Ellison has clocked on
STRIKER RESCUED FROM FACTORY JOB BY NEWPORT BOSS FLYNN
TO play against Brighton in the FA Cup for Newport easily beats clocking in at 6am for a tough shift at a Liverpool factory for forward Kevin Ellison.
But that was the prospect facing Ellison, released by Morecambe in the summer after almost a decade, knowing that he had to put food on the table for his two children.
The uncertainty was not great for his mental wellbeing, either – the player having opened up in the past on his battles against depression.
But Newport boss Mike Flynn, a team-mate back in their Bradford City days, harboured memories of Ellison, 41, causing mayhem in a Morecambe shirt against his side.
“I had been in limbo after being released by Morecambe until I got the call from Newport,” said Ellison.
“It wasn’t a trial because they knew what I could do, but they wanted to check out my fitness. I think he’d had enough of me scoring against them.
“I’d had a few offers to play nonleague football, but it didn’t look like that would be getting started until October, so I was thinking what was I going to do for wages until then?
“I was looking around on all the job sites and applying for different things, but nothing was coming up.
“Finally, I was meant to start work at a Liverpool factory on the Monday on a shift from 6am to 2pm. At least it was a wage to support my two kids.”
But, after taking Flynn’s call, there was a swift change of plans and instead of heading to the factory, he was driving towards South Wales.
“I pulled into a service station to conduct an interview via Zoom to be a special-needs teacher after passing my level two counselling for children exam organised by the PFA just in case things didn’t work out at Newport,” he added.
Not only is Ellison part of the Newport squad looking to create another FA Cup shock against Graham Potter’s Premier League side, but he is also the club’s mentalhealth ambassador.
“A few weeks after I had signed, the mental health officer position was mentioned to me,” he added. “Not many clubs have gone down this road, which is disappointing.
“With the consequences of Covid and various lockdowns, everybody’s world has turned upside down. Anxiety and depression’s kicked in.
“Newport knew I had already spoken out about my own problems and asked me if I was willing to help about these issues. I now do video calls. I speak to fans, text people. I call them. It doesn’t cost me anything to ring up a distressed fan.
“I rang one Newport fan just before Christmas after the chairman had been on saying this supporter was having a bad time.
“I rang him on the Saturday night, which, I think, shocked him, but I know he appreciated the call.
“I try to keep most of it under wraps because many people don’t want their names bandied about that they are suffering from depression, anxiety and things.
“I just pass on my experiences and how I coped with certain things. Hopefully, I can make their day a bit better.
“I still have good and bad days. I look at myself as one of the lucky ones who have been through a few things and now I’m talking from a good place. I’m hoping more clubs will do things like this, being able to finance the employment of people who can help on the mental side.
“It’s needed more and more, especially with more footballers speaking out about their problems.”
As for tonight’s Cup tie, he added: “Hopefully, I will be involved against Brighton. If there was ever a team in the lower leagues I’d pick to play for in the Cup, it would be Newport.
“It’s a club that has a tradition of upsetting the big boys in knockout competitions. So why not another one against Brighton?”