The wonderful sportsman Mick Harford is a football manager and former professional footballer, who played as a striker and in midfield for a number of clubs between 1977 and 1998, most notably Lincoln City, Birmingham City, Luton Town, Derby County, and Wimbledon. He also made a couple of appearances for England. As a manager he has been in the hot seat most memorably for Rotherham United, and Luton Town.
Born and raised in Sunderland, Harford started his career as a professional footballer when he was 18 after he joined Lincoln City. He went on to play for Newcastle United, Bristol City, Birmingham City, and then joined Luton Town in December 1984 or £250k. During his stint with the Hatters he earned himself two England caps and was part of the side that won the League Cup in 1988 beating Arsenal. A true fan favourite at the club, he has often been voted as their best player. In 1990 he moved to Derby County, and then rejoined the Hatters in 1991. After the club was relegated from the old First Division, he moved to Chelsea in the newly formed Premier League, scoring the side’s first ever Premier League goal in his debut against Oldham Athletic. Despite being the top scorer at Chelsea in the 1992-93 season, he was sold in March 1993 to his hometown club Sunderland for £250k. Four months later joined Coventry City, and then in 1994 he signed with his last club, Wimbledon.
Harford retried from playing in 1997/98 and stayed on with the Dons as a coach, beginning a new career in management that saw him eventually return to Luton Town three times, managing the Hatters in 2008-09, 2019, and as caretaker in 2022. He won the Football League Trophy with them in 2009, and the EFL League One title in 2018-19, as well as the League One Manager of the Year Award for 2019.
Harford regularly connects with his legions of followers and fans through Twitter, posting pictures and comments about his life around football.
