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MIKE SLEMEN
Liverpool, England & British Lions |
Mike Slemen threading his way gracefully down the left wing was a
sight that warmed the hearts of
Educated in
He was a scrum-half in those days, but soon outgrew the
position, reaching 6 foot before he left to study pharmacy at
He spent a year studying at Aston before transferring to St
Luke’s College down in
After St Luke’s he successfully applied for a teaching post
at Merchant Taylors’,
Mike learned of his selection for that match while he was in
the staff-room at school, where the rugby correspondent of the Press
Association telephoned to inform him that he was in the side. “I
couldn’t stop shaking all week,” Mike said.
It was the start of a 24-match run in the England side that
was only broken five years later when he was unavailable for
England’s two-Test tour of Argentina. By then he had established
himself as a household name in Bill Beaumont’s
His first major tour was with the
He hit the ground running, scoring two tries in the tour
opener against Japan B in
He thus missed the pleasures of downtown
Normal service was resumed in mid-week when
For the second
Although the tourists returned with their 100% record intact,
few felt that
But 1979-80 was to go down as a golden year for English rugby
and the strength of character that had enabled the team to win tight
matches and even come from behind in the South Pacific proved a not
insignificant factor as the domestic season unravelled. Mike was an
integral part of the success.
The All Blacks made a short visit to
The North were leading through a penalty to nil after
half-an-hour before Steve Smith put in a low trajectory kick into
New Zealand’s half. The All Black defenders were unable to cope
with the bobbling ball and Mike Slemen was the first to gather it
cleanly before sending Smith scampering over for a try that brought
the house down. The North’s win was only the third (but easily the
most substantial) by an English division against the touring All
Blacks.
The nucleus of the England 1980 Grand Slam fifteen was built
around that victorious Northern Division outfit, with Bill Beaumont
carrying on as captain. Mike’s
silken running and subtle changes of pace were assets to a side that
coasted past
1980 was also a Lions year, the famous tourists setting out
for
The 1980 visit went down as the unlucky tour, the Lions
having to call for eight replacements during their 18-match trip.
Mike himself only played in five matches, returning home owing to a
family illness after the narrow defeat in the first Test. But in his
short time on tour he stamped his class on the team and scored one
of rugby history’s most memorable tries.
The Lions were trailing against the South African Invitation
XV at altitude in Potchefstrom as the match entered its dying
moments. In a desperate effort to snatch victory from the jaws of
defeat the tourists launched an incredible attack that went left to
right,back and fore …… the ball eventually passing through 40
pairs of hands before Bruce Hay gave the final transfer to Mike on
the left wing, who scored the winning try.
He told the Guardian’s Frank Keating afterwards: “We
didn’t actually realise what we’d done until we trooped off and
walked past the grandstand, the crowd cheering us to the echo. It
was mesmerising. Okay, I finished it off, but it was the third time
I’d had a dash in the whole amazing sequence.”
English rugby, after its annus mirabilis in 1980, fell into
decline, though Mike scored THE try of the 1981 Five Nations when he
was twice involved in a flowing movement on each side of the pitch.
The commentator Peter West reckoned “the try illustrated
Slemen’s instinct for keeping himself in the game, and not
standing waiting in the wings for something for happen.”
Mike, who felt that that was the most satisfying try he
scored in his
He lost his place in the
Mike always believed in putting something back into the game
and his loyalty – to rugby union as well as to his employers at
Merchant Taylors’, Crosby, where he has been a master for 30-plus
years – has been exemplary. Despite offers, he never felt tempted
to follow many of his contemporaries by penning an autobiography,
staying with the Union code and devoting much of his leisure time to
coaching.
He played his last first-class match in May 1986, leading
The player once described as “a wing of resplendent
athleticism and polished control” was equally effective at
polishing the skills of arguably the most successful |
THE MIKE SLEMEN MEMORABILIA COLLECTION
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We are proud to be have been able to offer a selection of memorabilia collected by Mike over his years as a player and coach. A percentage of the sale price for each item was donated to the rugby charity Wooden Spoon Society, of which Mike is the President of the Merseyside branch. Below is the selection of memorabilia we found a 'good home' for.
