The 50's in the history of the club was a decade of few trophies but was a period of laying sound foundations on which the future could be built. In the early 50's most emphasis was on the Minor and Juvenile teams and this was to reap a rich harvest in the 60's. However, the first glimmer of success in the 50's was progress to the County Junior Championship final where Claudy lost rather heavily to Swatragh.

The first major breakthrough in the 50's was the Dr. Kerlin Cup success of 1957. The Dr. Kerlin Cup is the premier competition in the North Derry area and is always played in the spirit of a North Derry Championship. In 1957 our opponents were Ballerin who won every other competition they entered that year including the County Championship. But Claudy caused the surprise of the season by beating them by 2 points in the cup final in the Green. In that same year out Juvenile team reached its first North Derry Championship final losing to Dungiven.

Another milestone in the 1950's was the success of our minor team in 1959. We won our first North Derry Championship beating Drum (after a replay), Dungiven and Glenullin. Having beaten City Champions Faughanvale in the semi-final we played a draw with Magherafelt in the Co. Final. On Easter Sunday, 1960, Magherafelt won the replay in fairly convincing fashion.

A whole host of players gave sterling service to the club in the 50's. Mickey Mc Laughlin saved thousands of dangerous situations around the square and was the outstanding full back. His brother Laurence was a real dynamo at centre half back and was succeeded by Stephen Lynch a beautiful fielder and a great all round footballer. John White never gave less than 100% effort. Michael James Donaghy and John Gormley will be long be remembered as two little bundles of energy who would have run all day for their team. Johnny Burke represented his County at every level and was an inspiration by his leadership and fine attacking abilities. Patsy Mc Closkey was one of the best club footballers in Co. Derry over a ten year stretch and was "Man of the Match" in the 1957 Dr. Kerlin Cup final. And so the last and the greatest, Patsy Gormley, Derrys goalkeeper in the 1958 All Ireland Final. Patsy was the best natural goalkeeper our county has ever produced and we are proud he was a Mitchel's Man.

l John Mitchel's Claudy - Dr. Kerlin Cup winning team 1957