Biography
Left half Ronnie Mitchell joined the Tigers in May 1924 at the same time as Irish centre half Mick O’Brien. While O’Brien slotted straight into the City first team Mitchell had to be more patient and it wasn’t until the last three months of the season that he saw first team action, deputising for both O’Brien and veteran Scottish defender Jock Collier. Ronnie was one of City manager Bill McCracken’s first choice defenders in the early weeks of 1925/26 season and scored his only goal for the Tigers in a September 1925 2-0 win over Clapton Orient. He also had a couple of games in the forward line but by late November he was again in the reserves and made only five further starts in the second half of the season. He was released by City in the 1926 close season.
Ronald “Ronnie” Mitchell was was born in Port Sunlight, a model industrial town near Birkenhead, to a father who worked as a joiner. He made his way into the football scene via the non-leagues with Skelmersdale United while working at locomotive manufacturer Dick Kerr & Co. In June 1922 Liverpool paid a £75 fee for Ronnie’s signature, in two seasons as a professional at Anfield Mitchell did not break into the first team and he left in the summer of 1924.
Mitchell spent the 1926/27 season at Division Three North side where he was a first team regular and made 34 starts, then switched to Bristol Rovers for the 1927/28 season but was unable to break into the first XI at Eastville. He drifted out of League football in 1928 and ill health meant his playing days drew to a close in 1930. No record of his time after football can be found although there is some suggestion he may have moved overseas during the 1930s. We have no record of his death.
Mitchell’s date of birth below is approximate, based on his baptism which we know was conducted on 19 September 1902.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 5 September 1902, Port Sunlight
Hull City First Game: 14 February 1925, Barnsley A (Division Two), 22 years, 162 days old
Hull City Final Game: 21 April 1926, Nottingham Forest A (Division Two), 23 years, 228 days old
Clubs
Skelmersdale United, Liverpool (1922-1924), Hull City (1924-1926), Nelson (1926-1927), Bristol Rovers (1927-1928), Mossley (1928-1929), Great Harwood (1929-1930), Fleetwood Windsor Villa (1930)
Hull City Record
Career: 27 apps, 1 goals
Ronnie Mitchell| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924/25 | 9 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1925/26 | 18 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |