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Mick Channon

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Mick Channon
Personal information
Full name Michael Roger Channon
Date of birth (1948-11-28) 28 November 1948 (age 76)
Place of birth Orcheston, Wiltshire, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [1]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Shrewton
1964–1965 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1977 Southampton 391 (157)
1974 → Durban Celtic (loan)
1977–1979 Manchester City 72 (24)
1978 → Cape Town City (loan)
1979–1982 Southampton 119 (28)
1981 → Newcastle KB United (loan) 4 (3)
1981 → Gosnells City (loan) 1 (1)
1982 Caroline Hill
1982 Newcastle United 4 (1)
1982 Bristol Rovers 9 (0)
1982–1985 Norwich City 88 (16)
1983 → Durban City (loan)
1985 Miramar Rangers
1985–1986 Portsmouth 34 (6)
1986–1987 Finn Harps 0 (0)
Total 722 (236)
International career
1972–1977 England 46 (21)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael Roger Channon (born 28 November 1948) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward, most notably for Southampton, and went on to represent the England national team in the 1970s. Scoring over 250 goals in his career, he also became known for his trademark windmill goal celebration.[2] Channon later became a successful racehorse trainer.

Club career

Southampton

Channon was born in Orcheston, Wiltshire and made his debut for Southampton as a 17-year-old in 1966, scoring in a match against Bristol City.[1] Within three years he had established himself as the club's main goalscorer and was consistent in front of goal at a time when Southampton were one of the less fashionable teams in English football's First Division. However, despite a record season tally of 21 goals for Southampton in 1974, the club was relegated to the Second Division at the end of the season.[3]

Channon stayed loyal to Southampton despite obvious concerns for his international chances and was rewarded in 1976 which was a special year for Channon. Southampton were still in the Second Division but nevertheless enjoyed a dream run to the FA Cup final where they played Manchester United.[4] Although Southampton were a lower division side, they were considerably more experienced than Manchester United's youthful team.[5] Southampton won 1–0, with Channon playing a part in the winning goal scored late in the game by Bobby Stokes.[5] It was his first domestic honour in the game.

Manchester City

In the 1977 close season, Channon left Southampton — still in the Second Division — to join Manchester City in a £300,000 deal.[6] His new club were making progress, having just finished second in the First Division behind champions Liverpool, but this was where they peaked and Channon struggled to settle.[1][6] He made 72 appearances and scored 24 goals during his time at Manchester City.[1]

Return to Southampton

Channon went back to Southampton (by now back in the First Division) in September 1979.[1] Now in his thirties, he continued to play regularly though his goals ratio was not good in his second spell, with only ten coming in each of his first two seasons back at the club.[1] He joined Newcastle United in 1982 after playing 510 games for Southampton over two spells, scoring a total of 185 goals placing him top of the club's list of all-time goalscorers.[1]

After Southampton

Channon lasted barely a month at Newcastle before joining Bristol Rovers.[7] His impressive career seemingly on the decline, he failed to score in nine games for Bristol Rovers before a sudden departure again, this time to Norwich City where, at the age of 34, he found some of his old touch.[8] He played 88 games over three seasons, scoring 16 goals, and suffered a mixed end to his Norwich career in 1985 when the club won the League Cup — Channon's second and final domestic honour — with a 1–0 win over Sunderland at Wembley, but were then relegated (with Sunderland) at the end of the same season.[9][10] Channon joined Portsmouth and Finn Harps (where he played in one League of Ireland Cup game),[11] before retiring from the game in 1986.[12][13]

International career

Called up to make his debut for the England national team by Alf Ramsey in October 1972, Channon played well enough in a 1–1 draw with Yugoslavia at Wembley to be selected for the squads for two subsequent qualifying matches for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, although he wasn't eventually in the team for either.[1] However, he won his second cap in a famous 5–0 hammering of Scotland at Hampden Park in February 1973, scoring his first goal in the process.[14]

As the year progressed, Channon scored again in a match against Wales and then added a brace in a 7–0 thumping of Austria before he was picked by Ramsey for his first competitive match – a crucial and ultimately infamous World Cup qualifier against Poland at Wembley.[15][16] If England didn't win, they wouldn't qualify for the tournament. Channon, in his tenth England outing, was in an attacking line-up which spent pretty much the whole match in the Poland half, trying to break the deadlock.[16] Channon saw his own chances saved by the eccentric but inspired goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski and the game ended 1–1.[16]

