View source for Mick Sullivan

{{short description|GB & England international rugby league footballer and coach}}
{{For|the Australian rugby league footballer|Michael Sullivan (rugby league)}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name                = Mick Sullivan
|fullname            = Michael Sullivan 
|image               = Mick Sullivan - Wigan.jpeg
|image_size          = 192
|caption             = 
|birth_date          = {{birth date|df=yes|1934|1|12}}
|birth_place         = [[Pudsey]], England
|death_date          = {{death date and age|df=y|2016|4|5|1934|1|12}}
|death_place         = [[Wakefield]], England
|height              = 
|weight              = 
|retired             = yes
|position            = {{Rlp|WG}}
|club1               = [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]]
|year1start          = 1952
|year1end            = 57
|appearances1        = 117
|tries1              = 93
|goals1              = 0
|fieldgoals1         = 
|points1             = 279
|club2               = [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
|year2start          = 1957
|year2end            = 61
|appearances2        = 125
|tries2              = 84
|goals2              = 0
|fieldgoals2         = 0
|points2             = 252
|club3               = [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]
|year3start          = 1961
|year3end            = 63
|appearances3        = 82
|tries3              = 31
|goals3              = 0
|fieldgoals3         = 0
|points3             = 93
|club4               = [[York Wasps|York]]
|year4start          = 1963
|year4end            = 65
|appearances4        = 26
|tries4              = 7
|goals4              = 0
|fieldgoals4         = 0
|points4             = 21
|club5               = [[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]]
|year5start          = 1965
|year5end            = 66
|appearances5        = 40
|tries5              = 2
|goals5              = 0
|fieldgoals5         = 0
|points5             = 6
|teamA               = {{nowrap|[[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]}}
|yearAstart          = 1954
|yearAend            = 63
|appearancesA        = 46
|triesA              = 41
|goalsA              = 0
|fieldgoalsA         = 0
|pointsA             = 123
|teamB               = [[England national rugby league team|England]]
|yearBstart          = 1955
|yearBend            = 62
|appearancesB        = 3
|triesB              = 2
|goalsB              = 0
|fieldgoalsB         = 0
|pointsB             = 6
|teamC               = GB & France
|yearCstart          = 1957
|yearCend            = 
|appearancesC        = 1
|triesC              = 1
|goalsC              = 0
|fieldgoalsC         = 0
|pointsC             = 3
|teamD               = [[Yorkshire rugby league team|Yorkshire]]
|yearDstart          = 1955
|yearDend            = 61
|appearancesD        = 14
|triesD              = 13
|goalsD              = 0
|fieldgoalsD         = 0
|pointsD             = 39
|coachteam1          = [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
|coachyear1start     = 1970
|coachyear1end       = 
|coachgames1         = 
|coachwins1          = 
|updated             = 
|source              = <ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/mick-sullivan/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Rugby league records |id=9203 |title=Mick Sullivan |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/mick-sullivan/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="morris">{{cite book|last=Morris|first=Graham|title=Wigan Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats|year=2005|publisher=Tempus Publishing|location=Stroud|pages=118–9|isbn=978-0-7524-3470-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Williams|first1=Graham|title=Sully's Way: Mick Sullivan Rugby League Legend|date=2015|publisher=London League Publications Ltd|isbn=978-1909885097}}</ref>
}}

'''Michael Sullivan''' (12 January 1934 – 5 April 2016) was an English professional [[rugby league]] footballer and [[Coach (sport)|coach]] who played as a {{rlp|wg}}. He started his playing career at [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]] before joining [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] for a [[rugby league transfer record|record transfer fee]] in 1957. He won two [[Challenge Cup]]s with the club, and won a third Challenge Cup medal with [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] after signing with the club for another record fee in 1961.

At international level, he won two [[Rugby League World Cup|World Cup]]s with [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] (1954 and 1960), and made 46 appearances for the team during his career, making him Great Britain's joint-most capped player alongside [[Garry Schofield]]. He also holds the record for the most rugby league [[Test match (rugby league)|test match]] tries by a player of any nationality with 44.

