Legends - Ken Mulhearn
The sixth legend to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is Ken Mulhearn. Ken made nearly 400 League appearances for Town and over 600 career appearances in total.
Ken Mulhearn
A typically shy retiring Scouser Ken joined Everton as an apprentice and signed professional forms in July 1963. It is always tough for a teenage goalkeeper to break into the first team so the following season Ken moved to Stockport County. He made 100 appearances for the Hatters which culminated in their Fourth Division title triumph in 1966-67. His fine form at Edgley Park drew neighbours Manchester City's attention and they stepped in to sign Ken a month before his 22nd birthday. During his time at City he went on to be part of the last all English team to win the top Division title as City won the 1967-68 Football League Championship.
Having been edged out of the first team at Maine Road he was a massive signing for Salop when Harry Gregg secured his signature in March 1971. Town had always had a good goalkeeper since entering the Football League and Ken continued that tradition in fine style. One of the most thankless jobs in English football was to be understudy at Shrewsbury as he played 236 consecutive games between October 1972 and December 1977.This included being ever present during the promotion season of 1974-75. He then shared the role with Liverpool bound Bob Wardle during our promotion to the Second Division in 1978-79 and so clinched the title of three of the four divisions in English football.
After leaving Town to move to Crewe in 1980 Ken took his total League appearances past the 600 game figure with the lion share 370 being in Shrewsbury colours. Ken was not just a fine keeper he was a great character who was also an excellent cricketer and featured in Shrewsbury Cricket Club's victory at Lord's in 1983. Needless to say he was the wicketkeeper that day and the side overcame opening bowler Steve Ogrizovic's absence in Ken's old role at Grimsby to defeat Hastings and St Leonard's.
After retiring from football Ken settled in town and became a publican initially at the Springfield and latter at the Sadler's. He move on to work as a porter at the hospital and carried on being a shark around the golf courses.
The one certain fact at the Legends evening is that whatever time is allotted for the Hall of Fame members Ken will run over and have the crowd in stitches.