20 years ago today

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Mel's appearences for us, in the season of our best finish since 1975:

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.
 
The city united to applaud him at Wembley, very sad that he fell ill just as his career started to really take off.

Does any know if there are any arrangements yet for the Mel Rees Tournament this year?
 
RIP Mel. I don't think any player has made such an impact in so few games. His performance at Everton is still the finest goalkeeping performance I have ever seen, just pipping Alan Kelly at Wembley.
 
WalthamstowBlade said:
I remember watching him against Liverpool, stunning performance.
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Me too. It's not too often you remember performances so vividly, especially over 20 years ago but that was something special. RIP Mel.

On a separate note, looking at those results of the games he played in makes it so depressing when comparing where we are now. Apologies for bringing the here and now into this thread, let's get back to the great memories!
 
LardSardine said:
Me too. It's not too often you remember performances so vividly, especially over 20 years ago but that was something special. RIP Mel.
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I remember one fingertip save in front of the Bramall Lane end, he sort of sprung up, knocked it over, then popped back down like a Jack in the Box.
 
I've only realised today that he was a year younger than I am now when he died. A terrible tragedy. It's a shame I was just too young to see him play as it sounds like he could have been quality for us.

As Caveblade mentioned, does anybody know if there will be a Mel Rees tournament this year? You don't hear an awful lot about the Inter_Blades on here any more.
 
Revolution said:
Radio Blade might be referring to the fact that the Kop sang that song to him during his debut against Liverpool, not knowing he was Welsh...
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Yeah, I think he knows he was really Welsh ;) I think I remember some callers on P&G that evening correcting the singers on the Kop, but you can't beat Unitedites for the spirit of support :D

Within 2 years of each other we had
'England's Number 1'
'England's Number 2' soon to be corrected to:
'Wales Number 1'
'Ireland's Number 1'
and a few years down the line we got Steve Simonsen...

I remember being shocked and saddened by Mel's death, especially having seen him walk round the pitch at Wembley not long before and thinking that show of strength indicated a possible recovery.

RIP Mel.
 
Bayingblade said:
RIP Mel. I don't think any player has made such an impact in so few games. His performance at Everton is still the finest goalkeeping performance I have ever seen, just pipping Alan Kelly at Wembley.
Click to expand...

Just piping Alan Kelly at Wembley? Sorry but I can't forgive Alan Kelly for loosing to our city rivals. He should have organised a wall rather than faffing about like he did.

I honestly believe that had Mel not fallen ill he would have been our No. 1.

Great tribute to a great guy before the Wembley game though. RIP Mel Rees.
 
hykeham_blade said:
Just piping Alan Kelly at Wembley? Sorry but I can't forgive Alan Kelly for loosing to our city rivals. He should have organised a wall rather than faffing about like he did.

I honestly believe that had Mel not fallen ill he would have been our No. 1.

Great tribute to a great guy before the Wembley game though. RIP Mel Rees.
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Are you serious? Watch the video of the game. We would have lost about 5-1 in normal time had it not been for Kelly.
 



Darren said:
Are you serious? Watch the video of the game. We would have lost about 5-1 in normal time had it not been for Kelly.
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Unfortunately I think it would have been 10-1. Kelly kept us in the game, it would have been over at half time, if he wasn't playing, we were lucky to get to extra time (says this through gritted teeth)
 
CG Blade said:
Unfortunately I think it would have been 10-1. Kelly kept us in the game, it would have been over at half time, if he wasn't playing, we were lucky to get to extra time (says this through gritted teeth)
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I entirely agree. We really were shit that day. I couldn't belive it was 1-1 at full time. I bet Wednesday fans were thinking it was "one of those days" and we would nick a win in extra time. I had no such confidence.
 
Hiya,

Myself and a couple of others did and still do the Mel Rees event.

We could not do it this year due to the blades getting into the play offs. But plans are already made to hold it next year. Again for cancer charities and someone who helped make it a special event who is no longer with us.

But will let you know when dates etc are sorted.

Cheers

Rip Mel.

His dad is an amazing guy.
 
Darren said:
I entirely agree. We really were shit that day. I couldn't belive it was 1-1 at full time. I bet Wednesday fans were thinking it was "one of those days" and we would nick a win in extra time. I had no such confidence.
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I agree as well. I was also at Wembley in 73 to see Tomaszewski defy everything that TC and England threw at him, and I have always felt that I saw the two finest goalkeeping displays at Wembley in my era. People say Jim Montgomery, also in 1973, but that was really just one amazing save. Any other contenders??

Would like to add to Mel Rees tribute. In his one defeat he was badly injured and bravely carried on. Dave Bassett certainly knew how to pick a good keeper.
 
I was proud of the Wendy fans that day, the applause that they gave him brought a lump to my throat. The city doesn't often unite but it's special when it does.
 
I'm not sure what's the more rediculous concept. The fact we had 3 keepers that were so good at the same time, or the fact that it really was 20 years ago.. Never heard of him before he came here..He certainly made an impression in those 8 games, and some.. RIP Mel Rees
 
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