==Background==
Mick Sullivan was born in [[Pudsey]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England,<ref name="telegraphobit">{{cite web |title=Mick Sullivan, rugby player - obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/04/06/mick-sullivan-rugby-player---obituary/ |website=Daily Telegraph |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=6 April 2016}}</ref> and was educated at [[Kirklees College|Dewsbury Technical School]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nostalgia with Margaret Watson: Rugby league legends were true Dewsbury greats |url=https://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/sport/nostalgia/nostalgia-with-margaret-watson-rugby-league-legends-were-true-dewsbury-greats-2335443 |website=Dewsbury Reporter |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=1 July 2013}}</ref>

==Playing career==
===Club career===
Sullivan signed with [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]] in 1952 as an 18-year-old [[winger (rugby league)|winger]]. He played on the {{rlp|wg}} in [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]]'s 15–8 victory over [[York Wasps|York]] in the [[1957–58 Yorkshire Cup]] Final during the [[1957–58 Northern Rugby Football League season|1957–58 season]] at [[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]], [[Leeds]] on Saturday 19 October 1957.<ref name="Programme 'Yorkshire County Rugby League - Challenge Cup Final - 1957 - Huddersfield v. York'">{{cite web|url=http://www.huddersfieldrlheritage.co.uk/Documents/Programmes/1957%20Yorkshire%20Cup%20Final%20v%20York.pdf|title=Programme 'Yorkshire County Rugby League - Challenge Cup Final - 1957 - Huddersfield v. York'|publisher=huddersfieldrlheritage.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>

Shortly after the [[RFL Yorkshire Cup|Yorkshire Cup]] victory, Sullivan handed in a transfer request, and was signed by [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] for a record fee of £9,500.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sullivan Signed By Wigan |work=The Manchester Guardian |date=24 October 1957 |page=4 |id={{ProQuest|480100148}}}}</ref> He played on the {{rlp|wg}} and scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]] in [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]'s 13–9 victory over [[Workington Town]] in the [[1957–58 Challenge Cup]] Final during the [[1957–58 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1957–58 season]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 10 May 1958, in front of a crowd of 66,109,<ref name="1957-1958 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=436|title=1957–1958 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012}}</ref> and played on the {{rlp|wg}}, and scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]] in the 30-13 victory over [[Hull F.C.]] in the [[1958–59 Challenge Cup]] Final during the [[1958–59 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1958–59 season]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 9 May 1959, in front of a crowd of 79,811.<ref name="1958-1959 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=437|title=1958–1959 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2012|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref>

In January 1961, he was signed by [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] for a new world record fee of £11,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sullivan joins St Helens |work=The Guardian |date=12 January 1961 |location=London |page=5 |id={{ProQuest|184727662}}}}</ref> Sullivan played his first game for St. Helens in January 1961. While at St. Helens, Sullivan played for England in 1962 against France. He played on the {{rlp|wg}} in [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] 12-6 victory over [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] in the [[1960–61 Challenge Cup]] Final during the [[1960–61 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1960–61 season]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672. He also played, and scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]], in [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]' 25–9 victory over [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]] in the [[1961–62 Lancashire Cup]] Final during the [[1961–62 Northern Rugby Football League season|1961–62 season]] at [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]] on Saturday 11 November 1961, and played on the {{rlp|wg}} in the 7–4 victory over [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]] in the [[1962–63 Lancashire Cup]] Final during the [[1962–63 Northern Rugby Football League season|1962–63 season]] at [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]] on Saturday 27 October 1962.

Sullivan moved to [[York Wasps|York]] before finishing his career with [[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]]. He later moved to Australia and captain-coached the [[Junee]] team in the [[Group 9 Rugby League|Group 9]] competition in southern [[New South Wales]] for three years from 1966 until 1968.

