Pictured here playing for West Adelaide Hellas with football legend George Best.
1962-67 PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER
MIKE BRENNAN
Mike Brennan was the undoubted star of the very good First XI at Salford Grammar School in 1968. On leaving school at the end of that year, Mike went on to play for Manchester City, Rochdale and Macclesfield before emigrating to Australia and having a highly successful football career playing and coaching.
Michael Brennan started life at Salford Grammar School in 1962 and was in Warwick House. He played alongside such luminaries as Captain Roy Pelham. During their run to the final of the Lancashire Schools Cup, the whole school was given the afternoon off to watch the game, so the team were heroes in more ways than one.
Mike soon attracted the attention of football scouts through his exceptional ability on the field, being a free scoring centre forward. In June 1968 he signed as an apprentice professional at Manchester City and signed as a full professional one year later. Where Mike was unlucky was that he was trying to break into a first team that contained international stars like Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell and Francis Lee. He went on loan to Stockport County scoring three goals in his 18 games.
In 1974 Mike was transferred to Rochdale for the princely some of five thousand pounds. His next club was Macclesfield Town where he played as a semi professional whilst holding down a full time job. He also changed position on the pitch from centre forward to combative midfielder and was made captain of the team.
In 1981 Mike received a very good offer to play in the National League of Australia with West Adelaide Hellas under head coach and ex-Barnsley professional Alan Vest. Here he played alongside football legend George Best who was appearing as a guest for the club.
When Vest moved to Perth in 1984 Mike followed him. Here he achieved one of his career highlights playing against the touring European Champions Nottingham Forest for the West Australian State side.
After breaking his leg in the next season Mike began his highly successful coaching career, guiding West Perth Macedonia to the league title. In 1995 Mike was appointed assistant coach at newly formed side Perth Glory and took them into the Australian National League. Mike’s reputation for coaching and playing finally saw him inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2016. The pinnacle of a wonderful football career that began on the playing fields of Salford.