He played in a series of post-season friendlies for England, scoring in three of them and was kept in the side the following October as England began their campaign to qualify for the 1976 European Championships. Channon scored in the game against Czechoslovakia as England won 3–0.[17] Channon's next goal for England was a while coming — in September 1975 — as England beat Switzerland in a friendly. England had two qualifying games left at the end of the year for the 1976 European Championships and Channon scored in both, but England lost 2–1 to Czechoslovakia in Bratislava and then only drew 1–1 with Portugal in Lisbon.[18][19] England failed to qualify and Czechoslovakia went on to win the tournament.[20]

After winning an FA Cup medal in the 1976 Final, Channon was back at Wembley days later to score twice in England's 4–0 win over Northern Ireland; he then scored again four days later against Scotland but England lost 2–1 at Hampden Park.[1] There followed a summer tournament in the U.S. for the bi-centennial celebrations, and Channon scored twice in a thrilling game against Italy as England came from two goals down to win 3–2, whilst also becoming the first Southampton player to captain England.[1] A fortnight later, Channon scored again as England defeated Finland 4–1 in Helsinki to get their qualification campaign for the 1978 FIFA World Cup off to a perfect start, though this would be tempered later by a defeat against Italy in Rome.[21][22]

In March 1977, Channon scored twice as England beat Luxembourg at Wembley to get their World Cup campaign back on track; Luxembourg were the 'whipping boys' of the group and England would later need to demolish Luxembourg by a similar or better scoreline in Luxembourg to give themselves a chance of overhauling Italy and qualifying for the World Cup.[23]

Channon hit his 20th England goal in a 2–1 win over Northern Ireland in May 1977.[24] A week later came another Channon goal against Scotland – this time from the penalty spot – but this proved an infamous England defeat as the Scots won 2–1 and their fans invaded the Wembley pitch in celebration, ripping up clods of souvenir turf and pulling down one of the crossbars.[25]

After an ill-fated move to Manchester City affected his form, Ron Greenwood chose to omit him from the starting line-up when England played the crucial World Cup qualifier in Luxembourg in October 1977.[26] England won 2–0 and, despite victory over Italy in the last game of the campaign, the goals record was insufficient to take them to the World Cup.[27] Channon was not selected for his country again; his international career ended with 46 appearances and a healthy 21 goals. England's failure to qualify for three major international tournaments during Channon's career leaves him as the most-capped player never to have been named to a World Cup or European Championships squad. As of 17 July 2018, he remains joint 18th in the all-time England scorers list, level with Kevin Keegan and Steven Gerrard.[28]

Horse racing

Channon always had an interest in horse racing during his football career. After retiring from full-time professional football in 1986, he began working as an assistant trainer, before becoming a licensed trainer in his own right in 1990.[29] He initially had ten horses.[30]

He then moved to the West Ilsley stables near Newbury, formerly owned by the Queen, and began to increase his number of horses, eventually ending up with almost 200.[6][30]

In 2002, he ended the season with 123 winners, topping the 100-mark for the first time in his career.[30] In May 2012, he produced his first Classic winner when Samitar took the Irish 1,000 Guineas.[31]

Among owners who have had their horses with Channon are old colleagues and acquaintances from his footballing days, including Kevin Keegan, Alan Ball, Chris Cattlin and Sir Alex Ferguson.[30]

In October 2022, Channon announced he will close his 33-year career at the end of the season, with his son taking over the license.[29]

Personal life

On 27 August 2008, Channon was involved and injured in a motorway accident on the M1.[32] He was travelling from the Doncaster Sales to his West Ilsley stables in Berkshire when the accident happened.[32] Channon was reported to have suffered a punctured lung and broken arm and jaw.[32]

During an interview with Clare Balding broadcast on BBC One on 3 January 2009, Channon spoke about how, as a result of the broken jaw, he was subsequently fitted with metal plates in his face. Bloodstock agent and friend Tim Corby died in the accident.[33]

