Mel Sterland
Melvyn " Mel" Sterland ( born October 1, 1961 in Sheffield ) is a former English footballer. The right-back was one of the best players of Sheffield Wednesday 1980s and was known equally for its sprinted over the winger and the precise edges. Later he moved to Leeds United and won there in 1992, the English championship before he immediately drew upon a serious injury and retired from professional football after the 1993/94 season.
Sports career
Sheffield Wednesday (1978-1989)
The educated at Sheffield Wednesday Sterland went through the youth ranks and was there mostly to be found on the striker position. In this role, he also came at the age of 17 years on May 17, 1979 against Blackpool FC in the third division to his debut in the first team and scored his first goal right away. It was Jack Charlton Kotrainer John Harris, who eventually retrained him into a right -back. The measure paid off and then on Ster country was not only the undisputed master player on this position, but came later in the English U -21 to first inserts. They were joined by the positive developments of Sheffield Wednesday, four more years later under Howard Wilkinson led in the second division to the first division after promotion in 1980. Are thanks especially two penalty goals from country to Rochester 1-0 wins for important points; of success against Crystal Palace in April 1984 was there even the decisive step to climb.
Also in the top English league confirmed Sterland his former achievements and expressed his versatility was that he helped out the first match day of the 1988/89 season as a striker. For this purpose he was now risen not only to the team leader, but was also the first English national player of the " Owls " since Ron Springett good two decades earlier. Somewhat unexpectedly took his time but from November 1988 to an abrupt end when Wilkinson left the club and successor, Peter Eustace Sterland eluded the captain's armband. This asked in connection to the release for a change of club and Eustace's successor Ron Atkinson let him go for the time agreed internally highest sales total in the amount of 800,000 pounds to the Scottish Glasgow Rangers in March 1989, to reinvest this money later in the transfer of Carlton Palmer.
Most Lands stay in Scotland's first league was under English coach Graeme Souness was short-lived. He completed nine league games, scored three goals and won it in the short time the Scottish Cup before he decided to return to England. He turned down an offer from the first division side Queens Park Rangers and instead went in July 1989 back to his old coach Howard Wilkinson, who had in the meantime taken over in the second division at Leeds United as director.
Leeds United (1989-1994)
Rochester Country Quick was again an integral part of a team and managed by Wilkinson as a regular player on the right side of defense he drove in his first season in 1989/90 a significant contribution to promotion to the First Division at. Also in the top English league, he quickly established himself in a new environment and in addition to his dynamic offensive runs he prepared with precise edges as some of the strike striker Lee Chapman before. After a surprisingly good fourth place as a newly promoted Leeds United in 1992 she won the English championship. These controlled the dreaded especially in free kicks Sterland six league goals in 31 missions in.
The greatest success in Rochester Lands professional career was followed by a faster setback when he severely injured after only three completed games in the newly created Premier League. A Blessur right ankle was so severe that he underwent a series of operations, including the removal of a tendon belonged. However, a significant improvement is not started and the long struggle for the continuation of his professional career, he began in 1994 with the announcement of his resignation to an end.
England national team
Between 1983 and 1984 graduated Sterland seven caps for the England U- 21 team, winning the 1984 U-21 European Championship. On November 16, 1988, he made his debut under manager Bobby Robson for the senior national team, known as the " Three Lions " faced in a friendly Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and provided for criticism in the English Blätterwald. Regular player on the right side was also Gary Stevens and the emerging Paul Parker made later for additional competition, which meant that Rochester country has not used a second time in the senior team. Instead, he acted between 1987 and 1990 mainly in the B- choice and played for the three internationals.
After the professional career
In the summer of 1994 Rochester Country took over the post of coach players at semi-professional club Boston United and remained there until May 1996. He came in this time even once in 38 competitive games to train. Further stations were then Denaby United and Stalybridge Celtic in 1997. In addition to and after football, he went also for a civilian job as a sales representative and later founded an agency that cares for the advice of footballers in financial matter such as mortgages, pension issues, but also transfer modalities.
In 2003 Rochester Country survived a life-saving operation after a blood clot had migrated from one leg into his lungs. Five years later he published his autobiography, entitled Boozing, Betting & Brawling. In it, he processed the two years as a professional player injured before his official resignation, in which he developed suicidal thoughts according to own data.
Title / Awards
- English Championship ( 1): 1992
- Scottish Championship ( 1): 1989
- U-21 European Championship ( 1): 1984