Mel Rees

[HeCanDoMagic]

25 years ago today we lost Mel Rees.

What a goalkeeper, what a man.

Feel privileged to have seen him play.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

I was very young at the time, and the only thing I remember about him was his Wembley appearance. You could say that seeing one man being applauded by 80k people from all sides of the stadium like a god left quite an impression.

 

[The Crab]

25 years ago today we lost Mel Rees.

What a goalkeeper, what a man.

Feel privileged to have seen him play.

Crikey, that long? Seems like yesterday. Might have been a crap result at Wembley, but seeing him walk round the pitch, ALL the fans clapping him. Not sure really what else to say. You're still missed fella.

 

[The Crab]

I was very young at the time, and the only thing I remember about him was his Wembley appearance. You could say that seeing one man being applauded by 80k people from all sides of the stadium like a god left quite an impression.

One of those occasions when being a Blade is about more than just the football, but about the people who make an impression on you long after they have gone.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

RIP Mel. I think he passed away shortly before we played the pigs at Wembley. I just wished we could have won it for him.

 

[The Crab]

RIP Mel. I think he passed away shortly before we played the pigs at Wembley. I just wished we could have won it for him.

No mate, not long after. He walked round the pitch at Wembley before the game.

 

[siblade]

Great keeper, great man

 

[bartman]

One of those occasions when being a Blade is about more than just the football, but about the people who make an impression on you long after they have gone.

In fairness it was an occasion when fans of both clubs put rivalries to one side. The same happened at Hillsborough just after the two young Wednesday fans died on the way home from a match at Coventry .On these occasions football fans can be at their best.

 

[Liverpool blade]

I had the privilege to see him play a couple of times
He was an outstanding keeper and seeing him walk round the pitch at Wembley will live in my memory for ever. It bought a tear to my eye as a 23 year old.
He was taken away far too soon.
RIP Mel Rees. A true blades legend.

 

[BigBed]

Best keeper I've seen in a Blades shirt.
RIP.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Best keeper I've seen in a Blades shirt.
RIP.

We had Rees, Kelly and Tracey on our books at the same time. Let that sink in. I've obviously got Blade tinted glasses on, but I really do struggle to think of a team that's ever had 3 keepers of their standard in the same squad.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Mel was a 25 year old nobody when we bought him.

Harry Bassett said he remembers him as a youngster at Cardiff being so talented and he thought he’d have a big future in the game.
Bassett did the old Warnock trick of announcing that Mels career was going no where and joining United was his “last chance saloon”.
Got the impression that Mel was difficult as a youngster and fell out with his previous managers.
He was on loan at loads of clubs but hardly ever played.

So us signing Mel Rees was at the time a very underwhelming signing.

Think our 1st choice goalie was injured so Mel got an earlier than expected debut and he was really really good.
In his 2nd game he was really good again.

In fact he only ever played NINE times for us and EVERY single performance he was either really good or brilliant.
His best games were home to Liverpool when he saved about 3 one on ones from Ian Rush.
Also he was brilliant away at Everton, think The Sun newspaper gave him a 10 out of 10 rating, which was rare.

It was like we’d signed Gordon Banks, all our fans were asking “where has this goalie come from?”.
He was simply brilliant, the best goalie I’ve ever seen live, yes better than Kelly, Tracey, Kenny etc.

However he can’t really be considered in the “best Blades goalie” poles because he only played 9 games for us.
Also I suspect that many of his worldie saves were flukes. He was like a human magnet, the ball could be blasted from point bank range
And it would hit him on the knee or on the shoulder and go over the bar for a corner.

His rise to goalkeeping brilliance was so quick that he was called up for the Wales B squad and pushing for an international call up.

It was a real “Roy of the Rovers” story when a nobody comes from no where to become one of the best goalies in the Premier League.
So it was a massive shame, that with the world at his feet and such a bright future his career and life is cut short with cancer.

In just 9 games he became a cult hero at the Lane, he summed up our underdog spirit,
such a modest signing performing so incredibly well, so it was really emotional to see him walk out at Wembley.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Apologies Mel, i missed you off when i said on the Blackman thread when was the last time you came away from a Blades game thinking our keeper has just earned us the point or points. I said it was probably Kelly or Tracey or Kenny, i forgot Mel.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

No mate, not long after. He walked round the pitch at Wembley before the game.

