FANS ARE SO CRUCIAL FOR KEV
NEWPORT County veteran Kevin Ellison insists retirement has not entered his mind as he nears the end of his 22nd season as a professional – because he refuses to bow out in an empty stadium.
The 42-year-old’s experience has made him an important part of Michael Flynn’s squad and whether his future lies at Rodney Parade or elsewhere, he will not be hanging up his boots just yet.
“I’m not finishing this season, I can’t – no way,” he said. “Football is about fans - I love to get involved with them and have a bit of banter. Without them, it’s not the same.
“Games have been played totally differently at this level without supporters. It might have helped some players but it’s hindered me.
“A big reason for coming here was to play in front of the fans and I’ll be gutted if I don’t get to show them what I’m about. There’s no ‘r’ word yet as I’m not bowing out with no fans.”
Ellison is the second-oldest player still featuring in the Football League – Crawley’s Dannie Bulman is 30 days his elder – and standing alone at the top of that particular list is another motivating factor behind the desire to keep his illustrious career going. “I’m always checking the teamsheets to see if Dannie has played as I need to see him off !” he said.
“He’s been an unbelievable player and we have both shown age is just a number. If you look after yourself, why can’t you carry on?”
The winger was due to start work at a factory last summer until Newport made their move and what would have been his first day on the job instead became the first of many commutes from Liverpool to South Wales.
Injury delayed his Exiles debut but he got off the mark with a last-gasp winner against Port Vale in November before making headlines last month with a goal in a 3-1 win at his old club Morecambe.
Ellison’s nine-year spell with the Shrimps ended last season and his celebration in front of former boss Derek Adams left no doubt as to how the veteran felt about the circumstances surrounding his departure.
“The celebration wasn’t a kick in the teeth towards Morecambe as a football club or the fans, it was personal,” he said. “It was to let people know I wasn’t finished and because of how I felt I was treated.
Disappointed
“I was disappointed with how it ended, rather than bitter. I just wanted to be treated the same way as everyone else but I was made to train alone.
“I hope that celebration doesn’t come back to bite me if we play them in the play-offs. But if we do and the same scenario happens, it would probably be an even more over-zealous celebration if anything!”
Newport were beaten playoff finalists two seasons ago and are not yet out of automatic promotion contention this time around in a race which could go down to the wire.
And having helped Hull rise out of League One way back in 2004-05, Ellison admits to pinching himself at being in the thick of a similarly thrilling run-in 16 years on.
“If you’d have told me at 30 I had a year or two left, I’d have taken that,” he admitted. “To be 42 and talking about playing a part in a promotion - it would be an unbelievable achievement.
“But there is a long way to go yet and every game is a cup final from here on in.”