MELLISH CAN NOW RELISH A CHARGE
IT’S been quite a last 12 months for Gateshead defender Jon Mellish.
A journey that started in the Northern League has now resulted in him becoming a regular in the Gateshead defence and receiving an England C call-up.
But it’s the learning curve of Step 5 football which has been cited for his rapid rise after the young centre-back was loaned back out to Newcastle Benfield just five first-team appearances into his Heed career.
“For where I am now, Newcastle Benfield have been the key,” said the 21-year-old.
“I wasn’t playing at Gateshead and I was stuck playing reserve team football. I had the chance to go to Benfield.
“It was a good standard and it was physical, so that was good for me as a centre-back. I learnt about the competitive side of the game, I learnt about how to see games out and learnt from experienced players.
“It helped me make the jump back to Gateshead and it gave me the confidence to make me believe that I could do it.”
Mellish was speaking at the launch of Gateshead’s partnership with a local college and the formation of a new academy, where the club look to give local youngsters a chance in professional football and to gain a valuable education away from the pitch.
The club has endured a challenging season behind the scenes with a prolonged takeover, transfer embargo and the loss of manager Steve Watson to York City providing the backdrop to an unlikely National League play-off challenge.
Club legend Ben Clark has taken over at the helm and is unbeaten in his first three games in charge as a largely local squad continue to make a mockery of pre-season predications of doom and gloom.
The Gateshead youngsters have grasped their opportunities and Mellish believes they can continue to put off-field issues behind them and secure a top-seven finish by the end of the season.
“With everything that has happened, not being able to bring in players, not having a lot of money, it’s given people like myself, people from the area, a chance to get into the team,” he added.
“I’ve gone from playing on loan at Benfield last season to playing in every league game this season at Gateshead. I think we can stay in the play-offs, we are more than capable of doing that.
“What’s going on around the club, it doesn’t affect us. We have a strong changing-room and we believe we can make it into the playoffs.”