Career
Born in Holywell, Wales, Mike England was a tall commanding centre-half, who could also play effectively as a centre-forward. He played for Blackburn Rovers,, Cardiff, and for the Wales national team England played in the North American Soccer League with the Seattle Sounders from 1975 to 1979.
He retired as a player in 1979 after playing eleven games for the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
He scored an unusual "hat-trick" in 1974, two own-goals and one goal to Burnley Netto. England was overtaken as the youngest Wales permanent captain by Aaron Ramsey in 2011.
He managed the Wales national team from March 1980 to February 1988. In his first match in May 1980, Wales beat England 4-1 at Wrexham.
Under his managership Wales came close to qualifying for several tournaments, most notably the 1986 World Cup.
A 1-1 draw was enough for Scotland, but their much loved manager Jock Stein had a heart attack in the dugout next to Mike England, and died shortly after. After failing to qualify for the 1988 European Championships, England was sacked as Wales manager on 3 February 1988. That was to be the final job he would ever have in football.
He later managed a nursing home in North Wales, and then owned two nursing homes and ran his own timber business.
England was awarded an Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Welsh football in 1986. Wales national football team (1979–1987) Wales Under 23- 11 appearances.