One minute you are working in a gymnasium and scoring goals for Newcastle Blue Star and the next you are being snapped up by First Division Coventry City, handed the task of firing them back into the Premiership. Well, that's not quite strictly true as there was a five-year interim gap, where Andy Morrell learned his trade at Wrexham, but Gary McAllister's second summer signing has come with the intentions of scoring goals. That isn't an alien concept to him as he notched 35 last year for Wrexham as the Red Dragons gained automatic promotion from the Third Division. However, not only is Morrell a talented footballer, but he so nearly ended up turning out for Leicestershire at county cricket too. The Market Bosworth raised 28-year-old certainly has a sporting pedigree and givemefootball's Ian Clarkson spoke to Morrell about his first taste of life in the First Division ahead of the Sky Blues' pre-season tour to Germany.
Q:YOU WERE VERY ADEPT AS A CRICKETER WEREN'T YOU?
A:I was brought up in Leicestershire and I used to play for the county team at Under 15 to Under 19 level. I played alongside Jimmy Ormond, who has since played for England and Daz Stevens, who is currently in the Leicestershire first XI, but if I am honest I don't know whether or not I was ever going to be good enough to play at county level. reached the Colts, who were the interim side between the second team and the Under 19s, but despite being an all rounder, it didn't quite happen for me.
Q:SO YOU MOVED AWAY TO STUDY DIDN'T YOU?
A:That's right. I went to Newcastle University to study Sports Science and while I was there I used to work as a gym instructor as well as playing for Newcastle Blue Star. Anyway, Rob McAffrey of Sky Sports fame used to come into my gym and that is where my big break first took place.
Q:HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
A:Rob used to train at the gym. Well, it's safe to say that he was a member, who probably needed to come more often. Anyway, he was helping Joey Jones to write his autobiography and said he could fix up a trial for me at Wrexham where Joey was working as first team coach.
Q:WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?
A:I spoke to Joey and he offered me a week's trial, but he did say that if he didn't think I was good enough then he would tell me on the first afternoon! I managed to stay for the whole week and was lucky enough to be offered a contract.
Q:WHAT WAS IT LIKE AT WREXHAM IN THE EARLY DAYS AND WHAT SORT OF GUIDANCE DID YOU GET?
A:When I arrived I found myself learning an unbelievable amount off Ian Rush who was employed to coach the strikers. The man was a legend and he gave me tips on where to run and how to improve my game that have stuck with me to this day. I really picked his brains and it has blossomed from there.
Q:WHAT WAS THE MASSIVE CHANGE LAST SEASON THAT LED TO YOU SCORING SO MANY GOALS?
A:I don't know. However, we played a great system that meant I had a lot of chances and my strike partner Lee Trundle put in a lot of spadework for me. However, in previous seasons it had worked the other way so it is funny how it sometimes happens like that.
Q:YOU HAVE SCORED GOALS AT THIRD DIVISION LEVEL - CAN YOU FEEL THE WEIGHT OF PRESSURE ON YOUR SHOULDERS TO PRODUCE MORE OF THE SAME IN THE FIRST?
A:You have to thrive on pressure. If it scares you then you might as well curl up and go home. I am aiming to stay fit during pre-season and try to work my way into the team. It's a big step up from the Third Division but, touch wood, I will carry on scoring goals.
