Mark Howsham

When Mel Rees joined Sheffield United from West Bromwich Albion in March 1992, he was a 25-year-old goalkeeper who had spent much of his career struggling to establish himself in the first team. United manager Dave Bassett needed a goalkeeper after injuries to Simon Tracey and his Phil Kite, and remembered Rees from his time managing Watford. He agreed to pay West Brom £25,000 to bring him to Bramall Lane. Rees could hardly believe somebody was willing to pay that much for him. “West Brom would have jumped at the chance to get two bob for me.” Bassett had always rated him and thought he was capable of playing at a much higher level than he had managed so far. “I’m surprised he’s not done better.” Just two days after signing, Rees was thrown straight into the team against Liverpool at Bramall Lane. Rees produced an outstanding performance, keeping a clean sheet as Sheffield United beat Liverpool 2-0. The newspapers were full of praise for the new goalkeeper. “He did wonders on Saturday.” Rees went on to make eight league appearances that season, keeping four clean sheets and helping United finish ninth in the First Division. But during the summer of 1992, Rees received devastating news. Doctors discovered that he had bowel cancer. He underwent major surgery and began a lengthy course of treatment, spending months away from football while his teammates prepared for the first season of the Premier League. United signed another goalkeeper, Alan Kelly, who arrived from Preston hoping to establish himself in the team. And when the two goalkeepers first met in the dressing room, Rees walked over, held out his hand and introduced himself with a joke. “Don’t worry, it’s not contagious.” Even while undergoing treatment, Rees tried to keep laughing with his teammates whenever he visited the training ground. “The lads have helped me keep my sense of humour.” “They even had a sweep on my chances of surviving.” His treatment appeared to have worked, and in January 1993 he was allowed to return to training with Sheffield United. He still had a long way to go physically, but being back around his teammates meant everything to him. “It will be five years before I know if I have beaten it.” “But it is great to get the go-ahead to resume my career.” But in March, just two months after being cleared to train again, doctors discovered that the cancer had returned. He was admitted to hospital and underwent another major operation. By now, Sheffield United were preparing for one of the biggest matches in their history. They had reached the FA Cup semi-final against their biggest rivals, Sheffield Wednesday, with the match taking place at Wembley on the 3rd of April 1993. The United captain, Brian Gayle, came up with an idea. He wanted Rees to have the honour of leading Sheffield United out at Wembley, and was prepared to give up his own place at the front of the team. The suggestion was put to Rees while he was recovering from his second operation. “When it was first mentioned he thought it was a wind-up.” “But he will do it if he feels up to it.” The players knew Rees was seriously ill, and wanted to give him something special to look forward to. “More than anything we’re hoping it will give him a boost.” “Because feeling good is all part of the battle.” Unfortunately, the Football Association would not allow Rees to lead the players out for a semi-final. But arrangements were made for him to walk around the Wembley pitch before kick-off instead. He had lost a considerable amount of weight and looked nothing like the goalkeeper who had helped United beat Liverpool a year earlier. But he was determined to be there. Before kick-off, Rees walked out onto the Wembley pitch. Thousands of Sheffield United fans rose to their feet and began applauding their goalkeeper. Then the Sheffield Wednesday supporters joined in. The two sets of fans, who had travelled to London desperate to beat each other, were suddenly standing together to applaud a seriously ill young man walking around the pitch. United midfielder Jamie Hoyland would never forget watching it. “My main abiding memory of the day is Mel Rees.” “I get choked up thinking about it now.” “The reception from around the stadium was amazing, every fan stood up.” Rees continued around the pitch, acknowledging the supporters as the applause carried on. He had played just eight league matches for Sheffield United, but that afternoon he received one of the biggest ovations Wembley had ever given a player. The match eventually kicked off, with Chris Waddle giving Wednesday the lead before Alan Cork equalised for United. The game went into extra time, where Mark Bright scored the winner to send Sheffield Wednesday through to the FA Cup final. United goalkeeper Alan Kelly had produced a brilliant performance to keep his team in the match, but was devastated by the defeat. As he walked off the pitch afterwards, he spotted Rees standing beside the touchline. Kelly went over to him, and the two goalkeepers walked away together. Years later, Kelly admitted that seeing his seriously ill teammate waiting there after everything that had happened meant far more to him than the result. “If there was any moment in my life when I realised that there were more important things in life than football then that moment was it.” Seven weeks after his appearance at Wembley, Mel Rees sadly passed on the 30th of May 1993. He was just 26 years old. He had spent less than 15 months at Sheffield United, but his courage and personality had made an enormous impression on everybody at the club. And Dave Bassett, the manager who had brought him to Bramall Lane for £25,000, paid tribute to the young goalkeeper he had believed in. “It is the way he faced up to the blow of discovering he had cancer and fought it to the end with courage and humour that marked him out as special.” #football