I'm working with Mel Sterland on his autobiography - to be published next year - and wondered whether anyone had any particular memories/stories/anecdotes we could include.

Perhaps you were at school with Mel or remember a particular incident from his playing days...

Zico? I thought the ex-Owls trio of Sterland, Chapman and Wilkinson was the instrumental factor in Leeds winning the Divison 1 title in 1992.
The ever-astute Wilkinson with all his preparation notes etc utilised Sterland's pace down the right and an ability to find Chapman's head!
Chappie was laughed at at Hillsborough because of his limited ability on the floor but he was very brave in the box and this particular tactic worked liked a dream for that one season. Sterland was a crucial part of the plan.

I also recall Sterland having a racehorse trained by Micky Hammond.

are you going to write about the safe he had in his garden from the post office?

Yes, there is a chapter devoted to the story. Mel was of course cleared of all charges.

Yes he should not have been in When Saturday Comes,I was outraged seeing him with a Blades shirt on.

Yes he should not have been in When Saturday Comes,I was outraged seeing him with a Blades shirt on.

Me too! :|

Yes he should not have been in When Saturday Comes,I was outraged seeing him with a Blades shirt on. GOOD POINT MATE!!:rant:sportynick ask him why?? no crap :gag:why??:gag: he was my hero ZICO,ZICO,ZICO i sang my support for him every game as a lad.... but to wear a trotters shirt:loopy: Death b4 Dishonor;)

Mel says he was wearing a Wednesday shirt underneath the Blades shirt!

He lived on my road for about a year...2 years ago....if that helps?:suspect:

didn't he find a 'safe' in his garage?

didn't he find a 'safe' in his garage?


answered earlier...


are you going to write about the safe he had in his garden from the post office?

Yes, there is a chapter devoted to the story. Mel was of course cleared of all charges.

Yes, there is a chapter devoted to the story. Mel was of course cleared of all charges.

I can't begin to tell you the number of times I've popped into my garage and found a stolen safe in there........:suspect:

Top solicitors do earn their money, don't they;)

zico sterland oh wot a player he was!!! he should have played more for england think he only got one cap or sumthin!! i remember as a kid i wanted to be like him!! i herd he has retired thru injury !! he was playing for the all-stars or sumthin !! anyway all the best sterland a true owls man (untill he put that blades shirt on and come to think of it that leeds shirt grrrrr ) lol

i have a few memories of school days with Mel and his twin Glyn. He was in the same class as me at Pipworth Junior School. Ask him if he remembers Miss Wood the best teacher in the world. i seem to remember him and his best friend at school (whose name escapes me) but was it craig? were very good at acting and Miss wood was always getting us kids to put plays on and Mel and his mate always had leading roles. So maybe he missed his true calling!.
He was a great kid and always had a big grin on his face. Lived on the manor same as i did.
Also my sister at school was a few years above me so had the very important job of serving up at dinner times to the kids on her table. Mel always used to give her some soft soap so she would give him extra helpings or the skin off the custard!!
i will try to remember some other snippets. Hope these are useful.

Not a well bloke now i know his sister and brother.

Thanks Caz - I'll ask him about his acting! If anything else comes to mind, please let me know.

i like mel hes a nice lad ,i wonder if hes mentioned his love of gambling he used to be fearless at football,and the same with the horses, good luck with the book i hope its a great success.

Thanks - yes, there's a chapter devoted to gambling.

:hihi:I'm working with Mel Sterland on his autobiography - to be published next year - and wondered whether anyone had any particular memories/stories/anecdotes we could include.

Perhaps you were at school with Mel or remember a particular incident from his playing days...

Has a fondness for things South American, and a few tipple at White Rose Handsworth! snnnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiffffffffffffffff! !!:hihi:

I watched him many times when I lived in Leeds.

He made a rod for his own back by (apparently) declaring he was the best full-back in England. Every time he made a mistake all you could hear in the stands was people going 'f***kinell, and he thinks he's best in the country?'

I watched him many times when I lived in Leeds.

He made a rod for his own back by (apparently) declaring he was the best full-back in England. Every time he made a mistake all you could hear in the stands was people going 'f***kinell, and he thinks he's best in the country?'

Dont know, I ways thought he was a SAFE bet!

I'm working with Mel Sterland on his autobiography - to be published next year - and wondered whether anyone had any particular memories/stories/anecdotes we could include.

Perhaps you were at school with Mel or remember a particular incident from his playing days...

Hi,Nick,please pass on my good wishes to Mel,i went to school with him and have some gret memories of childhood,ask him if he remembers egging[although i dont do that anymore!]we knew we would be in trouble if we got caught,so when one the gang!fell out of a tree and injured himself,we carried him to the edge of prince of wales road and called an ambulance,and left him there.Sunday morning football at Davy Mckee,we`d go to watch the older ones play,if they kicked the ball into the woods we would volunteer to fetch it!we always ran off with it.!!plenty more Mel,good luck with book mate.

What about the double penalty take in the 80's against chelsea in the cup (had to be re-taken). Nerves of a steel city man !!! And it was infornt of the away end. I was in the stand, but was only 12 or so. Chelsea played in that awful yellow hooped kit, and that Cannabal came off the bench to score two, until the man stepped up..........zico, zico, zico, ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiccccccoooooooooooo !!!

Cheers Miffa - just the sort of memories I'm after - please let me know if anything else comes to mind

What about the double penalty take in the 80's against chelsea in the cup (had to be re-taken). Nerves of a steel city man !!! And it was infornt of the away end. I was in the stand, but was only 12 or so. Chelsea played in that awful yellow hooped kit, and that Cannabal came off the bench to score two, until the man stepped up..........zico, zico, zico, ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiccccccoooooooooooo !!!


Paul Canoville, who proved to be a thorn in Wednesday's side in other fixtures between the two clubs. He had too much pace for the Owls.