What Happened To Spider Mellor?

[HAMPSHIRE DAVE]

Reading though the REMEMBER THESE somebody mentioned about Peter Ward and Spider Mellor from the 70's.
We all know what happend to Peter Ward but what ever became
of his partner up front?
DAVE ROBERTS

 

[Wozza]

Washed down the plughole, sadly.

(PS His son is doing alright at Liverpool though)

 

[Waterhall Wizard]

Reading though the REMEMBER THESE somebody mentioned about Peter Ward and Spider Mellor from the 70's.
We all know what happend to Peter Ward but what ever became
of his partner up front?
DAVE ROBERTS

Spoke with Spider this evening. He is delighted that he is still remembered in Brighton and he sends his regards to Albion fans.

He is living in a village called Timperley which is near Altrincham. Ian has been working for the PFA for the past ten years.

His son has been making the headlines recently playing for Liverpool.

I caught him as he was on his way out for the evening, but he is going to call me next week and I'll come back to this thread with any more info he wishes me to pass on.

 

[Gully]

Nice one, pass on the best wishes from all at NSC, he had not been forgotten by those of us of a certain age. Ask him to pass on a message to the young lad, if he doesn't fancy sticking around with the pool he will always find a warm welcome at the club where his old man used to ply his trade.

 

[HAMPSHIRE DAVE]

Funny that but it never occured to me the Mellor kid at Liverpool was his son.
Thanks anyway,
DAVE ROBERTS

 

[Wardy]

Nice one, pass on the best wishes from all at NSC, he had not been forgotten by those of us of a certain age. Ask him to pass on a message to the young lad, if he doesn't fancy sticking around with the pool he will always find a warm welcome at the club where his old man used to ply his trade.

Though he might have to accept the same wage deal or a little less then his old man was on.

 

[Jameson]

He sometimes does the SCR away match thing.

A fantastic player for the Albion. Wolud Ward have been as good without him?

Someone will mention the Walsall game I'm sure so I'll get in first - 0-0 at h/t, then 7 goals in 25 minutes or so - Wardy got 4 and Spider got 3. Pissing down with rain but no one cared - especially those of us in the North Stand - all the goals scored at our end I think

 

[Tenngull]

Hey, I was there in the North Stand for that Walsall game too. Wasn't that the one where Mullery gave 'em a roasting at half-time and sent the team out early? We got 7 in a game against York around that time too, didn't we?

Happy days! Nostalgia - it's a thing of the past!

 

[Jameson]

Hey, I was there in the North Stand for that Walsall game too. Wasn't that the one where Mullery gave 'em a roasting at half-time and sent the team out early? We got 7 in a game against York around that time too, didn't we?

Happy days! Nostalgia - it's a thing of the past!

No, I believe you are thinking of the Millwall game on the opening day of the Div 2 season after promotion. We were 2-0 down and he sent them back onto the pitch and they had to boot a ball around for 10 minutes or so while the Millwall players had their half-time cuppa. We went on to win 3-2!

 

[HAMPSHIRE DAVE]

Just makes the removal of the Goldstone ground even more heart
wrenching.
Happy days.
DAVE ROBERTS

 

[Waterhall Wizard]

Spoke with Spider today. It was a long conversation but I'll try to summarise it.

He says that he is very grateful to Kay and 'Dinks' who gave him lodgings when he first arrived in Brighton. (This is where Mark Lawrenson also bedded down on his arrival from Preston). Ian said that the Doo family helped him to settle in to Brighton very quickly.

He has many happy memories of his personal life whilst he was with Brighton. He became a proud dad to a son and a daughter during his time with the club. One was born in the Sussex County and the other in Southlands at Shoreham.

His happiest time of his football career was with the Albion. He couldn't get in to the first team on a regular basis either at Man City or Norwich. That changed at Brighton.

He said that it was so important that it was a successful side. All players want first team football and for their team to do well. He pointed out that the team spirit at that time was exceptionable and was never matched at any of his other clubs. This is why he was so happy with the Albion.

He loved playing alongside " some accomplished players". He pointed out:
Peter Grummit as being a good keeper; Chris Cattlin was an experienced reliable dedicated defender ("he would kick his granny if he had the chance"); Steve Piper and Tiger Towner, two local lads who were a pleasure to have in your team; Dennis Burnett and Graham Cross, two other experienced solid players; he was delighted to team up again with Andy Rollings who he new from his Norwich days; he thought that Gerry Fell was one of the quickest wingers that he played with and Brian Horton was the best captain that he ever had.

He recalls that if you sold Nobby short on the pitch the whole of the Goldstone Ground heard all about it. If the voice wasn't enough his stare would frighten the life out of you. Nobby wasn't nicknamed the Bald Eagle for nothing.

We spoke some time about his partnership with Wardy. He pointed out that he had similar partners at two other clubs but the one with Wardy was the most rewarding. He found great satisfaction in the fact that he was able to pull opposition players out wide allowing Wardy to exploit the space that was left.

He was full of praise for Mike Bamber. He thought that he was the best chairman that he worked for and described him as a gentleman. He recalled how sorry he was to learn of his demise through cancer.

He says that footballers are like ships passing in the night and there is little contact between them when they move on. He was delighted to resume acquaintances with many of his ex-Brighton colleagues at Steve Piper's fiftieth birthday celebration a year ago. Some of the players there were Tiger Towner, Dennis Burnett, Sammy Morgan, Harry Wilson, Andy Rollings, Chris Cattlin, Gerry Fell as well as Pipes and Spider.

He is delighted that his son has broken in to Liverpool's first team and is a spectator at most of his games. Young Neil is not allowed by his dad to get carried away. Spider helped to keep his feet firmly on the ground by advising young Neil that although he scored one goal in two European games his dad got two in two European games. Spider said that Neil is intelligent, listens well and is willing to learn.

He asks me to pass on festive greetings to all who remember him. He has a lot of respect and feels warmth towards the Albion fans.

 

[HAMPSHIRE DAVE]

GREAT STUFF.

Thanks for that.
When ever times are bad just think of Mellor and Ward and the Goldstone rocking and that day at St.James park.
I've gone all fuzzy.
DAVE ROBERTS

 

[Jambo Seagull]

What a top bloke he sounds. I had an argument recently with Skintagain 1983 about the famous Walsall game. I was convinced that Mellor scored 4 and Wardy scored 3 rather than the other way around. I think this was because Spider set up most of Wardy's goals. I was also convinced that the York City game was the Saturday before the Walsall game on the Tuesday, when it fact it was about 3 weeks or so earlier. The York game was the one where we wre drawing 2-2 at half time and won 7-2. Happy days of me and my Dad bonding at the footy together.

 

[Padders]

Re: Re: What Happened To Spider Mellor?

He is living in a village called Timperley which is near Altrincham. Ian has been working for the PFA for the past ten years.

.

This made me laugh, Timperley may have been a village a long time ago, but now it is just a part of the South Manchester conurbation, part of Trafford. Chavland.

 

[Waterhall Wizard]

Re: Re: Re: What Happened To Spider Mellor?

This made me laugh, Timperley may have been a village a long time ago, but now it is just a part of the South Manchester conurbation, part of Trafford. Chavland.

Spider called it a village.