The name Kevin Ellison will for TCF always be that player signed by Peter Taylor from Altrincham, splashing out £100.000 and never really have any use of him, only to play once, coming on as a sub at Old Trafford v. Manchester United.
Kevin Ellison was known for scoring goals before joining Leicester City. Born in Liverpool and not picked up by either Everton, Liverpool or Tranmere who are those league clubs in that area. Non-League club Southport becomes Ellison’s first senior side, playing four league games before moving on to Chorley and Conwy, and at the age of 20 getting his breakthrough at Altrincham United.
Ellison is an early version of Jamie Vardy, and after a good run of games and a great goal tally been recognized by Peter Taylor and his staff at Leicester City. £100.000 is splashed out to bring Ellison to Filbert Street. But his life as a “fox” became a short one, and not really getting any chance to shine, with only playing once before being pushed out, but again must be thankful for that jump into league football which has continued for almost 20 years and still is running.
Ellison now 40 years of age is still scoring goals in league football. Since his last move to Morecambe back in 2011 he has just continued and continued and with 329 league appearances and 80 goals among the oldest players in EFL football.
Before his move to Morecambe eight years ago, he had spells at several clubs and after Leicester City he joined Stockport County. Ellison has also represented Lincoln City, Chester, Hull City, Tranmere Rovers, Rotherham United and Bradford City.
Kevin Ellison played a total of 49 games last season scoring 7 goals. And despite being a player haunting Newport County, they made it to the play-off finals as we all remember, and that final league clash ending in a 1-1 draw and not a Morecambe win, which could have stopped that happening. BBC had a story about that possible outcome.
We will see how the 40 year old forward will continue, but his impressive career in the lower tiers is one to recognize, despite only being on the field for Leicester City in that Old Trafford clash with Manchester United, not really ending in the best way, defeated 2-0, but still one of Kevin’s best memories in football, one other was to play for Ian Rush, when he was in charge at Chester.
Football is a strange business and in one minute you are out playing at Old Trafford, the next you can be as far away from the “top” as you never could imagine.
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