Leader of the pack! Seven sons scrum down with dad for final rugby game as he hangs up his boots
- Mike Ireland played his last match and captained his team Heaton Moor third XV
- All seven sons played for his team as they pounded Wythenshawe on Saturday
- It was a dream come true for the 56-year-old, who also has eight daughters
On the day of his last match, amateur rugby veteran Mike Ireland was most probably hoping for a sound win so he could go out in style.
The chartered engineer got that and much more as all seven of his sons turned up to play alongside him, helping him to thrash the opposition by 65-7.
Mr Ireland, 56, of Stockport, said he felt ‘pretty emotional’ as he captained his team, Heaton Moor third XV, to victory.
He and his sons, aged between 18 and 35, made up the entire set of forwards as the side pounded Wythenshawe on Saturday – although Mr Ireland didn’t manage to score.
All seven of Mr Ireland’s sons turned out to play for his team. From left to right are: Luke, 23; Sam, 28; Dan, 35; Dad Mike, 56; Stephen, 21; Joel, 18; Matthew, 33; Tom, 31
Mr Ireland – who is also father to eight daughters, several of whom play rugby too – told the Daily Mail last night it had been a ‘very special’ day.
‘I guess it is pretty unique to have all my sons play with me – and we had the whole scrum as we are forwards,’ he said.
‘I’ve never had them all on the field at the same time, so I’m really grateful to the people at the club who made it happen.
‘It was pretty much a surprise actually, arranged behind my back. It was a great treat for an old man retiring.’
The father-of-15 added that he was definitely ready to stop playing.
‘I’m going to keep going down and watch my boys play each week – but I’m going to burn my boots so I’m not tempted to pull them on again,’ he said.
His wife, and mother of their 15 children, Donna, 55, said: ‘I was very proud of them all. It was a great way for Mike to go out.’
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