Newcastle United’s thrilling 4-4 draw with Arsenal last weekend and Kenny Dalglish’s drive to make Liverpool great again has brought back vivid memories to Cowdenbeath’s newest recruit Lee Makel. The 38-year-old began his career at St. James’ Park more than 20 years ago and was at Blackburn Rovers when they won the English Premiership under Scotland’s international appearance record holder in 1995.
Since then, Makel has moved over the border and back again on several occasions, as well as venturing into coaching in Sweden, before returning to Scotland once again earlier this year.
Makel said: “It is hard to accept that it all started for me 20 years ago at Newcastle coming through the youths and playing with the likes of Lee Clark, Alan Thompson, Robbie Elliott, Steve Howey and Steve Watson.
“I tell the young boys at the clubs I have been at since then to treasure every minute they have as a footballer and I am glad I treasured those times.
“There was also a strong Scottish link at Newcastle then with Roy Aitken being there and Mark McGhee had played at St. James’ Park just before I signed.”
A transfer fee reported as £160,000 saw Makel depart Tyneside for Ewood Park to join Blackburn Rovers as they prepared to start life in England’s top tier following promotion in 1992.
Despite playing only a handful of games during three and a half seasons under Dalglish, Makel is a huge fan.
He said: “Kenny was top class to me. I was at Blackburn during a great time in their history and my stint there developed me as a player.
“I had to move to get regular football but it is good to see Liverpool coming alive again under Kenny’s guidance.”
Makel had the choice of Huddersfield Town or Crystal Palace to kick-start his career and he chose the northern side and at first, all was good.
He said: “I was there for a couple of seasons but a new Manager came in and did not really fancy me so it was no surprise when I started getting linked with other clubs.”
Moving was certainly a capital idea as Makel explained: “I was pulled into the office one day and told that Hibs wanted to speak to me and to expect a call. The call never came but I was pulled in the next day to say Hearts had now been in touch.
“I met up with Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown and was delighted to come up to Scotland.”
The midfielder had arrived in March 1998 and it was too late in the season to force himself into the starting line-up when Heart of Midlothian defeated Rangers 2-1 at Celtic Park to lift the Scottish Cup.
“I played in the Semi-Final against Falkirk,” said Makel before adding of the Cup Final victory: “And the celebrations the next day were fantastic and made up for not being involved on the day. The open top bus ride along Princes Street was fantastic.”
Makel headed back down south as the last century was coming to an end for a very brief stay at Portsmouth.
He explained: “Hearts were keen to bring in Fitzroy Simpson from Portsmouth and as part of the deal, their Manager, Alan Ball, wanted me in on loan as a replacement.
“I went down, Alan was sacked before I kicked a ball for them and I was sent back up the road.”
Tynecastle was departed a second time in August 2001 as Makel joined Jefferies and Brown at Bradford City in the English Championship. When the management duo left Valley Parade, Makel did shortly afterwards as well, joining Livingston for the first time in December 2001.
It was to be a good move for player and club with Makel saying: “That was the happiest period of my career in Scotland, it is on a par with the great time I had at Blackburn.
“Livingston were a small club but they had a great team spirit with all the foreign boys joining in.
“We achieved third in the SPL, played UEFA Cup football and won what was then The CIS Insurance Cup – fantastic times.”
The 2-0 Hampden Cup Final win over Hibernian is still a great memory with Makel saying: “It really was a bit unreal for us to win the cup.
“Everyone outside of Livingston thought Hibs would win and, of course, they had the vast majority of the crowd but we had beaten them twice in the League so we were confident.
“We were in Administration and that made us a tight unit. We let Hibs and all their fans do their talking off the pitch whilst we concentrated on doing our talking on it.”
Makel started turning his hand to coaching at that time and began helping Graeme Robertson with the youth players at the then named Almondvale ground however, a move back over the border soon put paid to that.
“My contract was up at Livingston in May 2004 and Plymouth got in touch. Everything was up in the air at Livi following the Administration period I thought I would give England another crack.”
The Argyle adventure lasted until the following January when he headed north again as his former boss at Livingston, David Hay, took him to Dunfermline Athletic.
Makel said: “I had 18 months in the SPL with the Pars and was offered a new deal however, Livi offered me a deal with a coaching role thrown in.”
A familiar face was behind the deal with Makel explaining, “John Robertson was there and I knew his as a player and a Manager at Hearts.
“We were also together at Newcastle for a brief period and we were the guinea pigs for a new conditioning and medical programme that was being brought in for English football. The two of us used to spend ages on a treadmill with all sets of wires and apparatus hanging out.”
It was First Division football for the next two seasons and Makel was able to see a bright new talent emerge in West Lothian as he explained.
“Leigh Griffiths started coming through when Mark Proctor was in charge and you could see then despite his youth, daft hair and luminous boots that he was a goalscorer. Hopefully, he will knuckle down and give it a real go at Wolves.”
In the summer of 2008, former Livingston striker Paul Shields advised Makel of the chance to join a Swedish club he played at and the then 35-year- old was more than curious.
“Paul told me that Ostersunds were after an experienced midfielder and I had an itch to play abroad so things came together quite well.
“I went over and after a period of settling in, which was difficult as my family were still here, but eventually I enjoyed it.
“At the end of that first season, they could not afford a new deal so I came back to Scotland again and joined East Fife almost two years ago.
“Ostersunds then got in touch to say they wanted me as their Player/Manager so I went back over to add to my experience with little pressure placed on me in the way I would have had if I had started a managerial career here.”
Joe Hamill and Damon Gray came over and played on the astroturf pitch at Ostersunds with Makel saying: “They did really well and as a club with strong British connections, they were made to feel really welcome.
“We played well but the season ended in disappointing fashion and we were relegated to Division Two. I had enjoyed my time, learned loads but it was time to move on and give someone else a chance.”
Another friendly face from his Hearts days was on hand to help him with training facilities as Colin Cameron invited Makel into joining the squad at First Division Cowdenbeath.
“I went in to keep in shape and, of course, I had played often enough against sides involving Jimmy Nicholl when he worked with Jimmy Calderwood to know him. Come the middle of January, we started speaking about a playing role and I agreed to stay on until the end of this season.
“I started playing with the reserves and it did feel funny to be back here playing again but it was great to run out last Saturday and kick a ball about again.”
Makel will not be able to rest as he explained: “I think we have a nice wee run going with Dunfermline, Raith Rovers, Falkirk and Partick coming up but we have a great opportunity to stay in this division and, for a club that is basically part-time, that would be a great achievement.”
A return to coaching or management is the aim for Makel who said: “I spoke to Jimmy Nicholl and he knows that whilst I am enjoying playing, I want to get into a coaching role.
“I feel I am ready as I served my apprenticeship in Sweden. I will be undertaking my UEFA A Licence work throughout this season and I have plans to do some further work as well.”
That further work involves attending university to obtain a Bachelor Degree in Management and Makel will be one of the first batch of students that will progress through the programme.
He explained the details: “The course is backed by PFA Scotland and I will attend Napier University for a week during the summer and then one day a week throughout next season. I will spend another week there next season but I am sure it will be worth it.
More and more, Club Chairmen will look for the degree as well as Coaching Qualifications so I do not want to miss out.
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