The former Dundee United manager made it a family affair at Wembley nearly three decades after the wide eye train voyage to Bristol.
It’s a small square in north London that is usually designated for aristocrats, global heads of state, and international superstars to enjoy the results of their efforts.
For a few hours last Sunday, the Royal Box at Wembley Stadium was crowded with Mellons. Of the Scottish variety. Micky Mellon did it.
The VIPs in his life – his mother Margaret, wife Jane, sister Lisa, his children Jordan, Jacob, Evie, and Michael, as well as his uncle Martin and cousin Junior – had come down from Scotland to sit in the expensive seats at the home of English football.
There to obtain the finest view at Mellon’s mansion after achieving his NINTH promotion in a career spent all but one year south of the border.
The 53-year-old has led Oldham Athletic back into the EFL following their thrilling 3-2 play-off final victory over Southend United. He wishes his late father, Michael, could have joined the celebrations.
But he knows he would have been watching as another season ended on a great note.
This is nothing new for Mellon. Far from it. He has now led every team he has managed to promote at least once, with the exception of Dundee United, who were already in the top division during his one year at Tannadice. He honed his managerial skills by bringing Fleetwood Town to success after two Conference North and Conference Premier promotions in 2010 and 2012.
Three years later, he led Shrewsbury Town to League One by automatic promotion. He took Tranmere from the Conference Premier to League One after two consecutive promotions in 2018 and 2019, both via Wembley play-off finals.
It’s become kind of a habit. And a good one. As a player, he was promoted three times, with Bristol City, West Brom, and Burnley. Yes, the second of those was achieved courtesy to the play-offs.
There have been a few setbacks, including relegation with Tranmere and his dismissal from Prenton Park two years before taking over Oldham. However, the highs have significantly outnumbered the lows.
No surprise the ‘little lad from Glasgow’, as he puts it, felt like he was on cloud nine when he took time out of celebrating at Boundary Park and a civic reception with the mayor to reflect on it all with Mail Sport this week.
He stated: “Nine promotions. I’ve been blessed. Nobody can take away my opportunity to come to England and achieve it. I’m quite proud.
“The work involved, they are all demanding, and they are all really special. However, the play-off final is the most effective route to promotion. There were 53,000 people at Wembley.
“My mother and my sister were down from Scotland and in the Royal Box.
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