Mellor retires

[livvy145]

Preston striker Neil Mellor retires from professional football at the age of 29, Knee injury apparently.

Neil Mellor ‏ @NeilMellor33

Meeting with manager today.Gutted my injury hit season didn't let me show what I can do.stil struggling with the knee injury from mk away


Neil Mellor ‏ @NeilMellor33

It's a very sad day for me and my family. On medical advice I have decided to retire from professional football.I am devastated


Neil Mellor ‏ @NeilMellor33

I am devastated to have to come to this decision. I have played for some fantastic clubs in my career and grateful for some special memories

Shame for the lad.

 

[livvy145]

Stuff of dreams..

 

[juniormember]

That was a great goal. Not to mention the other goal vs Olympiacos that made Gerrard's subsequent super goal actually matter.
I always had a soft spot for him. Feel sorry for how his career's ended.
Thanks for those memories..

 

[Modo]

This is pretty sad. Has been dogged by injuries for years. Doesn't surprise me that it's his knee.

 

[Rosco]

It is a shame alright. At least he's got a couple of moments from his time with us that neither him or us will forget

 

[gene hughes]

Neil who?

 

[the count]

Neil who?

Millar

 

[SummerOnions]

Contributed far more than some of the shit we've served up for strikers, bad news.

 

[doctor_mac]

Always had a soft spot for him. He does a regular turn on LFC TV so I hope he keeps involved with that. He's a good lad.

 

[John McGovern]

The fat Gerrard, minus the skill. Shame.

 

[gkmacca]

Very sad for him. He's still a massive red, in spite of his family's Man City connections. He comes back to cover the ressies for LFCTV and is always so positive about the club.

 

[keniget]

I recall hearing he was close to retirement early in his 20's so in a way he's lucky to have stretched his career out as long as he has done.

 

[King Binny]

robbie fowler ‏ @Robbie9Fowler

Sad news about @NeilMellor33 having to retire through injury.wouldn't wish that on anybody.. Good luck in whatever you decide to do pal

 

[FoxForceFive]

Sad news, quality goalscorer but never had much more to help him in his career.

I'm sure the connection to Liverpool will help him prolong his career after football.

 

[refugee]

Poor bugger, at least he leaves the game with some great memories.

 

[Gary25]

Sad news. Always tried his best and provided some memorable moments. Im sure we'll be seeing more of him on LFC TV.

 

[Gary25]

Bringing his lad up the right way:

http://twitter.com/#!/NeilMellor33/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com/Jlmk4F7M

 

[localny]

I liked him a lot - not the finished article for us, but better than a lot of the subsequent dross

 

[Pesam]

I love watching ex-Liverpool players make a decent career for themselves even if it's at a lower level. The likes of Welsh, Potter & Mellor have all proved very good at 1st Division standard and in Mellor's case he was decent at Championship level too. Gutted for him as he seems a decent bloke and he'll always be remembered for the Arsenal and Olympiakos contributions.

 

[Molbystwin]

Stuff of dreams..[/quote]


That is one of my all time favourite Liverpool goals, a goal which was so indelibly awesome that it didnt really need embellishing in anyway emotionally but yet it was so AWESOME that you just went absolutely spastic anyway.

Somehow the explosion of joy in my head and heart after that goal was such that it burned itself into my memory up alongside even better and more important goals.

I fucking LOVED that goal at the time and really enjoyed watching it now again!

 

[King Binny]

Neil Mellor has admitted that he is yet to come to terms with his retirement from football because of a knee injury.

The striker, 29, told BBC Radio Lancashire that the five months since he suffered the injury playing for Preston at MK Dons had been difficult.

"It's been the worst time I've had in football," he said. "I've not come to terms with it but it's been something I've spoken to a lot of people about.

"The decision is definitely the right decision and it's one I had to make."

Mellor scored 72 goals in 242 career appearances for Liverpool, West Ham, Wigan, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday and admitted the decision to retire was one no professional wanted to have to make.

"It hasn't sunk in yet. It's May now and a lot of players are switching off. It's really going to hit me in July or August, when the fixtures are announced and everyone's looking out for who is playing who.

"That was always something I used to look forward to and that's been taken away from me," he said.

Mellor attempted a comeback in March, but the five minutes he played as a substitute against Bury were enough to convince him he would never fully recover from the injury.

"It was great to get that adulation from the fans because they were desperate for me to come back.

"If I had been fully fit all season, I would have scored a lot of goals," he added.

"Iain Hume has had his injury troubles as well, and had the both of us been fit, I think Preston would have been knocking on the door for the top two and definitely in the top six."