Mel Rees

[LoughboroBlade]

The Liverpool game was one of the finest goalkeeping displays in a United shirt I’ve seen, if not the finest. Taking the emotion out of it, I’ve no idea if over a full season he’d have kept the jersey full-time over Tracey – tragically we never got to find out, but I imagine he’d have fought damned hard to keep his position.

 

[robbiez666]

I remember his first game very well.Tracey (I think) was injured and this guy we'd never heard of was in goal. Turned out he was brilliant. RIP Mel.

Back to the time we always had superb keepers.

 

[Geordie Blade]

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.

We also had Jim Leighton (Scotland international) on loan at the same time. So it was four top class keepers, one each from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

 

[Kentblade]

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.

He produced one of the best ever goal keeping displays at Everton, that I have seen.
I was sat in the stand behind the goal, what a day he had.
So sad that he died so young, will always be remembered when Blades keepers come up for debate.
I have seen some quality keepers playing for the club, starting with Ted Burgin.

UTB

 

[BigBed]

All summed in up in one word: LEGEND!

 

[Roygbiv]

Always remember playing football one day as a kid and a mate saying he had died. I was only 10 but I was stunned. For some reason I was under the impression he was getting better so it was quite a big shock even at that young age

 

[Revolution]

The Liverpool game was one of the finest goalkeeping displays in a United shirt I’ve seen, if not the finest. Taking the emotion out of it, I’ve no idea if over a full season he’d have kept the jersey full-time over Tracey – tragically we never got to find out, but I imagine he’d have fought damned hard to keep his position.

For me it ranks second. Alan Kelly's display at Stoke in the 1-1 draw in 1994-5 just tops it.

 

[Revolution]

Always remember playing football one day as a kid and a mate saying he had died. I was only 10 but I was stunned. For some reason I was under the impression he was getting better so it was quite a big shock even at that young age

He had been well enough to be an unused sub in the Villa away game in early 1993.

 

[Silent Blade]

Alan Kelly's display at Stoke in the 1-1 draw in 1994-5 just tops it.

Wasn't at that match, myself. Better than Tracey's display at Liverpool in New Year Day 1992?

 

[Revolution]

Wasn't at that match, myself. Better than Tracey's display at Liverpool in New Year Day 1992?

Wasn't there, though I'm prepared to accept it was better having heard about it.

 

[The Crab]

Always remember playing football one day as a kid and a mate saying he had died. I was only 10 but I was stunned. For some reason I was under the impression he was getting better so it was quite a big shock even at that young age

Didn't he go into remission and start training, or am I imagining that?

 

[Silent Blade]

Didn't he go into remission and start training, or am I imagining that?

Yes and he was the sub keeper in our 3-1 defeat at Villa in January 1993

 

[Freethinker]

Rip fellow never forgotten

 

[steve26272]

how do you play only 9 games for a club, yet claim legendary status?
we sometimes mock "it's the blades way" but this is the positive angle of the blades way.
9 games 25 yrs ago - respect blades fans for not forgetting.

 

[I should coco]

For me it ranks second. Alan Kelly's display at Stoke in the 1-1 draw in 1994-5 just tops it.

Alan Kelly in the second half and extra time at Wemberlee (in the game that never happened).

Without him, we'd have lost 9-1.

 

[Revolution]

Alan Kelly in the second half and extra time at Wemberlee (in the game that never happened).

Without him, we'd have lost 9-1.

I can't rank that performance higher. The concession of the first goal lowers it in my mind.

 

[Silent Blade]

Alan Kelly in the second half and extra time at Wemberlee (in the game that never happened).

Without him, we'd have lost 9-1.

Yes, he played well but I felt he was in a wrong position when facing Waddle's free kick in the 1st minute

 

[COME BACK CHED]

Not forgotten

 

[sitwell]

On my 35th birthday

 

[Gannon's perm]

On my 35th birthday

Happy birthday!
It's mine too lol.

RIP Mel
Once a Blade always a Blade

 

[DronnieBlade]

Not forgotten

Never.

Once a blade.

 

[diode_blade]

He would have probably been one of the very best keepers.
Tragic

 

[Gavlar]

Still remember him rip blade.

 

[Caveblade]

Rest in Peace Mel. Tragic loss.

 

[Yewsman]

I've told this story before but I remember being in the Stag on Psalter Lane after the Lverpool game. There were some Liverpool supporters in there and we got talking. They were moaning about Grobelar saying what a clown. If you remember he came right out of his area and tried at dribble the ball and was robbed by Deano who then hit it 40 yards into the goal. They said what a brilliant keeper Rees was. I told them it was his first game and we had just bought him for £25,000. "What" they said " you mean £250,000"! (A lot for a keeper in those days). No I assured them £25k. They couldnt believe it.