Neil Mellor started life at Liverpool aged 16 and made his way through the ranks to the first team squad, scoring plenty of goals at both the youth and the reserve levels. His first Liverpool goal came in the Worthington Cup semi-final first leg versus Sheffield United, but he is perhaps most fondly remembered for two games that took place within a ten days period
In November 2004, Mellor scored an unbelievable late winner against Arsenal and just ten days later, he scored the vital second goal against Olympiakos in that famous Champions League game, before cushioning a header to Steven Gerrard who scored Liverpool’s famous third goal which took them into the knockout stages of the competition. Neil left Liverpool to sign for Preston North End, where he played 130 games in six years, before eventually retiring after suffering regular injury set backs. Neil now works as a media pundit, and can often be heard describing the action for the Liverpool academy sides on LFCTV, and for the first team on Radio City 96.7.
In an exclusive two part interview for TBT, Neil answered some questions set by Ste Hoare. In part one of the interview, Neil looks back at some memorable moments in his Liverpool career and discusses the importance of the loan system and how he would improve youth development in this country.
Q1. Liverpool signed you up when you were very young. How did you first hear about their interest in you and was it an easy decision to sign with the Reds?
I was playing for the England school’s team and I bagged a hat trick and was told a scout – John Rock – wanted me to go to Liverpool for a trial. I played for Man City from 10 until the age of 16 and asked to be released because wasn’t playing for them, I always on the bench.
This game came within a month after my release and I couldn’t believe Liverpool were interested. To be released at a League One club and then be asked to train at the most successful English club was a great opportunity that I didn’t think twice about. I was so excited and my dad said “just go and do your best.” I scored the winner against Man United in my first game and a hat trick against Newcastle in the next, so I settled in very quickly. It was funny because other teams came knocking after those games like Man United, Blackburn and Man City again!. Once Steve Heighway called me in his office and told me I was to be offered a scholarship contract I felt so happy but knew this was just the start of my football career.
After that moment Steve Heighway gave me the best advice that never left me. He said “Love, live and breathe this club and you will succeed.” I did from then on and had the Liverpool spirit within me from the day I signed and once you get that it never leaves you. I may have left the club at 23 after seven years but that spirit is too unique and special that in my eyes no other club can achieve. It will remain with me for all my days and now as an ex-player I will enjoy good times watching Liverpool and be hurt during the bad, but the club is a family and has experienced so many great successes on the pitch and will again. The spirit of the club is so special that people affiliated to it like supporters or ex players and managers will feel together and stick together always.
Q2. I remember first hearing about Neil Mellor when you were scoring plenty of goals for the youth/reserve teams, which eventually lead to you making the step up to the first team. Just how big a step is that and how easy/difficult is it to make?
The step is massive. The step from training all the time at the Academy to get the call up and go and train at Melwood is a huge new experience. The coaching staff at the Academy were superb; Stevie Heighway, Houghie McAuley and Dave Shannon gave me a brilliant education of football the Liverpool Way. I was fortunate that my dad played the game and gave me plenty of advice. He told me not to be frightened or scared to make an impression. I went in with that attitude and gained respect from the senior players by showing I had character and wanted to do well and not hide or be scared by their reputations. I respected them but showed them my quality and got involved with them and they appreciated that.
The standard was much higher and there was no room for complacency. It was all about giving it everything, there was no room for mediocre standards. I thrived on it and with help from Sammy Lee and Phil Thompson, I really loved the training sessions and grew even more as a player.
Q3. There are a few stand out moments that most Liverpool fans will remember you for. Firstly, the late winner against Arsenal. What were your thoughts as the ball fell to you – it was a highly ambitious shot to take?!
