Kevin Ellison was on target the weekend The Non-League Paper was launched – and he’s still doing the business now at the age of 46!
The then-winger was on target for Altrincham in a 1-1 draw with Kettering Town, one of the final points they picked up that season.
Ellison excelled, earning a move to Premier League Leicester City a year later.
But a late slump saw Alty relegated after a season back in the Nationwide Conference.
Dream
“I’d have rather not had a good season and we stayed up,” Ellison told The NLP.
“Getting back into the English pyramid was a big thing for me then, I’d been playing in the League of Wales.
“Altrincham gave me that great opportunity to go pro.
“I owe them a lot.
“You dream of it as a little boy.
“It didn’t happen for me when I was younger because clubs were telling me I wasn’t good enough, then five or six years later they were bidding for me when they could have had me for free!”
Fortunate
Ellison recalls how keeping track of his career was a bit different at the turn of the century.
“I used to get the Manchester Pink and the Liverpool Echo, my regional North West papers,” he said.
“My mum used to cut out write-ups on me.
“It was probably harder then for your ability to get recognised.
“Look at how many lads are uploading YouTube clips now?
“We didn’t have that then, but that’s not a negative.
“I’m fortunate to have played in old school football and the fast paced tempo game now.
“People will say the game was a bit slower then but it felt like it was more ‘proper’ football.
“Has the game changed for the better? Who knows.”
Roots
The Liverpudlian began his career in 1996 with Southport, and went on to spend 21 years in England’s top four divisions before leaving Newport County in 2022.
There are no plans to call it a day yet.
“If you’d have told me at Altrincham I’d play a year or two as a professional then back to Non-League I’d have snapped your hand off,” Ellison admitted.
“You should never forget your roots.
“Even when I was in League Two I was still picking up my copy of The Non-League Paper.
“Last year I was out for three months.
“I was telling myself ‘you’re not retiring on an injury, you’re going to finish on your terms’.
“I’ve still got a buzz for it.
“Scoring a few last-minute winners at 46 – I’m still celebrating them like I’m a kid!”
Heart
Now at Vauxhall Motors, his 19th club, he returned to Altrincham’s Moss Lane last month for the first time in a competitive game, nearly 24 years after departing.
“We beat them in the Cheshire Senior Cup and I scored a couple of goals,” Ellison smiled, recalling two of his 14 so far this term.
“I got a bit of stick, but I didn’t celebrate; they’re a club close to my heart.
“I’m still in touch with people there.
“I hit the ground running with Vauxhall and have not looked back since.
“I’m loving my time there and have loved my Non-League career.”
