I spurned United to ..join Chester

Sep 5 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

CHESTER are famous for being the club which set Ian Rush on the road to international stardom – but he almost slipped through their fingers.

Writing in his new book, Rush: The Autobiography, the prolific striker recalls how, as a raw youngster, he turned down the offer of an apprenticeship with the mighty Manchester United because he had already agreed to sign for the Blues’ youth team.

Rush’s dad, Francis, told his 16-year-old son that he could not let Chester youth team boss Cliff Sear down and had to honour his word.

“I was in full agreement,” writes Rush, whose Sealand Road career would flourish under Sear’s expert guidance. “I was almost 16, felt obligated to the club and wanted to take up their offer, but I didn’t have the verbal wherewithal or confidence to tell the United scout, ‘thanks but no thanks’, so Dad did it for me.

“I knew even then that it was the right decision.”

Rush will be at WH Smiths in Chester on Tuesday (1pm-2pm) to sign copies of his new book, which details how a rough-edged youngster from Flint went on to become arguably the most feared striker of his generation.

The book follows Rush’s progress from schools and junior football in Flintshire to him joining Chester, where he rubbed shoulders with Sealand Road favourites like Grenville Millington, Bob Delgado and Trevor Storton.

Rush recalls how an interview Sear gave to The Chester Chronicle – in which he described Rush as Chester’s “best prospect in years” – cut little ice with the likes of Delgado.

“Bob wanted to make sure Cliff’s comments wouldn’t go to my head and he took me to task in the dressing room about the job I had made of cleaning his boots... at which point he picked me up as if I were a tailor’s dummy, carried me over to the plunge bath and threw me in.”

The well-documented highs and lows of Rush’s playing career with Liverpool, Juventus and Wales are all covered in detail, as is the legendary striker’s brief spell as manager of Chester from 2004-05.

Rush quit Chester after Blues owner Stephen Vaughan sacked his right-hand man, assistant boss Mark Aizelwood.

“Mark’s dismissal indicated to me that I wasn’t being allowed to be my own man,” writes Rush, who felt his position had become “untenable” and walked away despite attempts from Vaughan to persuade him to stay.

Rush, however, reveals he holds no grudges against Vaughan and remains friends with the City supremo.

Rush: The Autobiography contains plenty of fascinating reading for Blues fans, particularly those eager to know more about his short yet highly successful spell as a Chester player when he scored 17 goals in 39 appearances before being snapped up by Liverpool in 1980.

The book is published by Ebury Press and is in shops now, priced £18.99.