I am very proud of my moment against Arsenal because it was against the team who went the whole of the previous season unbeaten and had all the top players playing that day. I remember Kaiser [Didi Hamman] winning one of his cheap free kicks where he buys the foul when he is in trouble and the ref bought it! At that point I asked Sol Campbell if I could have his shirt at the end of the game and he wasn’t that friendly but agreed and said yes! As Kirky [Chris Kirkland] kicked the ball I remember trying to challenge Viera for the ball and managing to bully him from winning it, thus giving Harry Kewell a chance to go through. He got clattered by Big Sol and as I turned the ball was there and bounced up at a lovely height, I don’t know why I just fancied hitting it but I’m glad I did now! I knew it was in because I hit it exactly where I wanted to and knew Jens [Lehmann] wasnt getting across to it. I ran to the Kop and it was the best personal moment of my entire career. The buzz I got was amazing and I remember just looking at the fans delight and hearing the noise of celebration which I knew I had given them. It was a moment I always wanted and thought would happen but no way did I realise how loud and overwhelming it would be. It’s indescribable but it’s the biggest high I ever had as a player individually.
Q4. Secondly, I’d like to talk about the famous game against Olympiakos in the 2005 Champions League winning season. You came on in the 78th minute and managed to get a goal and assist Steven Gerrard for his fabulous winner in an eight-minute spell. Do you remember what Rafa Benitez said to you as he brought you on and did you imagine that you could make such an impact in such a short space of time?
Olympiakos was my favourite night as a Liverpool player because of what we had to do and achieving it in such a short space of time – it was just incredible. I love scoring goals but to play a part on such a special night in the club’s history means much more to me because of what we achieved collectively as a squad. Rafa just told me to go on and get into my goalscoring positions! The game was petering out into a draw and elimination from the Champions League for us. I came on and was made up because I knew I would get a chance because we were pushing desperately to score. I grabbed a poachers goal not long after coming on, after the keeper made a save from a Nunez header. I remember turning to the Kop to keep cheering us on to get another. Moments after, I thought I should have had a penalty and the funny thing is I saw a picture of that moment with the referee putting his whistle to his mouth to blow, but he obviously bottled it!
The winner to make it 3-1 was a little dink in from Carra and I remember seeing Stevie lined up ready to support. I just nodded it down into an area where he could run onto the ball. We know the rest, his strike was class and the noise was the loudest I’ve ever heard the Kop whilst playing. The only time I heard it louder was against Chelsea in the semi-final when Garcia got the winner to send us to Istanbul!
Q5. A few weeks ago on our podcast, we discussed some of our young squad players – Jonjo Shelvey and Suso for example – and how they’ve been playing U21 football recently. At times they have looked a class above the U21 level, whilst perhaps not being quite ready to hold down a first team place. As a player who had two loan spells to other clubs whilst at Liverpool, do you think a these type of players would benefit from a loan move?
I think any player would benefit from a loan move as opposed to playing in the U21 league. I think it helps players grow up and realise how fortunate they are to be at a club like Liverpool. It’s also beneficial because you are playing in games that are competitive and matter. The fans of the club you are loaned to will have the passion to make you realise how important it is.
In all honesty it’s easy to stay in a comfort zone as a young player because everything is done for you. You are seen to be a player who is still learning, therefore you are not under any pressure whereas, in a senior dressing room, with lads who have been about, you realise that you aren’t a young lad anymore!
I think a loan move is vital for all young players so they get to play games and learn the way the professional game works. They can learn from any mistakes in a much less pressurised environment than at Liverpool where it can be potentially damaging for a young player to have to learn so quickly at the top level.
I came back a much better player from West Ham and although only got two goals in 21 games, I played for three different managers in Glenn Roeder, Trevor Brooking and Alan Pardew and it was a case of having to learn to survive in a first team environment. I hope one day in England we get a system in place where we have the U21 teams in the lower leagues competing against the League One and League Two clubs. This would provide a brilliant opportunity for players to learn and develop in the way the club want you to – i.e. in the same style as the first team – rather than going out on loan to a club who will play a completely different style. The top European leagues do it so why not us? It would be more beneficial for the development of younger players in my eyes, and it will clearly show the players that can survive in the game and those who are not quite good enough.
Coming up in Part Two, Neil tells us which academy stars we should be looking out for, but also gives his thoughts on Liverpool’s 2012/13 season, Brendan Rodgers, Jamie Carragher, potential transfer targets and the club’s aims heading into the 2013-14 season.
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