Apologies. I should've remembered that - I was at the game. Thanks for the correction.

 

[The Crab]

Apologies. I should've remembered that - I was at the game. Thanks for the correction.

No worries buddy

 

[dazzlingblade]

Jesus 25 years ago, can't believe its that long. Sadly missed

 

[BigBed]

We had Rees, Kelly and Tracey on our books at the same time. Let that sink in. I've obviously got Blade tinted glasses on, but I really do struggle to think of a team that's ever had 3 keepers of their standard in the same squad.

And now we've got Moore, Eastwood and Long!!!
God I hope we get Blackman!!

 

[Rodley]

25 years

 

[SHOREHAMST.com]

RIP Mel Rees. What a brilliant keeper he was for us. In support of Bowel Cancer UK I’ve designed a bobble hat and pin badge set to celebrate his time with us.

Available on www.shorehamst.com

 

[Bayingblade]

His performance at Everton was the best goalkeeping performance I have ever seen from a United goalie, going back to the early '70's. Wherever you are Mel, thanks and rest easy.

 

[diode_blade]

Will never forget his debut v Liverpool what a performance and his walk out at Wembley ..

Blades legend for me...

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Will never forget his debut v Liverpool what a performance and his walk out at Wembley ..

Blades legend for me...

He made some fantastic saves that day. I remember feeling so lucky that we had 3 brilliant keepers.

Wasn't at Everton but apparently he was even better. He made a huge impact and was a key part in the run of form around then, which took us to our best finish in my lifetime.

Always remember him well for those performances. RIP Mel.

 

[Revolution]

Always worth recalling the results from his 8 appearances:

United 2 Liverpool 0
Villa 1 United 1
United 2 Oldham 0
Everton 0 United 2
United 2 Spurs 0
United 1 Arsenal 1
Notts County 1 United 3
United 2 Leeds 3

Good times.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Always worth recalling the results from his 8 appearances:

United 2 Liverpool 0
Villa 1 United 1
United 2 Oldham 0
Everton 0 United 2
United 2 Spurs 0
United 1 Arsenal 1
Notts County 1 United 3
United 2 Leeds 3

Good times.

Remember him being badly injured in that Leeds game.
He could hardly stand or move but still made a few saves.

 

[Tuns25]

Been fortunate to have seen some great United keepers in the last 40 years but as a one-off performance Everton away was sensational and the best I have ever seen. Seemed a very humble bloke off the pitch too.

 

[Cheets]

United fans had been singing 'England's number 1' to Simon Tracey. When Rees came into the side and played a blinder, the crowd sang 'England's number 2!'.
Then everyone realised he was Welsh so this got changed for future matches to 'Wales number 1'.
At Goodison his excellent saves in the first half were greeted with chants of 'Wales number 1!'. At the start of the second half, Neville Southall took his place in goal in front of the United fans to be greeted with chants of 'Wales number 2!'.

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

Always remember an interview with John Greaves the ex kit man. A few years after Mel passed away John heard a few players moaning about trivial things in the dressing room. John pointed at a picture of Mel he had hung up in his room and said “Look at this lad and then tell me what your problems are”. That is so true. I no longer fret about the little things in life. RIP Mel.

 

[wavy-blade]

Omg 25 years that's unbelievable, where the hell as that all that gone ! RIP Mel u are missed and will always be remembered, this thread proves it .

 

[Billyblade]

His performance at Everton was the best goalkeeping performance I have ever seen from a United goalie, going back to the early '70's. Wherever you are Mel, thanks and rest easy.

One of his saves was similar and at least equal to Gordon Banks save from Pele. Banks save is forever being repeated, sadly Mels isn't.
RIP Blade

 

[Jehovah]

In fairness it was an occasion when fans of both clubs put rivalries to one side. The same happened at Hillsborough just after the two young Wednesday fans died on the way home from a match at Coventry .On these occasions football fans can be at their best.

Still remember a thread on owlstalk praising us for our impeccable silence and the token fuckwit saying we were quiet as we were scared we'd get filled in if we weren't.