Kevin McHale (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Kevin McHale | ||
| Date of birth | 1 October 1939 | ||
| Place of birth | Darfield, South Yorkshire, England | ||
| Playing position | Outside Right | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1955–1956 | Huddersfield Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1956–1967 | Huddersfield Town | 345 | (60) |
| 1967–1970 | Crewe Alexandra | 116 | (22) |
| 1970–1972 | Chester | 64 | (4) |
| 1972 | Hastings United | ? | (?) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1972 | Hastings United | ||
| – | Emley A.F.C. | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:26, 27 October 2008 (UTC). |
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John Kevin McHale (born 1 October 1939, Mexborough, England) was an English professional footballer who played as a striker for Huddersfield Town, Crewe Alexandra, Chester and Hastings United.
Kevin McHale was one of the most gifted youngsters to play for Huddersfield Town and over eleven seasons he became one of Huddersfield's most consistent and familiar post war players. Despite his inexperience he became one of the steadying figures as Town began adjusting to life in the Second Division during the 1950s and 60s and, after making his debut at just seventeen years old, he was a regular in one of the strongest Town squads of the last fifty years.
Born in 1939, McHale began his career playing for Barnsley and England Schools, before joining First Division Town as a sixteen-year-old in May 1955. The following season was to be Town's last in the top flight for fourteen years. A right-sided player with brilliant distribution and pace, Kevin's signature was much sought after by Town boss Andy Beattie, but the young player delayed signing professional forms until after he gained England Youth honours. He eventually became a full-time professional in October 1956 and made an impressive debut against Leicester City, during which he scored Town's second in a 2–2 draw. It was the start of a long and distinguished career at Leeds Road.
Despite spending his entire Town career in the Second Division, McHale had the privilege of playing alongside some of the club's great names including Vic Metcalfe, Les Massie and Bill McGarry. But there was one player with whom McHale would click more than any other player and with whom he would strike up a devastating partnership – Denis Law.
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