ENGLAND, PLAYER & COACH - ENGLAND TOUR 1979 - BRITISH LIONS 1980 - COUNTY & NORTHERN DIVISION - CLUB & CELEBRATION - UNSIGNED PROGRAMMES - TIES |
MIKE SLEMEN - ENGLAND, PLAYER & COACH
ARGENTINA
1978 JERSEY
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An Argentina jersey from the 1978 tour, the jersey is by Noceto Sports/ Ms Hardy Brown, size 40" in excellent condition. |
1980
GRAND SLAM
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A collection of 5
jerseys relating to the England Grand Slam of 1980. After a
disastrous decade in the 1970s Bill Beaumont's men came out in the
1980s fighting to regain the pride of a nation. And what a year it
was, from the 24 - 9 victory over Ireland in opening match at
Twickenham, where they scored as many points as they had in the
previous season, to victories over Wales and France and the Grand
Slam decider at Murrayfield where they run up their highest ever
score against Scotland, winning 30 - 18. The 4 opposing team's
jerseys in this collection were all traditionally swapped post
match by Mike Slemen while the England jersey is one that belonged
to Bill Beaumont, captain of the Grand Slam side.
1980 Wales No 14 jersey - Elgan Rees 1980 France No 14 - Daniel Bustaffa1980 Ireland No 14 - Terence Kennedy 1980 Scotland No 14 - Keith Robertson1979 England No 4 - Bill Beaumont
Jersey information - Wales - Umbro, size O-S, France - maker & size unknown, label present but faded, Ireland - jersey by O'Neills, size 38-40" (97 - 102cm), Scotland - Umbro, size medium. England - the Bill Beaumont jersey is believed to be from the England v New Zealand match in 1979, it has been added to the Mike Slemen collection to compliment the full set of opposing jerseys obtained by Mike.
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WALES
OUTSIDE HALF - 1981 JERSEY
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Wales No 10 jersey worn by Gareth Davies in the Wales v England match 1981, Umbro, size O-S. Wales won this match 21 - 19 with Davies dropping a goal. |
ENGLAND
TRACKSUIT TOP
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An England tracksuit top by Nike circa early 1990s from Mike's coaching period with England, possibly from the 1991 or the 1992 Grand Slam Year, size Medium. |
ENGLAND to CANADA 1993 BLAZER
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England tour of Canada 1993 Blazer - A blazer by Alexandre of England, the blazer crest is embroidered directly onto the pocket, two Maple leaves underneath the Rose indicate the tour of Canada. Mike was a coach on this tour. During the tour Martin Johnson was called up for his first Lions (1993 Lions) tour. Mike related to me how Johnson found out about his call up for the tour................................. "we were told in the evening that Martin had been called up for the Lions tour, we searched high and low and couldn't find him anywhere. The next morning at the 'tour court' session we tried Johnson along with all the other transgressors. We deliberately made him wait and wait and wait and eventually we tried him for desertion. Peter Rossborough was prosecuting and he still didn't know he was going to be a British Lion. Anyway he was tried and found guilty of desertion, and the punishment banishment to New Zealand with the Lions, you should have seen his face !!! |
ENGLAND
'B' TRACKSUIT TOP
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England B tracksuit top, circa 1990-92, made by Gymphlex (small B embroidered under Rose) |
ENGLAND
TEAM BLAZER
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RFU/England blazer, circa 1993 or 1994. A double breasted blazer by Burton, from Mike's coaching days with the England squad. |
ENGLAND
'B' TRACKSUIT TOP
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England B tracksuit top made by Nike, approx 1990-92, size large, (large B embroidered under Rose) |
MIKE SLEMEN - ENGLAND TOUR OF FIJI, JAPAN & TONGA 1979
ENGLAND
TEAM BLAZER
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1979 England tour of Fiji, Japan & Tonga players blazer. The blazer is by Hepworths, with a wire crest containing the English rose, RFU above the rose and tour information below. |
1979
JAPAN JERSEY
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1979 Japan jersey from the 1979 England tour of that country, the jersey is by Sceptre, size unknown. |
ENGLAND
JERSEY - tour of Japan, Fiji & Tonga 1979
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An England jersey from the Fiji, Tonga & Japan tour of 1979, signed underneath badge by Mike Slemen, an Umbro shirt, size 42", some staining. |
Newspaper - Asahi Evening News with report of Japan v England 2nd Test 1979 on the back page, includes photo of Mike scoring a try. |
MIKE SLEMEN - BRITISH LIONS 1980
1980 SPRINGBOK (v Lions) JERSEY
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Because Mike played in only the one test and he retained his jersey he was unable to obtain a Springbok shirt for his collection. Knowing this, Syd Miller brought back this substitutes jersey and gave it to Mike after the tour. We are not sure who it belonged to but we do know that it is a test jersey from this series. This was the last Springbok team to defeat the Lions in a test series. The players that wore number 21 in the series are P Edwards & TMD Cocks, number 21 for the 3rd test is unlisted in the match programme. It is a 42" Maxmore jersey in excellent condition. |
