played in 3 England B internationals, scoring once, three Wartime internationals, one Victory International and once for The Football League.

NB In the photograph he sits on the left with Wolves wing half Joe Gardiner.