TONY REMAINS AS COOL AS ICE
Skeleton star has plans for Peppermints
WHETHER it’s competing in the dangerous sport of skeleton or guarding Cher in Colombia, Tony Mackellar has never been afraid of a challenge.
And the Newquay manager has certainly got one on his hands in turning his side into South West Peninsula Premier Division West title-chasers.
The Peppermints were a creditable sixth in the table when the coronavirus crisis brought the campaign shuddering to a halt in March.
But improving on that next season – whenever it starts – won’t be easy against a number of formidable foes with greater resources to work with.
The South African-born boss, who took charge four years ago, said: “The idea is to try to improve every season, though we know it will be difficult.
“We have one of the smaller budgets in the league and it’s not like we can go out and get that 30-goal-a-season striker who could make a big difference. We just haven’t got the money.
“There are clubs that are overpaying for players, but to improve on the bud- g e t we’ve got requires small steps. I knew when I went there it would take a while.
“We want to be a competitive side, which we have been over the last few years.” The 45-year-old is eager to keep his squad together so they can mix it with the sides that finished above them – Helston Athletic, St Austell, Saltash United, Mousehole and Bodmin Town – in the coming year.
He said: “Other clubs come knocking on our players’ door and offer them more money, but they tend to stay. Hopefully that continues and we can bring youth through. “We are trying to prove a point that you can do it with local lads. We have to try to take points off the big teams in front of us. “Last season we didn’t do that, so we didn’t deserve to finish higher.
“It was an honest position to be in, especially after we had a bad start.”
Although the Covid-19 crisis has left Non-League football up in the air, Newquay are attempting to put in place their pre-season plans.
They’ve lined up an attractive friendly against Nuneaton Borough at Mount Wise on Saturday, August 1 and are hoping to build on last season’s pre-season visit of National League North outfit Chester.
Dangerous
“We have become quite an attractive proposition,” said Mackellar, left. “Clubs can come away to Cornwall and have their friendlies.
“Chester really enjoyed it last year and maybe their feedback helped. Their players walked up from their hotel and we let them use the pitch and changing rooms for the week.
“One of the club members owns a hotel and we are surrounded by three or four hotels that can accommodate teams.”
Mackellar will be eager for his team to be in tip-top shape when the new season comes around and he should be well versed in knowing how to tune up his players.
A leisure activities manager for a holiday park, he’s also a coastguard and boxing coach.
Previously, he competed for both Great Britain and then South Africa in skeleton, sliding head-first down a frozen track on a small sled.
“Skeleton looks worse because you go head first, but the luge is more dangerous,” he said calmly.
As for that time looking after American pop star Cher at the One Young World summit in Bogota three years ago, the versatile Mackellar is modest.
He added: “I’ve done security for 20 years and that was a good experience. She was my sole responsibility for five days and it was really enjoyable – though not so much looking after her 22 suitcases!”