BRITISH
LIONS 1980 TRACKSUIT
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1980 British Lions Tracksuit - top & bottoms - an Umbro tracksuit, the top is roll neck, the bottoms are elasticated although the elastic seems to have disintegrated. |
BRITISH
LIONS 1980 TOUR BLAZER & TIE
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1980 Lions tour blazer + tie - tailored by Simon of Leeds & London, crest embroidered onto pocket. |
BRITISH
LIONS 1980 DRESS BLAZER & BOW TIE
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1980 Lions dress blazer & bow tie - tailored by Simon of Leeds & London, made to measure, crest embroidered onto pocket, includes British Lions buttons !!!! |
MIKE SLEMEN - COUNTY & NORTHERN DIVISION
Official Team Photograph - Devon team that played Somerset on 21st October 1972, some discolouration to bottom of photo. |
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
JERSEY
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Gloucestershire jersey by Umbro, a No 12 centre's jersey from the 1977 County Championship semi final, size 42", heavily stained. |
LANCASHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONS JERSEY
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On 9th February 1980 Lancashire were crowned County Champions when they dismissed Gloucestershire at the Vale of Lune ground. Mike scored a try (illustrated above) in this victory to take the score to 18 - 9, the red rose county eventually ran out winners 21 - 15 (match report - click here) . In the semi-final Lancashire had defeated Surrey easily 31 - 6 with Mike scoring one of the five tries. The jersey is a number 11, size 42". |
LANCASHIRE
TEAM BLAZER
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A Lancashire blazer by John Leonard, badge sewn onto pocket. Mike played 10 seasons with the red rose county. |
NORTH
WESTERN COUNTIES (v Australia 1976) JERSEY
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A North Western Counties No 14 jersey, for Mike's first divisional match. The jersey is from the match against Australia in 1976. |
NORTH
MIDLANDS CHAMPIONSHIP JERSEY
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A North Midlands jersey by Halbro from the Divisional Final, date unknown (Mike thinks that they won the final 4 - 3), size 42" |
NORTHERN
DIVISION (v All Blacks) 1978 JERSEY
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1978 Northern Division v New Zealand No 11 jersey worn against Graham Mourie's Grand Slam All Blacks. The North lost 9 - 6. |
NORTH
OF ENGLAND TEAM BLAZER
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RFU - North of England blazer from Mike's coaching days - made to measure by Next, crest embroidered onto pocket. |
MIKE SLEMEN - CLUB & CELEBRATION
ST
LUKE'S COLLEGE JERSEY
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Jersey - St Lukes 1971 - 1975, worn by Mike in club matches, a well worn jersey, the number 11 has some damage. |
CHESHIRE
CENTENARY JERSEY
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A jersey from the Cheshire Centenary Fixture, Cheshire v International XV, the jersey is by 'In Touch', size unknown, signed by Mike under the badge. |
WESTERN
PROVINCE CENTENARY JERSEY
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A 1983 Western Province Centenary jersey, No 14 - the jersey is by Maxmore, size 40" (102cm) |
WESTERN
PROVINCE CENTENARY PULLOVER
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A 1983 Western Province Centenary tour pullover, size 102cm (40") in excellent condition |
AYR
RFC CENTENARY JERSEY
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Ayr RFC centenary jersey - this jersey was swapped with Scotland wing Steve Munro in a match to celebrate Ayr RFC centenary. A number 11 jersey, size 42" |
Mike Slemen 20" x 16" (50cm x 40cm) limited edition (limited to 25) signed print. This print has been personally signed by Mike Slemen. The print run is limited to 25 copies only.
END OF COLLECTION
To view items remaining for sale in the collection please visit the Mike Slemen Collection on the Rugby Relics website. CLICK HERE
FURTHER READING - click on the image to enlarge the thumbnail. Articles courtesy of Rugby World
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Rugby World - Spotlight on Mike Slemen | Rugby World - Article on England wings Peter Squires & Mike Slemen | Rugby World - Article on England wings Peter Squires & Mike Slemen (2) | Mike Slemen recalled to face Scotland in 1984 | Mike Slemen recalled to face Scotland in 1984 (2) |
MIKE SLEMEN STATISTICS Born:
Clubs:
Debut:
v England
career: 1976 I, F,
1977 S, I, F, W, 1978
F, W, S, I, NZ, 1979 S, I, F,
W, NZ, 1980 I, F, W, S,
1981 W, S, I, F, 1982
A, S, I, F, W, 1983 NZ, 1984 S Caps:
31 Points: 32 (Eight tries) Lions
career: Toured Family
- Mike and Eileen are reaching their 33rd anniversary. They have two
children, Sarah and David. Following in Dad's footsteps as a rugby player,
David is currently a fly half in his third year as a professional with the
Irish provincial side
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