By Sam Elliott
YOU’RE a club icon playing in front of nearly 10,000 fans who love the big bones of you. You are going for promotion to League One and living with your footballer friends in a pad paid for by your club.
Why, then, has Steve McNulty rejoined the Non-League party? Look to your right, and the answer becomes clear.
“It’s them, it’s always been about them,” said the central defender, who last week shook the game by ending his Luton Town love affair to drop a division and sign for Tranmere Rovers.
“One day I just decided I couldn’t take living apart from the family any longer. I needed to go home, but it was still the toughest decision I have ever had to make in my life. I have been away from the kids for three years now – I need to be a dad again.
“Last year we had our second girl, Lilia. My eldest, Ava, is now six. It just hit me. I had to be there to pick them up from school or do the family things many parents take for granted. The moment was always going to arrive and it’s here now.
“My eldest knows the score, she knew why I was away from home so much. She knows daddy plays football and understood, but I didn’t want my youngest put through the same thing. I want to do dad things and be there to say goodnight – every night.
“It’s been hard for Vicky, my missus – she hasn’t really got to have a life. She’s done it for so long without me, it’s only fair it’s my turn. She deserves a break.
“She can forget the kids now and get back to looking after me full-time!
“Sometimes I wouldn’t come home to Liverpool during the week. I would finish the game on a Saturday, go back and then drive back south after the kids had gone to bed on the Sunday night. Playing football for a living you shouldn’t complain of course, but it was a challenge.
“Mind you, I’ve only been back a few days and they’re all driving me up the wall!”
So long, Sumo. The Hatters idol, 32, has brought the curtain down on his three years at Kenilworth Road that saw him write his name into Luton folklore as he helped the club return – finally – to the Football League. They settled last term despite an iffy ending and this year they’re back in contention for promotion from League Two.
Will his famous chant follow him to Prenton Park?
“My eldest still shouts ‘Suuuuumo!’ like the Luton fans did,” he added. “I remember last year Ava came down to a game and said ‘daddy, daddy, they call you Sumo because you’re so fat!’
“I told her that I know thank you… but she still likes calling me that at home. The Tranmere fans are welcome to sing it – our youngest will pick it up from her sister eventually anyway.”
Plying his trade 20 minutes from his Bootle home could help improve his game. But first things first, he’s got to lose the old pals’ act with new boss Gary Brabin.
“Brabs is a mate from old,” he said. “Not Brabs, sorry, the gaffer. I can’t call him that anymore, can I? I’ve never played for him or with him but we’ve known each other for years. I’ve got to get out of the habit of calling him that. He’s already looking at me when I do it at training so I’ve got to remember he isn’t my mate any more. He’s my boss. It’s a working relationship now.
“He tried to sign me for Cambridge and for Luton when he was in charge, but it never came off. He’s finally got me!
“We’re from the same area. You get to know him playing against his teams and we just connected. I’ve always fancied playing for him. He only lives about five minutes away from me but he’s a bit posher than I am – he’s from Maghull. He’s a bit la-di-da!”
McNulty will miss his old boss, though.
“John Still was great with me. He understood I needed to go back. I owe everyone there so much.
“As much as I needed to get home I wouldn’t have swapped any of my time at Luton for anything. They all know I wouldn’t have just gone to any Conference club.”
Rovers have a squad littered with top notch Conference campaigners. Andy Mangan and James Norwood bring class and energy going forward. Jay Harris pilots the midfield while Gary Taylor-Fletcher is a class above this level despite turning 34.
“They are proven players,” McNulty added. “You need people who have been at the right end of the division before and know what it’s about. We’ve got Conference know-how, a really good spine. We’ve got a good chance, I want success and I know Tranmere are going to be challenging.
“The Conference-winning sides I have been a part of we’ve been there or thereabouts at Christmas and really kicked on after that. If you can do that, you can run away with it.
“I won the league with Luton and with Fleetwood and I’m desperate to add a third winner’s medal to my collection.”
