Harry Lewis proud to follow in Stockport footsteps of Ken Mulhearn

His late grandad Ken Mulhearn was better known for his role in Manchester City’s title-winning side of 1968.

But he launched his career by winning the Fourth Division with Stockport.

Mulhearn, who died in March 2018 aged 72, remains an inspiration for grandson Lewis, who dreams of emulating his success.

“There are a lot of parallels,” said the City keeper, who is fast building his own reputation following his move from Southampton.

“My grandad started at his local club, which was Everton, and he was there as a YT and worked his way through the ranks but it never really happened for him. I don’t think he made an appearance.

“He dropped down to the fourth tier like me at Stockport County and played 100 games for them. He won the Fourth Division in 1967.

“That was the place where he first made his name.

“He was there for a couple of years and then got the move to Man City.”

Mulhearn was thrust into the spotlight after City’s first-choice keeper Harry Dowd broke his finger two days later. His first game could not have been any bigger - a Manchester derby at Maine Road.

Ken Mulhearn won the First, Third and Fourth Division titles (Image: shrewsburytown.com)

“He’d gone from playing at Edgeley Park in the Third Division in front of a few thousand fans to facing Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best!”

Watched by a whopping crowd of 62,942, Charlton scored twice in a 2-1 United win but Mulhearn would go on to earn a title-winning medal with Manchester’s blue half.

Lewis added: “He had three years at City, did his knee quite badly and fell out of favour.

“Then he signed for Shrewsbury, where he won the Third Division. He made 370 appearances and is a club legend - his name’s up on the stand and he’s in the hall of fame.

“That’s why I’m from Shrewsbury. My mum was born in Manchester but they obviously moved when he signed.

“He was there for years and then had a couple of seasons finishing his career at Crewe Alexandra. But it was at Stockport where he made his name.”

Mulhearn had no say in pushing Lewis into playing the same position. That happened purely by chance thanks to a school advert.

“I was a centre half in my under-eights team and would go in goal at the end of training,” he said.

“The lad that played in goal, his dad was the manager, so it was never really going to happen. I had no chance.

“I told my mum I wanted to be a goalkeeper and she was like, ‘oh no, here we go again’ having obviously watched her dad.

“But she went into school the next day and there was a leaflet from one of the other local teams wanting a goalkeeper.

“That was it. I went in there and had the first half of the season for them before I signed for Shrewsbury.

“I’d talk about goalkeepers and stuff with grandad but he would never ever give me any pointers.

“I wouldn’t say he hated watching me play but he’d be so nervous.

“But I know he was very, very proud of me. A lot of people told me that when he passed.

“Now I’m in football and I’m playing, I realise what he achieved.

“Winning the fourth tier, the third and the first is some going. Not many players get to do that in their careers.

“However good I am or will be one day, for me this is where my career starts. This is my version of his Stockport, if you like.

“What I would give to win promotion, like he did, with City so hopefully there’s maybe a parallel for the end of the season.”