Total Tranmere Meets Legend Ian Muir

Following the charity football game involving Rovers Legends recently, Total Tranmere caught up with Tranmere legend and record goalscorer Ian Muir for a quick interview about his Rovers and footballing career in general.......  

After the recent legends match at Wirral Rugby Club which formed part of a fun day in aid of Claire House, Total Tranmere was able to catch up with Tranmere legend and record goalscorer Ian Muir for a quick few words about his time at Tranmere and his career in general.....

What made you decide to join Tranmere Rovers Football Club in the first place?

I was originally with Frank Worthington at Brighton and when he then took over at Tranmere the chance was offered to me to make the move so I did!   I had a choice of either Tranmere or Maidstone at the time.

Throughout your footballing development where you always a striker or did you use to play elsewhere?

I’ve always been a striker throughout my career at all levels of the game.

What was Johnny King’s managerial style in the changing rooms? Did he ever blow his top when the pressure was on or if the team were losing or was he always calm and collected?

To be honest he was very quiet and always calm and collected.  He never blew his top even when the pressure was on to be fair.

John Aldridge fell just short of your Rovers all-time goal scoring record.  With the way football is currently in terms of less loyalty and shorter careers at Clubs, do you think your record will ever be beaten (and will you be frustrated if it ever is!!!)?

We should never say never with regard to the record being beaten even with the way things are today and if it was to ever happen I wouldn’t be frustrated at all.

Some fans may not remember that you got the assist for THAT goal against Exeter in 1987.  Do you have memories of the atmosphere that night and the game itself?  Did the players feel the pressure of what was riding on the result?

Yes we felt the pressure as players because we obviously needed to win on what turned out to be a memorable night for the right reasons.

As a youngster watching Rovers, I used to love Mogsy (Johnny Morrissey).  It must have been great knowing you had someone like him providing you with great opportunities to score on a regular basis? 

It was a mental thing we had.  For some reason we just clicked and knew what each other were doing.  As well as that he was my best mate off the pitch too!

A lot of players never get to play at Wembley in their careers but you played several times there for Rovers in a short space of time.  Did you and the other players begin to feel at home there!?

I certainly enjoyed playing their just like the rest of the team did during that period of time.

Did you have mixed feelings about promotion at Wembley in 1991 and the fact that you were unable to be a part of it due to your injury or was it just sheer delight at the achievement by the Club?

I was chuffed that we went up and I was still part of the team even tough I was injured so there were no frustrations really on the day!

What is your best memory of playing for Tranmere Rovers?

It was all special!

You said at the recent ex-players evening that you didn’t have a favourite goal as such for Rovers but is there one in particular that sticks in the memory and for what reason?

I loved scoring no matter what and in addition I was always there to celebrate with others who scored too.

In your opinion, who is the best player you played alongside during your time at Rovers?

Mogsy!!  As I said before we clicked so well when playing together!

Who was the best player you played with in your entire career?

Steve Roper today at the Charity Match!..... We seemed to click and it worked so well on the day!!

What would say was the high point of your career?

Promotion and the numerous Wembley visits mentioned previously!

Was there a low point?

Doing my knee in when I did, especially having scored 35 goals that year as well.

What was the standard of football like in Hong Kong compared to the English game you’d been used to?

It was very poor to be honest.

After scoring the winning goal to seal Rovers’ win at the National Masters Final in 2009, do you have any plans/desire to play for Rovers again in the future?

No!  I’m too old now!

Have you ever had an interest in the coaching side of football since your retirement from playing?

I have no time nowadays but I would like to get back if I did have time.  I was assistant manager at Stratford at one point.

Do you have any words of advice for young players coming through today (particularly strikers)?

Have a pint and enjoy!  You need to want it to get it though!

Have you been to many Rovers games since you left the Club and does the Club have the same feel now as it did back then?

A big no to that!

In what ways if any do you think the game has changed since your heyday with Rovers and what are your views on the way money is running the game so much currently?

I wish I was there now to get the money the players get nowadays, the game will never change, it is an easy game made hard by the players!

What is Ian Muir the former footballer doing these days for a living?

I’m now a small business owner.

Finally, how about Prenton Park having an Ian Muir Stand?  What do you reckon?

Yes! All day long!!  I would love to have a Stand named after me at Prenton Park!  I have such great memories there and that would top it off for me!

Thanks very much for your time Ian and thanks for doing this interview for Total Tranmere.