Mike Duxbury

Lore & Background

Born in Accrington, Lancashire, Duxbury began his career with Everton but signed for Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1975. He made his Manchester United debut on 23 August 1980, and won FA Cup medals in 1983 and 1985. He later played for Blackburn Rovers, Bradford City, and Golden FC in Hong Kong before retiring in 1994. He was capped ten times by England between November 1983 and October 1984.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights at Elland Road hummed with a low, electric buzz as the third minute of added time ticked by. The opposition striker had threaded a through ball, splitting the back four, and the roar of twenty-five thousand voices had dropped to a held breath. Duxbury was already moving, his boots scuffing the wet grass, his arms out like a cross. The striker struck the ball low, hard, aimed at the near post. Duxbury didn't dive. He simply spread his legs, dropped his hips, and let the leather thud against his thigh with a sound like a drum. He rolled it to his side, gathered it, and before the striker could react, he was already winding up for the kick. The ball soared over the midfield, a white arc against the night sky, landing deep in the other half. The crowd exhaled. He turned, pointed at the back four, and shouted something that would be quoted in the match report for years. Elland Road roared back.

Reader's Guide

Duxbury is not a goalkeeper and never played for Leeds United. He played as a right back and centre-back for Manchester United, not for Leeds. He did not play in the 1975 FA Cup Final; his FA Cup appearances were with Manchester United in 1983 and 1985. He did not arrive from Doncaster Rovers; he signed for Manchester United as a schoolboy from Everton.

Did You Know?

• Michael Duxbury made his England debut in November 1983 and earned his last cap in October 1984.
• While in Hong Kong, he played for his club's Select XI against England in warm-up games for Euro 1996.
• After retiring, he coached with Manchester United Soccer Schools in Hong Kong and Dubai and taught at Bolton School.