Mike Hennigan joined 2^nd Division Southampton in 1962 as an understudy to Tony Knapp. The Saints centre-half was in the middle of an unbroken run of 103 appearances, which ended only when he was injured early in the 1963-64 season. Mike’s consequent debut in a midweek match at Newcastle was quite an occasion – the first time the Saints had ever flown to a League match. The Portsmouth Evening News reported that –

 “If making his league debut before a crowd of 42,000 Geordies was an ordeal for the 20-year-old centre-half he certainly did not show it. Hennigan came out of a tough battle with centre-forward Barrie Thomas with flying colours. He proved he has what it takes where temperament and guts are concerned.”

His third game that season – which would prove to be his last for the club – was also memorable. Southampton were down to 10 men but leading Derby 4-3, when Mike left the field with a dislocated shoulder, on 50 minutes. The nine men won 6-4. Dave Paton now took over as Knapp’s deputy and Hennigan departed for Fourth Division Brighton. After just a handful of games for them, his domestic playing career was over. After some southern-hemisphere adventures and a brief spell in Ireland, he then coached in England, again mainly in Yorkshire. He followed manager Howard Wilkinson to Leeds – his longest stint anywhere, during which Leeds won the First Division title in 1992.He later conducted coaching-developmental programmes for the FA, who parachuted him in, on a caretaker basis, to assist Malawi in what would be a vain attempt to qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals.