Mike Hellawell

Queens Park Rangers

The 17-year-old Hellawell signed for Queens Park Rangers in August 1955 from Salts, a small Yorkshire League club from Saltaire, and made his debut in the home match against Exeter City on 25 February 1956. That was his only senior appearance of the season, but in 1956–57 he missed only two matches in all competitions, and was selected to play for the Third Division South representative team against the Northern Section in April 1957. He played 45 games in the Football League for Rangers before being transferred to Birmingham City in 1957 in part-exchange for inside-forward Bill Finney and "a good fee". When questioned by disappointed supporters, manager Jack Taylor explained that Hellawell had signed for Rangers on condition that "they would not stand in his way if a First Division Club came after him."

Birmingham City

Hellawell joined Birmingham City on 15 May 1957, and made his debut on 7 September, at home to Newcastle United, after the established outside right Gordon Astall was left out. The visitors took a 2–0 lead early in the second half before Hellawell, who had received little service on the wing, drifted into the centre, won the ball, and scored with a deflected shot from outside the penalty area. The match ended as a 4–1 defeat, Astall returned to the team, and Hellawell made only one more first-team appearance over the next two years, because of the form of Astall and Harry Hooper as well as his National Service duties. He…

Whilst with Birmingham City, Hellawell won his two full caps for England, against France and Northern Ireland in 1962.

Hellawell showed promise as a cricket all-rounder for Yorkshire Second XI and for Warwickshire, for whom he played one first-class match.

Hellawell was born in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire. He and his brother John, who also went on to play football professionally, attended St Bede's Grammar School in Bradford. After leaving school he worked as a colour-matcher in a textile mill. He was called up for National Service in 1957 and served with the Royal Army Medical Corps. Hellawell was married to Brenda for 60 years, and was an active Christian. After retiring from professional sport, he worked for clothing manufacturer Damart. He published an autobiography, The Impossible is Possible, in late 2020. A grandson, Jacob Rowan, played professional rugby. Hellawell died in Keighley on 18 July 2023 at age 85.