===International honours===
He made his début for [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] during the [[1954 Rugby League World Cup|1954 World Cup]] in France against the [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian team]]. Sullivan went on to appear in the final and help Great Britain to claim the first ever World Cup. In 1956, he helped Great Britain regain [[The Ashes (rugby league)|The Ashes]], playing in all three Tests against Australia. Sullivan also took part in the [[1957 Rugby League World Cup|1957 World Cup]], and was selected for the [[1958 Great Britain Lions tour|1958 Lions tour]], scoring a tour record 38 tries in 19 appearances.<ref>{{cite web|first= Peter|last= Martini|url= http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/14405490.Rugby_league_legend_and_former_York_star_Mick_Sullivan_dies__aged_82|title= Rugby league legend and former York star Mick Sullivan dies, aged 82|work = York Press|date= 5 April 2016|access-date=16 April 2016}}</ref> He scored a try against Australia in Great Britain's successful [[1960 Rugby League World Cup|1960 World Cup]] campaign, becoming the only British player to win the [[Rugby League World Cup]] twice.<ref name="telegraphobit" />

Sullivan was dropped for the first Test against New Zealand in 1961,<ref>{{cite news |title=Mick Sullivan's Test Run Ends |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19610921/012/0012 |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=21 September 1961 |page=12 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> ending a run of 36 consecutive appearances since his debut.<ref name="telegraphobit" /> However, he returned to the side for the next game, and received his second Lions tour invitation in [[1962 Great Britain Lions tour|1962]]. He made his final Great Britain appearance in 1963, and was capped 46 times overall, a joint-record with [[Garry Schofield]].{{efn|Sullivan made 48 senior international appearances for Great Britain, but most sources report him as having 46 caps.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web |title=Mick Sullivan: Two-time World Cup winner dies aged 82 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/35974191 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=5 April 2016}}</ref> The discrepancy is due to two matches played against France in 1955 and 1956, as these have historically not been recognised as official Tests.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Fletcher |editor-first1=Raymond |editor-last2=Howes |editor-first2=David |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansrugbylea0000flet/page/390/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-96 |date=1995 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7472-7817-7}}</ref>}}

He was selected to play for [[England national rugby league team|England]] while at Huddersfield in 1955 against [[Other Nationalities rugby league team|Other Nationalities]], and in 1956 against France. Sullivan also represented a Great Britain & France team in the 37–31 victory over New Zealand at [[Carlaw Park]], [[Auckland]] on 3 July 1957.

==Coaching career==
Sullivan was the coach of [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]] from June 1970 to October 1970, during this period he also worked a [[pipefitter]] during the building of [[Fiddlers Ferry power station]].

==Death and legacy==
In 2013, Sullivan was inducted into the [[Rugby League Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Legendary Saints wing Mick Sullivan joins Rugby League Hall of Fame |url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/10776902.legendary-saints-wing-mick-sullivan-joins-rugby-league-hall-of-fame/ |website=St Helens Star |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=31 October 2013}}</ref>

It was announced on 5 April 2016 that he had died in the previous week, aged 82.<ref name="bbc" />

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=966 Mick Sullivan – Wigan Career Page @ Cherryandwhite.co.uk]
*[http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=16389 Mick Sullivan – St. Helens Career Page at saints.org.uk]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090106191635/http://www.rlhalloffame.org.uk/msullivn.htm Mick Sullivan at rlhalloffame.org.uk]
*[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/572965/Mick-Sullivan Mick Sullivan at britannica.com]
*[http://www.rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk/audios/find/46 Mick Sullivan at rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk]

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{succession box
|before= [[Lewis Jones (rugby, born 1931)|Lewis Jones]]
|title= [[Rugby league transfer record]]<br>[[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]] to [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
|years = 1957–1959
|after= [[Ike Southward]]
}}
{{succession box
|before= [[Ike Southward]]
|title= [[Rugby league transfer record]]<br>[[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] to [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]
|years = 1961
|after= [[Ike Southward]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Wigan - 1957–58 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan - 1958–59 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{St. Helens - 1960–61 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1954 World Cup champions}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1957 World Cup}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1958 Tour}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1960 World Cup champions}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1962 Tour}}
{{British Rugby League Hall of Fame}}
{{Batley Bulldogs coaches}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Mick}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Army rugby union players]]
[[Category:Batley Bulldogs coaches]]
[[Category:Dewsbury Rams players]]
[[Category:England national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:English rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:English rugby league players]]
[[Category:Great Britain & France rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Huddersfield Giants players]]
[[Category:Rugby league centres]]
[[Category:Rugby league halfbacks]]
[[Category:Rugby league wingers]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Pudsey]]
[[Category:St Helens R.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wigan Warriors players]]
[[Category:York Wasps players]]
[[Category:Yorkshire rugby league team players]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]