- Cronulla teammates fear for welfare of missing star
- He played for the Sharks between 1986 and 1992
Concerned teammates are desperately trying to find former football star Michael Speechley, who was last seen in his car a few years ago.
Speechley, 60, played for a number of NRL clubs but made his name with the Cronulla Sharks between 1986 and 1992 as a five-eighth.
‘The Lawnmover’ is known for his tackling technique and has reportedly been spotted at a handful of locations in Sydney’s south, including RSL clubs in Brighton and Ramsgate.
Now Sharks chairman Steve Mace, former club director Barry Russell and Cronulla old boys’ committee member and former star player Alan Wilson only want to know whether the reclusive Speechley needs help.
Four years ago, his former teammate Darren Higgins bumped into Speechley and an awkward conversation ensued.
Speechley told Higgins at the time that he had to go to hospital for treatment for pneumonia. He has not been seen since.
“He just disappeared off the face of the earth,” Higgins said News Corp.
“He didn’t travel well then. We’re all worried about him. We love ‘Speech’, he’s a good guy.”
Concerned teammates desperately try to locate former soccer star Michael Speechley (pictured playing for the Sharks in 1987), who cannot be reached
Speechley made his name at Cronulla between 1986 and 1992 when he played five-eighth. He was also renowned for his tackling technique
The ex-Shark’s sad plight is reminiscent of the plight of former Bulldogs flyer Sandy Campbell (pictured), who lived a rough life on the Gold Coast in 2022
News of Speechley’s plight came after it was confirmed in 2022 that his former rugby league colleague Sandy Campbell was having a difficult life on the Gold Coast due to throat cancer.
Campbell was seen living on the beach below a surf club in Coolangatta, with all his belongings in a shopping trolley.
One of the items was a chemotherapy infusion pump he needed to treat throat cancer.
He is said to be estranged from his wife and twin daughters.
Campbell’s close friend Darren Smith told News Corp it was a tragic downfall for the former Bulldogs star.
“He has nothing,” he said. “What do I do? I wanted to start a GoFundMe page to help him.
“Nobody can give him shelter and he has no money. It’s very sad.”
Last year, Campbell received even more bad news: he was diagnosed with a tumor behind his right ear.
Campbell lives in a self-sufficient van that he was given as a gift to stay off the streets.