For the latest in our ongoing series covering those who have achieved legendary status among the support, we feature another former Luton figure who became a fans favourite.
Following on from those already covered – John Moore, David Preece, Mal Donaghy, Brian Lewis, Bruce Rioch, Fred Jardine, Brian Horton, Kevin Nicholls, Tony Read, Steve Foster, Mike Keen, Ian Buxton, Lars Elstrup, Peter Anderson, Graham French, Alan West, David Moss, Terry Branston, John Aston, Paul Futcher, John Ryan, Syd Owen, Marvin Johnson, Malcolm MacDonald, Bob Hatton, Steve Buckley,Chris Coyne, Ron Baynham, John Still, Jack Bannister, Ricky Hill, Chris Nicholl, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Don Givens, Gordon Turner, Brian Stein, Jesse Pye, Raddy Antic, Joe Payne, Max Dougan, Alan Slough, Ray Whittaker, Dave Pacey, Milija Aleksic, Ron Davies, Sandy Davie John O’Rourke, Les Sealey, Bob Morton, Wally Shanks, Gordon Riddick, Billy Bingham, Herbert Moody, Adrian Alston, Reg Pearce, Keith Allen, Jimmy Ryan, George Cummins, Rodney Fern, Harry Walden, Billy McDerment, Scott Oakes, Bert Mitchell and Kingsley Black
For the latest in our ongoing and, hopefully, comprehensive series, we’re going to take a brief look at the career of Mike Harrison, as nominated by David Gadsden.
Mike Harrison belongs to the era where my fascination for Luton Town Football Club, courtesy of my late father began, the late sixties.
However I have to admit that when it comes to my recollections of those years, Mike wasn’t one of the first names I immediately recollected.
Harrison began his career in West London, coming through the youth system at Chelsea. His ability was such that he made his first team debut for the Stamford Bridge club at the age of just sixteen.
Unfortunately, despite the early breathrough, Mike was only to make 61 league appearances before a move to Blackburn Rovers materialised.
While at Ewood Park, Harrison established himself as a first team regular with his powerful and speedy wing play making him a fans favourite.
After 160 league appearances for Blackburn, Harrison then moved to the south-west to play for Plymouth Argyle where he made such an impression, just a year later, he was signed, in 1968, by Luton Town.
Harrison was to remain at Kenilworth Road until 1970, making 37 appearances, in all competitions, scoring on 10 occasions.
Competition for places meant that he was never a regular starter but he rarely, when selected, let the Hatters down and his quirky penalty taking style contributed to Luton Town’s promotion to League Two.
With the Hatters climbing the league ladder, changes to the squad saw Harrison leave the Hatters, in 1970, dropping down to non-league football to play for Dover Town.
On the international stage, Mike, during the Chelsea stage of his career, played for England schools and the England U23 side.
Post his football career, Harrison worked in insurance and also for a medical company.
Sadly, he passed away, aged 79, on 27-January-2019, while residing in a care home in Spain.
Mike Harrison – Mini Fact File
Name – Michael John Harrison
Date of Birth – 18-April-1940
Place of Birth – Ilford, England
Position – Left Winger
Playing Career – Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle, Luton Town, Dover Town
International Career – England Schools, England U23
If you feel able to share any of your thoughts or memories on the Hatters career of Mike Harrison, please feel free to do so in the comment facility beneath this article.
If you can think of anyone who deserves nominating for coverage in this ongoing series, please drop their name into the comment facility beneath this article.
My thanks go to those who have already nominated faces from the past, they will all be covered, in time.
Next up in the series will be Mat Tees as suggested by Alan R.
COYH’s
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Luton Town – December 2023 Reflections
I remember his thigh muscles would ripple as he walked, but also seemed to suffer from pulling them leading to a good few spells out of the team. Exciting in full flow down the left wing
As with ken my abiding memory of mike was his absence from the team due to injuries to his thighs but when he was fit was a dynamic runner an goal scorer sadly unfitness rather than team strength was why he didn’t play often.
loved his speed from them giant thighs. always think of the smell of embrocation when he is mentioned. great memories.COYH.
I used to stand at the front of the enclosure as a schoolboy and watched Mike fly down the left wing. Unfortunately he was limited by never being fully fit. If he ran flat out he would tweek thigh muscles.
25 years later I met him through his work and he was very modest mentioning all the great wingers Luton had before and after him, particularyly Bingham, French and Aston.