Mal Donaghy

Malachy Martin Donaghy Date of Birth: Sep 13, 1957

Luton Town boss David Pleat stole Mal from Northern Irish side Larne for £20,000 in 1978 while their manager was on holiday and he proved to be one of the bargains of all time, playing well over 400 league games for the Hatters and winning 58 caps for his country while at Kenilworth Road.

Best remembered for his central defensive partnership with Steve Foster, the consistent and remarkably injury free defender actually started his Luton career at left-back.

It was a sad day when Mal eventually got his dream move to boyhood favourites Manchester United and after a spell at Chelsea he hung up his boots and returned to Northern Ireland where he coached with his country’s F A.