Mike Marsh lived the dream and now he’s dedicated to helping youngsters realise their own potential.
After a decade of playing and coaching in non-league football, the former Liverpool midfielder is focused on developing the talents of the next generation.
The Aughton-based 39-year-old is busy coaching Preston North End’s under-13s and working at Accrington College.
And despite gaining managerial experience at Burscough, Northwich Victoria and Bradford Park Avenue, Marsh insists he is in no rush to return to the dugout.
“I miss being involved at a football club on a day to day basis but management isn’t something I’m pining for,” he said.
“If a good offer came along I would consider it, but to be honest I’m preparing myself to get stuck into working in the youth system now.
“I do a few days a week at Preston and then I also coach at the college.
“It can be difficult at times because you have to tread carefully with youngsters but it’s rewarding and it’s great seeing them develop.”
Marsh started this season as first team coach at Conference outfit Northwich Victoria and went on to have a spell as caretaker boss but quit the cash-strapped club last November after being told to trim his squad.
A brief stint at UniBond Premier side Bradford Park Avenue followed but he turned down the chance to become their permanent boss.
“A lot of clubs are trying to turn themselves into professional outfits without having the necessary finances in place,” he said.
“At Northwich the players weren’t paid for months and you can’t go on working like that. I was getting phone calls from players saying they couldn’t afford to pay their mortgage or put petrol in their cars to get to training.
“When the chairman asked me to lay a couple of players off I knew then it was time to call it a day.
“I was only at Bradford for a short time. I went to help out Dave Cameron and was then caretaker for a bit after he was sacked. I could have stayed there but it wasn’t for me.
“I’m happy doing what I’m doing and if I did go back into non-league it would be on a part-time basis.”
Marsh knows exactly what it takes to reach the top after enjoying his own fairytale rise from Kopite to Liverpool player.
He spent six years at Anfield and made 101 appearances for the Reds after being spotted playing for Kirkby Town by then reserve team boss Phil Thompson in 1987.
“I played for Kirkby on Saturdays and for the Railway Pub on Sundays who were sponsored by Phil,” Marsh said. “A couple of players told him there was this 17-year-old kid who was worth a look at and he came and watched me.
“I got invited for a trial and then went back for pre-season before signing in the August.
“I had followed Liverpool home and away until that point so signing for the club took a while to sink in.
“It was probably two or three years before the penny dropped that it was my occupation and not just my hobby!”
Marsh made his debut in a 2-0 win over Charlton at Anfield in March 1989 but he spent four years in the reserves before establishing himself as a first team regular in the 1991/92 season.
He scored a memorable goal in the dramatic UEFA Cup clash against Auxerre in November 1991 when the Reds overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit.
Marsh picked up an FA Cup winners’ medal at the end of that season after being an unused substitute for the 2-0 final win over Sunderland.
“I had the honour of playing with so many great players and I loved every minute of my six years at Anfield,” he said.
“The real highlight for me was the ‘92 Cup final. I know that might sound strange because I didn’t actually play.
“I probably should have been more down about not getting on but I was a Liverpool fan and those few days down in London were among the best of my life.
“I got a medal and it was just a great occasion to be part of.”
The midfielder was also played at right-back by boss Graeme Souness but he couldn’t hold down a place and left in September 1993 to join West Ham. David Burrows and Marsh were makeweights in the deal which took Julian Dicks to Anfield.
“I actually asked Souness if I could go because I wasn’t involved much,” he revealed.
“He asked me to show some patience but I told him I had been patient enough.
“I was at an age where I needed regular football. I had no regrets about moving on.
“I wanted to play and you can’t go on waiting forever.”
Spells at Coventry, Galatasaray and Southend followed before a serious knee injury brought a premature end to his professional career at the age of 28 in 1997.
Marsh accepted an insurance payout which meant he wasn’t allowed to play in the Football League again.
He made a comeback in non-league football and went on to win the Conference twice with Kidderminster and Boston but was unable to go up with them.
“It would have been nice to go back into the League but I never regretted accepting that payout,” he said.
“At Southend I was told my knee wouldn’t withstand the demands of full-time football.
“It was a difficult decision but the time was right. I had two young kids and the payout offered me security.
“If I had wanted to play in the League again I’d have had to pay back the money but it wasn’t just about me. Southend would also have had to pay money back and they got the lion’s share of the payout.
“The fact is my knee wasn’t up to full-time training.
