615 Mike Ring

Biography

Forward Mike Ring joined the Tigers in July 1984, initially on a trial that turned into a two year contract in September, following his former Brighton team-mate and now City player-manager Brian Horton to Boothferry Park. He started with a bang, scoring on his debut in a 3-0 win over Bournemouth then striking the opener three days later in the League Cup against Lincoln. However after another six starts that yielded no goals Ring was replaced by Andy Flounders in Horton’s fluid frontline that had Billy Whitehurst at its fulcrum. Ring returned to the first team in a December 1984 FA Cup tie against Tranmere, again announcing his presence with a goal. He spent December and January playing on the left wing but was consigned to the reserves for the last two months of the season as City won promotion to the Second Division. Ring was used more sparingly by Horton in the 1985/86 season as the Tigers competed at a higher level, scoring his only goal of the season in a New Year’s Day 4-1 thrashing of Barnsley inspired by the sumptuous promptings of Bobby Doyle. Mike spent most of the season on the transfer list and left the club in the 1986 close season after spending April 1986 on a month’s loan at Division Three side Bolton Wanderers, making three appearances.

Born and raised in Brighton, Michael Paul Ring joined his local club as a junior and turned professional in 1978 after scoring numerous goals for the youth team (including six in one match). He made his first team debut in an October 1981 League Cup tie against Huddersfield Town before gaining experience during a loan spell at Greenock Morton in April 1982 that yielded four senior appearances after a daunting debut against Celtic. Ring managed only a handful of further appearances before leaving the Seagulls in April 1984 and ending the season on a week-to-week part-time contract with Northern Irish side Ballymena United, where he won an Irish Cup Final winners’ medal.

Ring joined Division Four side Aldershot in July 1986, in his first season he announced himself in grand style with a September 1986 hattrick against Lincoln City and went on to score ten goals in 44 appearances, contributing to the Shots winning promotion to the Third Division via a play-off victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. In his second season Ring made a further 38 appearances and scored six goals as Aldershot narrowly avoided an immediate relegation. In the 1988/89 season Aldershot finished rock bottom and Ring scored only twice in 23 appearances, making his final appearance in January 1989 when he came off the bench to score a consolation goal in a 1-3 defeat against Bristol Rovers – he left Aldershot in March 1989 having scored 18 goals in 105 appearances.

Mike joined Isthmian League side Lewes in March 1989 and started the 1989/90 season with The Rooks. In January 1990 he switched to Conference National side Farnborough Town, then two months later in March 1990 he joined Southern league side Crawley Town. Ring joined Sussex County League side Newhaven at the start of the 1990/91 season and had two years at The Dockers before spending the early part of the 1992/93 season at local rivals Peacehaven & Telscombe.

After football Ring worked for Rigby Taylor, a provider of sports pitch maintenance supplies, rising to regional sales director by the 2010s.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 13 February 1961, Brighton
Hull City First Game: 1 September 1984, Bournemouth H (Division Three), 23 years, 201 days old
Hull City Final Game: 1 February 1986, Blackburn Rovers A (Division Two), 24 years, 353 days old

Clubs

Brighton & Hove Albion (1978-1984), Greenock Morton (1981-1982, loan), Ballymena United (1984), Hull City (1984-1986), Bolton Wanderers (1986, loan), Aldershot (1986-1989), Lewes (1989-1990), Farnborough Town (1990), Crawley Town (1990), Newhaven (1990-1992), Peacehaven & Telscombe (1992)

Hull City Record

Career: 34 apps, 4 goals

Mike Ring
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1984/8513 (2)12 (1)12 (1)11 (1)0
1985/864 (5)11 (0)00 (1)0

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