Mike Fillery
Encyclopedia
Michael Christopher Fillery (born September 17, 1960 in Mitcham
, London
) is an English
former professional footballer who played for Chelsea
and QPR
as a midfielder during the 1970s and 1980s.
Mike Fillery began his career as an apprentice with Chelsea, turning professional in August 1978, having won England schoolboy and youth honours. He made his league debut later that season, as a substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to Derby County
on April 4, 1979.
He went on to play 159 games, scoring 32 goals for Chelsea
, mainly in the Second Division. In August 1983 he moved to newly promoted Queens Park Rangers
, managed by Terry Venables
for £155,000, helping them to establish themselves as a top flight side.
He was released in the summer of 1987, having scored 9 times in 97 games for Rangers, joining Portsmouth
in July 1987. Portsmouth had just been promoted to the top flight for the first time in nearly 30 years, but it lasted just one season and Fillery found himself playing Second Division football once more.
In October 1990 he moved to Oldham Athletic, but couldn't establish himself, joining Millwall
on loan on the 28th of March 1991. At the beginning of the following season he found himself out in the cold at Oldham as the Latics embarked on top flight football. He joined Torquay United
on loan in September 1991, playing four league games which turned out to be his last games in the Football League.
He later joined Crawley Town
and was their assistant manager until August 1994 before returning to Chelsea as a coach at the club's Youth Academy
In January 2000 he was linked with the manager's post at non-league Southall
, the plan being that he would be joint-manager with his former teammate Terry Fenwick
, who was at the time Southall's Director of Football. However, this plan backfired when the chairman who had set up the deal was reported to have been sacked by the club's backers for not consulting them first.
In 2001, Fillery and then former Southall Football Club publicist Andy Fitzsimons were re-united on Channel East as sports pundits on the popular Asian award-winning satellite station's 'Sports Special' show: A 30-minute show presented by former SKY and TV AM correspondent Mike Bishop broadcast twice-weekly. He has also undertaken live work for Chelsea TV in more recent times during the club's European exchanges.
Fillery married his longtime fiancée Pamela in 2005 and continues to live in their marital home in London in NW3.
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer who played for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
as a midfielder during the 1970s and 1980s.
Mike Fillery began his career as an apprentice with Chelsea, turning professional in August 1978, having won England schoolboy and youth honours. He made his league debut later that season, as a substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on April 4, 1979.
He went on to play 159 games, scoring 32 goals for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, mainly in the Second Division. In August 1983 he moved to newly promoted Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, managed by Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
for £155,000, helping them to establish themselves as a top flight side.
He was released in the summer of 1987, having scored 9 times in 97 games for Rangers, joining Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in July 1987. Portsmouth had just been promoted to the top flight for the first time in nearly 30 years, but it lasted just one season and Fillery found himself playing Second Division football once more.
In October 1990 he moved to Oldham Athletic, but couldn't establish himself, joining Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on loan on the 28th of March 1991. At the beginning of the following season he found himself out in the cold at Oldham as the Latics embarked on top flight football. He joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on loan in September 1991, playing four league games which turned out to be his last games in the Football League.
He later joined Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
and was their assistant manager until August 1994 before returning to Chelsea as a coach at the club's Youth Academy
In January 2000 he was linked with the manager's post at non-league Southall
Southall F.C.
Southall F.C. is a semi-professional football club based in the Southall area of west London, in the London Borough of Ealing, England. Football has been played in Southall from at least 1871.-History:...
, the plan being that he would be joint-manager with his former teammate Terry Fenwick
Terry Fenwick
Terence William 'Terry' Fenwick is an English football coach and former player. He is the current head coach for San Juan Jabloteh of the TT Pro League in Trinidad and Tobago.- Player :...
, who was at the time Southall's Director of Football. However, this plan backfired when the chairman who had set up the deal was reported to have been sacked by the club's backers for not consulting them first.
In 2001, Fillery and then former Southall Football Club publicist Andy Fitzsimons were re-united on Channel East as sports pundits on the popular Asian award-winning satellite station's 'Sports Special' show: A 30-minute show presented by former SKY and TV AM correspondent Mike Bishop broadcast twice-weekly. He has also undertaken live work for Chelsea TV in more recent times during the club's European exchanges.
Fillery married his longtime fiancée Pamela in 2005 and continues to live in their marital home in London in NW3.
