Biography
Right full back Brian Mitchell joined Hull City in August 1993 as Terry Dolan drew upon his Bradford City connections to build a squad ready to compete in Division Three, recently rebranded as League Division 2. Mitchell went straight into the first team as the Tigers won five and drew one of the opening six League fixtures of the 1993/94 season, but by mid September injuries caught up with Mitchell and he was in and out of the side for the next six weeks. He dropped out of the first team picture at the end of October 1993 and an irreparable knee ligament injury kept him sidelined for the rest of the season and precipitated his retirement from playing in the 1994 close season.
Charles Brian Mitchell was born in Stonehaven on Scotland’s east coast, 15 miles south of the city of Aberdeen, but grew up in Aberdeen where he attended Ferryhill School and Harlaw Academy, becoming a local teenage sprint champion. After a junior football career at King Street Belmont FC, while also representing Aberdeen Schools, in August 1980 Mitchell became a part-time apprentice for Aberdeen. In March and May 1981 he was twice selected to play for Scotland’s Schoolboy Under-18 side against England, and he signed his first professional contract for the Dons in May 1981.
His arrival into the professional ranks at Pittodrie coincided with the Dons’ most successful period of their history under the guiding hand of manager Alex Ferguson. As Aberdeen won the Scottish League title twice, the Scottish Cup four times, the Scottish League Cup once and the European Cup Winners’ Cup twice, Mitchell was a capable reserve full back who made his debut against Hibernian in April 1982 and amassed 81 appearances over the next six seasons, scoring his debut senior goal in a 5-0 thumping of Greenock Morton in January 1985.
With first team opportunities at Pittodrie remaining limited, Mitchell decided to head for England in February 1987 when he signed for Division Two side Bradford City, £70,000 being paid for his services. At Valley Parade Mitchell was quickly handed the first team right back berth and he barely missed a game for three years. He scored a healthy eight goals in the 1987/88 season as the Bantams, top of the table for much of the first half of the season, narrowly missed out on promotion to Division One, finishing fourth and losing out to Chelsea in the end of season play-off semi-final – a factor in that defeat may have been Mitchell’s absence from both ties. Mitchell missed most of the first three months of the 1989/90 season before regaining his place in November 1989, then lost his place again at the end of October 1990 and played sporadically for the rest of the 1990/91 season as the Bantams adjusted to life in Division Three after relegation. Mitchell started the 1991/92 season as first choice right back once more but lost his place in early January 1992 and played only once more for Bradford, in midfield against Wigan in late February 1992. Mitchell left Valley Parade in July 1992 having made 215 senior appearances in six seasons, scoring thirteen times.
Mitchell spent the 1992/93 season at League Division 1 side Bristol City, he played regularly for the Robins for the first half of the season but was absent from late December 1992 onwards as another ex-Tiger Gerry Harrison took his place at right back. He left Ashton Gate in the 1993 close season to join the Tigers having made 24 senior appearances for Bristol City.
On retiring from football Mitchell spent four years coaching football in the United States, then returned to Aberdeen where he launched a successful second career in sports development and education. Roles at the Scottish FA and Aberdeenshire Council and a Leisure Management degree eventually led to Brian becoming the Active Sports Manager for Aberdeenshire Council and Sports Scotland, finding ways for people to enjoy sports in a way that enhances their health and wellbeing.
Details
Nationality: Scotland
Date/Place of Birth: 30 July 1963, Stonehaven
Hull City First Game: 14 August 1993, Barnet A (League Division 2), 30 years, 15 days old
Hull City Final Game: 30 October 1993, Leyton Orient H (League Division 2), 30 years, 92 days old
Clubs
Aberdeen (1981-1986), Bradford City (1986-1992), Bristol City (1992-1993), Hull City (1993-1994)
Hull City Record
Career: 12 apps, 0 goals
Brian Mitchell| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993/94 | 9 (0) | 0 | – | – | 2 (0) | 0 | – | – | 1 (0) | 0 |