“I had a good career and enjoyed the rest of my playing days. I’m not bitter about anything.”
After a decade of playing and coaching in non-league football, the former Liverpool midfielder is focused on developing the talents of the next generation.
The Aughton-based 39-year-old is busy coaching Preston North End’s under-13s and working at Accrington College.
And despite gaining managerial experience at Burscough, Northwich Victoria and Bradford Park Avenue, Marsh insists he is in no rush to return to the dugout.
“I miss being involved at a football club on a day to day basis but management isn’t something I’m pining for,” he said.
“If a good offer came along I would consider it, but to be honest I’m preparing myself to get stuck into working in the youth system now.
“I do a few days a week at Preston and then I also coach at the college.
“It can be difficult at times because you have to tread carefully with youngsters but it’s rewarding and it’s great seeing them develop.”
Marsh started this season as first team coach at Conference outfit Northwich Victoria and went on to have a spell as caretaker boss but quit the cash-strapped club last November after being told to trim his squad.
A brief stint at UniBond Premier side Bradford Park Avenue followed but he turned down the chance to become their permanent boss.
“A lot of clubs are trying to turn themselves into professional outfits without having the necessary finances in place,” he said.
“At Northwich the players weren’t paid for months and you can’t go on working like that. I was getting phone calls from players saying they couldn’t afford to pay their mortgage or put petrol in their cars to get to training.
“When the chairman asked me to lay a couple of players off I knew then it was time to call it a day.
“I was only at Bradford for a short time. I went to help out Dave Cameron and was then caretaker for a bit after he was sacked. I could have stayed there but it wasn’t for me.
“I’m happy doing what I’m doing and if I did go back into non-league it would be on a part-time basis.”
Marsh knows exactly what it takes to reach the top after enjoying his own fairytale rise from Kopite to Liverpool player.
He spent six years at Anfield and made 101 appearances for the Reds after being spotted playing for Kirkby Town by then reserve team boss Phil Thompson in 1987.
“I played for Kirkby on Saturdays and for the Railway Pub on Sundays who were sponsored by Phil,” Marsh said. “A couple of players told him there was this 17-year-old kid who was worth a look at and he came and watched me.
“I got invited for a trial and then went back for pre-season before signing in the August.
“I had followed Liverpool home and away until that point so signing for the club took a while to sink in.
“It was probably two or three years before the penny dropped that it was my occupation and not just my hobby!”
Marsh made his debut in a 2-0 win over Charlton at Anfield in March 1989 but he spent four years in the reserves before establishing himself as a first team regular in the 1991/92 season.
He scored a memorable goal in the dramatic UEFA Cup clash against Auxerre in November 1991 when the Reds overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit.
Marsh picked up an FA Cup winners’ medal at the end of that season after being an unused substitute for the 2-0 final win over Sunderland.
“I had the honour of playing with so many great players and I loved every minute of my six years at Anfield,” he said.
“The real highlight for me was the ‘92 Cup final. I know that might sound strange because I didn’t actually play.
“I probably should have been more down about not getting on but I was a Liverpool fan and those few days down in London were among the best of my life.
“I got a medal and it was just a great occasion to be part of.”
The midfielder was also played at right-back by boss Graeme Souness but he couldn’t hold down a place and left in September 1993 to join West Ham. David Burrows and Marsh were makeweights in the deal which took Julian Dicks to Anfield.
“I actually asked Souness if I could go because I wasn’t involved much,” he revealed.
“He asked me to show some patience but I told him I had been patient enough.
“I was at an age where I needed regular football. I had no regrets about moving on.
“I wanted to play and you can’t go on waiting forever.”
Spells at Coventry, Galatasaray and Southend followed before a serious knee injury brought a premature end to his professional career at the age of 28 in 1997.
Marsh accepted an insurance payout which meant he wasn’t allowed to play in the Football League again.
He made a comeback in non-league football and went on to win the Conference twice with Kidderminster and Boston but was unable to go up with them.
“It would have been nice to go back into the League but I never regretted accepting that payout,” he said.
“At Southend I was told my knee wouldn’t withstand the demands of full-time football.
“It was a difficult decision but the time was right. I had two young kids and the payout offered me security.
“If I had wanted to play in the League again I’d have had to pay back the money but it wasn’t just about me. Southend would also have had to pay money back and they got the lion’s share of the payout.
“The fact is my knee wasn’t up to full-time training.
“I had a good career and enjoyed the rest of my playing days. I’m not bitter about anything.”
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