For Jason Mcateer, September 7, 1995 is a date that will be etched in his memory forever.
Finally, an ambition from childhood was filled after he had signed for Liverpool by Bolton Wanderers in a £ 4.5 million deal. At the age of 24, the Birkenhead boy had enjoyed a meteoric turnout after he had represented the local Non-League outfit Marine as recently as three years earlier.
If this milestone reaches its 30th birthday, does it feel so long ago?
“That does it and it doesn’t work,” says Mcateer.
“I think because I have been out of the game for so long and have done so many different things since I retired. But clearly with the way life is, and we can make it again by now going on social media and talking about it. The 90s is rather relevant at the moment.”
He adds: “Everything has been brought up and everyone reminds us of it. So it doesn’t feel a bit like yesterday, but I remember it or talk about it, clearly brings the memories back.
“It is a funny time because around the same time I also scored the goal against Holland (for Republic of Ireland in a world cup qualifying match), so I get a lot of anniversaries in about two weeks.”
While at Marine, Mcateer was signed by Bolton, who was subsequently managed by legendary Reds Full-back Phil Neal. But it was under the stewardship of Neal’s successor, Bruce Rioch, who flourished McATeer and Wanderers. The carriers rose from the third level of English football to Premiership With two promotions in three seasons, and on the road claim a few giant killing in both the League Cup and FA Cup.
McATeer’s Cinderella-like story would also include international recognition. After he qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland through his grandfather, the legendary manager Jack Charlton Mcateer handed his debut in March 1994, before he was mentioned in the team for the 1994 World Cup in the US.
Twelve months later, Mcateer was part of a Bolton side that made a memorable run to the League Cup final where he would face his beloved Liverpool. Unfortunately there would be no fairytale ending, because a Double from Steve McManaman ensured that the Reds avoided a huge upset and claimed a fifth competition cup in the process.
However, the 1994/95 season would finally end in Glorie for McATer and Bolton, because they reached promotion at the top of reading in a dramatic play-off final that required extra time.
Weeks later, Rioch Burnden Park left to become Arsenal manager and Mcateer would eventually follow his manager from the output door.
But where to do? McATerer was the subject of interest of not only Liverpool, but also Blackburn Rovers and Childhood Idol Kenny Dalglish. The newly crowned Premier League champions have activated a release clause in his contract and he was planned for a move to Ewood Park.
The phone call that has changed everything
However, an 11th -hour call from Anfield has changed everything.
“I had conversations with Blackburn. I was literally in the room with Kenny when Liverpool called my agent and he said they had agreed the compensation, I am free to talk to Liverpool if I don’t sign for Blackburn.” Said mcateer.
“I mean, Kenny was my hero, but Liverpool was my team that I supported. So I had an emotional attachment to both, but I wanted to be Kenny in Liverpool. I didn’t want to play for Kenny at Blackburn.”
After a ‘smoking’ Dalglish had called the meeting, Mcateer strived for his dream movement and was so desperate to sign that he did not even care about personal information.
He reflects: “It was never a matter of how much they paid me. It was just a matter of when could I start?
“When we talked about money, I got up and walked out of the room. I went up and down in the main standard and just looked at all the photos on the wall. When I went back, I didn’t even know how much we had agreed. I didn’t even know how much I had signed!”
Despite the discouraging prospect of playing in addition to a higher standard of players, Mcateer immediately became at home among his new colleagues.
‘Roy [Evans] Had this young team built, so we were all very similar, “he remembers.” I immediately had respect because I had been to the World Cup and I felt part of it. I never had the feeling that I had to show what I had. I just had the feeling that I had been there for years. “
The NO.4-shirt handed over, the new arrival made his Anfield arch as an 82nd minute replacement for John Barnes in a 3-0 win over his former admirers Blackburn. McATerer revealed that during discussions about his transfer from Bolton it became clear that he would be brought in to play in midfield together with Jamie Redknapp:
“I told me that I was brought in to play in midfield with Jamie because Barnes did not get younger and it would be a bit of a transition. So when I went to Barnesy, it looked a bit like” Wow! ” I came up for one of the biggest players ever to play football at Anfield.
After a full debut arrived in a competition cup against Sunderland, in which he received an assist in a 2-0 win, McATer’s first league match came to Old Trafford. However, the day is best remembered for Eric Cantona’s return from his eight-month suspension after attacking a Crystal Palace fan earlier that year.
Mcateer thought: “To start the biggest game in the world, in English, I classify it as one of the world’s biggest games. It brings a huge size. I clearly remember that all the hype around the Cantona comeback was a penalty.
“Cantona used to be a thorn on the sides of many teams, but especially with us. He scored on his comeback, and he also scored in the 1996 FA Cup final. But it was nice that we went to Old Trafford and were not defeated, but disappointed that we never won the game.”
However, the performance of one teammate in the memorable 2-2 draw left a lasting impression on the wingback: “It was the day I realized how good Robbie Fowler was to be honest.”
Fowler scored twice, surpassed a young Gary Neville and donated beautifully about Peter Schmmeichel for the second, after he had already woaned the Dane near the Near Pile for his first.
“That’s the game that you show people”
1995/96 would turn out to be an eventful debut campaign. As part of a Swashbuckling Liverpool side that threatened to challenge the top of the table, Mcateer expansion in his praise despite their limitations that silverware have refused:
“When we got into the rhythm, we had this power around us, as once two touch movement touch, it was great. I had a good engine, but once we were on, I never felt tired, it was strange. I mean, there were many games I felt.
“But when we were on fire in Liverpool, I never felt tired. I felt that I could just run all day.
“We were always looking to score, and we would never be mistaken on the side of caution, and it probably did us in the end and that was our downfall tactically.”
If one match summarizes that season or team, the Nacht Newcastle in April 1996 at Anfield Arrival was a perfect encapsulation of Liverpool and their opponents at their best, and even the worst.
McATerer agrees: “We have evolved into this team that I think was summarized by the Newcastle display. I think if you want to show someone an attacking style of playing with movements, obligations, passion, opportunities creating and putting balls in it when they should have been the game.”
In a breathless and end-to-end 90 minutes, both parties went to toe without inches. Mcateer played his own role in the night when he offered a poorly low cross from the right side for Stan Collymore to tap home to bring the score to 3-3 before the striker scored again in the stop time to control an unforgettable night.
In an honest assessment, Mcateer says: “From a defensive point of view, we were a bit of mess and fairly open that we were punished with a few times.
“But in one game it embodied everything, it had a real taste of Liverpool, and it was exactly what Liverpool was about: attacking football flair and we stopped them to win the title. There is a reason why they say it’s the best game ever.”
In the end, both parties would fall short in their pursuit of Premier League Glory, while Manchester United both brought them to the position. The Reds would also pass the heartache, because a rather Dournee FA Cup final was arranged by a solitary cantona strike, and remembered much more for what McATeer and Co wore before the competition …
McATer would generally make 139 performances, score six goals and provide 18 assists in a red shirt.
Although his time at Anfield did not produce silverware, it is fair to say that he played his role in a team that offered entertainment in a time of great change for Liverpool FC
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