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 2001 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel while being interviewed at his West Ilsley racing stables near Newbury.[34]

Football honours

Southampton

Norwich City

Horse racing honours

Group 1 / Grade I wins

Great Britain

Canada

France

Germany

Ireland

Italy

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan; Bull, David (2013). All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. pp. 270–271. ISBN 978-0-9926864-0-6.
  2. ^ "As Wayne Rooney breaks Sir Bobby Charlton's Man Utd haul, who is your Premier League club's all-time leading goalscorer?". The Telegraph. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  3. ^ Brisland, Martin (30 March 2023). "Southampton FC - The highs and lows of 138 years". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  4. ^ "1976 - The Saints march in". BBC Sport. 10 May 2001. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Southampton legend Mick Channon speaks out". Southern Daily Echo. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Lee, Alan (16 November 2012). "Mick Channon jumps to it after helping out". The Times. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  7. ^ Marshall, Ray (1 January 2013). "Mick Channon axed by Newcastle United after one month". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  8. ^ Byrom, David (18 June 2018). "Former Bristol Rovers player Mick Channon "kept card score" on Leeds United legend Don Revie's England documents". Bristol Post. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Milk Cup legend Mick Channon backing Norwich City to beat Sunderland in Premier League relegation duel". Eastern Daily Press. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  10. ^ Richards, Nick (4 April 2020). "Never mind the danger: Why 1984/85 was the worst season to fall in love with football". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  11. ^ [1] Archived 10 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Channon: Ball got Pompey promoted on shoestring budget". The News (Portsmouth). 25 April 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  13. ^ Pangratiou, Lewis (13 June 2021). "Beasant, Berkovic, Crouch - the 53 players who have represented Southampton and Portsmouth". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  14. ^ Moore, Glenn (15 November 2014). "Scotland vs England: Five classic matches". The Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  15. ^ "England 3–0 Wales". englandstats.com. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Penn, Brian (13 February 2020). "How a talented England failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup". These Football Times. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  17. ^ Miller, Nick (1 September 2016). "England managers' debuts: Can Sam Allardyce maintain 53-year record?". ESPN. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Euro 2020: Czech Republic Beat England 2–1". Prague Morning. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Portugal 1–1 England". Goal. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  20. ^ Scragg, Steven (15 May 2019). "Czechoslovakia, the birth of the Panenka and unlikely glory at Euro 1976". These Football Times. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Finland 1–4 England". England Football Online. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  22. ^ Bruschi, Paolo (5 December 2019). "The Case of Italy v England [1976], Which Was Not Broadcast Live On Italian TV To Fight Workplace Absenteeism". Playing Pasts. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  23. ^ "England 5–0 Luxembourg". England Football Online. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Northern Ireland 1–2 England". England Football Online. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  25. ^ White, Jim (16 June 2021). "Remembering Wembley, 1977: The day when Scotland ruled the Auld Enemy in their own back yard". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  26. ^ "Luxembourg 0–2 England". England Football Online. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  27. ^ "England's five big qualifying calamities". Eurosport. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  28. ^ "England's 56 Top Goalscorers". englandfootballonline. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  29. ^ a b Stevens, James (29 October 2022). "'I've got to move on' - charismatic trainer Mick Channon to call it a day". Racing Post. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  30. ^ a b c d "Mick Channon". BBC Sport. 3 May 2004. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Football players and horse racing: From racegoers to big time owners". Great British Racing. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  32. ^ a b c Cook, Chris (29 August 2008). "Channon yard in shock after fatal car crash". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  33. ^ "Channon injured in motorway crash". BBC. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  34. ^ "Mick Channon Profile". SaintsPlayers.co.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2023.

Bibliography

  • Channon, Mick (1986). Man on the Run: An Autobiography. Arthur Barker. ISBN 0-213-16930-4
  • Batt, Peter (2005). Mick Channon: The Authorised Biography. Highdown. ISBN 1-905156-05-7.
  • Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (2003). In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
  • Manns, Tim (2006). Tie a Yellow Ribbon: How the Saints Won the Cup. Hagiology Publishing. ISBN 0-9534474-6-4.
  • Wilson, Jeremy (2006). Southampton's Cult Heroes. Know The Score Books. ISBN 1-905449-01-1.
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