Quote: tvoc "Another snippet from the YP article that sums the man up
The incident cost Mick so much more than just his brilliant rugby career at the tender age of 26. It also cost him his trade (his livlihood in those part-time days) and his marriage as he turned from a happy go lucky type to someone who would suffer from fits of depression and as he remarked himself he was difficult to live with during his long, long recovery.
The broken jaw suffered in the 'accident' (as Mick called it) was a set-back but the relapse after he was discharged from hospital led to life-saving brain surgery that left him with partial paralysis and an inability to speak. The determination to recover and to play again drove him on. His first word after months of trying was 'bus'. You can only imagine how frustrating that must have been to a once supreme athlete at the top of his game. It kept coming out wrong but when he finally was able to say it correctly he marked it down as his number one success and proof to himself that he would beat it.
And he still dreamt of a return to the game before the specialists advised that such a possibility was beyond reason.
Mick Shoebottom - to me - Simply the Greatest.'"
you've explained a lot there.In the 80s early 90s on our way to away games we used to stop in hunslet to pick up amate who lived round there,and we used to go in The Red Lion[think thats the name]and Mick used to come in and sit alone in a corner very quiet,we all used to show respect acknowledging him saying "alright Mick, ow do Mick"but we did'nt force our way onto him.I remember seeing him smile as we were having fun,and taking the p1$$ out of each other,I have heard when he was healthy he was the most mischievous lad,so tragic!.I also attended they day they buried his ashes at Headingley,all the great player's of his era were there,including the successful 1970 lions capt Frank Myler,and of course his brother who was in a wheel chair,I remember Alan Smith spending a lot of time with Micks Brother at the ceremony.RIP MICK you were the greatest and a true lionheart