5'7.5"  11st.2lb.
b. Over Darwen, Blackburn June 1873  
d. Blackburn 25 April 1923 (age 50)                                                                                                                                                             

Debut 13 January 1894 Final Game 23 March 1894
First Goal 15 January 1894 Final Goal 3 February 1894
CAREER: Lancashire Fusiliers;Distillery '92;Blackburn Rovers Aug'93;Manchester City May'94 (£5)[7-5];Baltimore Orioles (USA) Oct'94;Bacup'95-Nov'95;Rawtenstall Sep'96.
 

FL             6 apps   3 gls
FAC          5 apps   2 gls
Total      11 apps   5 gls  et 30m
Strike rate 204 mins
LC           3 apps   3 gls
 

Calvey was born almost on the boundary of  Blackburn and Darwen, actually in Blackburn although there was some misconception about this. His father John and mother Margaret (nee Harwood) then moved to live in Eccles Street in Livesey.There was also some confusion about his christian name since his birth does not appear to have been registered and the Football League recorded it as Mitchell. This appears to be a clerical error because he was always known as Mick and can be found on the census and army records. There is also confirmation from two court appearances for being drunk and disorderly in June 1894 and November 1895, after the latter of which he avoided jail by signing the pledge. Clearly this was a less than effective means of reform because in February 1898 he was back in the Blackburn Police Court , charged with being drunk and disorderly. The clerk to the court pointed out that he had made six previous court appearances for the same off ence, to which Calvey offered the novel defence that “it was the drink”. Worse was to follow. In June 1898 he refused to leave licensed premises, the Stakes Hall Hotel, and when finally ejected broke the jaw of James Livesey. PC Duxbury was called from the constabulary headquarters but Calvey refused to accompany him and more violence ensued. The consequence was a six months jail sentence. He was hardly out of jail in February 1900 when he was back in court charged with using obscene language in King Street, where he was threatening another pedestrian. He did not attend court, offering as an excuse that he had expected to have been called up by the militia. This time he escaped with a fine of five shillings.Incorrigible ,he continued his life of drink and violence. In October 1906 he was back in court, convicted of breaking the collarbone of William Johnson in a street attack in July. He was fined the customary five shillings. He signed for the Rovers after army service during which time he served in Northern Ireland . At the time the Lancashire Fusiliers had a team in the Irish League and Calvey was soon their centre forward. The soldiers were a robust group and in pone game it was noted that, “they showed no mercy and some of the forward, especially Calvey, were conspicuous for the employment of some very forcible feats”. The team were finalists in the County Antrim Shield and Calvey represented the county. However they pulled out of the Irish Leagie in 1892, and the best players,including Calvey played for Distillery. Although he had started as a full back the Fusiliers had moved him to centre forward where his ability to play aggressively and kick from unusual positions made him an daunting opponent. He developed a unique back kick, which required the agility of an athlete who dared challenge one of the world's best jumpers, MacDonald of Glasgow, to a contest for considerable stake money. His unorthodox ability brought him a good goal scoring record but not approval and he moved on to Manchester City. Within six months he literally jumped ship, leaving with several Manchester men and Fred Davies of Sheffield United, to play in the newly formed American League of Professional Soccer. The Baltimore side they played for won all six games but was investigated by the treasury for falsely importing the players and Calvey returned to play for Bacup. His brief career there ended when he was caught drunk and disorderly again. On 13 June 1897 he joined up again with the Lancashire Fusiliers after working as a labourer in the Belfast docks. His returned to Blackburn caused him to be absent without leave and he was court martialled in 1899 (42 days imprisonment) and 1900 (112 days). He was then dismissed and labeled “dissolute, incorrigible and worthless.” He died at his home in Lord Byron Street, which given his history was not an entirely inappropriate location.