Soccer: Prior wants to be a Maine man

The former Southend United defender has recently won his place back in the Maine Road line-up and is hoping to play a key role in steering the Premiership strugglers to calmer waters.

However, Prior has set his sights even higher and is plotting to steal some of the limelight away from the red half of Manchester.

City won their last major honour 25 long years ago when they beat Newcastle United 2-1 in the 1976 League Cup final.

And the ex-Shrimper wants to blow the cobwebs out of the Maine Road trophy cabinet once and for all.

"There are a lot of big clubs in this country, but Manchester City are enormous," said Prior.

"As well as Southend, I've played for Norwich City, Leicester and Derby County, but none of them compare with City when it comes to potential.

"It was only two years ago that this club was getting crowds of 28,000-plus in the Second Division.

"When you walk around Maine Road it is frightening. You see all of these old faces in the crowd, people like Franny Lee, who played a big part in the club's glory days.

"And I do know what success is about. I won the League Cup during my time at Leicester, when we beat Middlesbrough, Juninho, Ravanelli and all.

"Now I want to emulate that success with City, which would allow me to come back to Maine Road in the future as one of those famous old faces."

However, the 29-year-old, who was snapped up by Joe Royle for £400,000 from Derby last March, knows his First priority is his club's survival bid.

"We need to stabilise this season and I'm confident we'll beat the drop," added Prior.

"This club has made amazing progress during the last couple of years - climbing two divisions in succession.

"And some people have said promotion to the Premiership last term may have been a bigger jump than we can handle.

"But Manchester City need to be in the top flight. When I came here at the end of last season we never lost a match.

"We won seven and drew two First Division games, but our season still went right to the wire.

"Our last game was at Blackburn Rovers and we needed three points to claim automatic promotion, which we did. But they hit the post four times and I just felt it was fate that sent us up."

Going up in the world - Manchester City defender Spencer Prior rises above his Coventry opponents

Picture: ANDREW YATES

Webby gave me big chance

Spencer Prior broke into league football as a 17-year-old with Southend.

He served his apprenticeship at Roots Hall and was given his big chance by current Blues boss David Webb.

During his time as a lynchpin of the Southend defence, Prior helped the Shrimpers climb into the First Division for the first time in their history.

However, following 156 appearances for the Seasiders and six goals, Prior stepped up to the Premier League, following a £300,000 move to Norwich City.

At Carrow Road, Prior formed a formidable defensive barrier alongside Southend's player-coach Rob Newman, playing his part in the Canaries' UEFA Cup success against German giants Bayern Munich, before bowing out to Italian masters Inter Milan.

A £400,000 move to Leicester and a £700,000 switch to Derby followed, before Prior joined Manchester City, playing alongside the likes of former World Player of the Year George Weah.

However, his memories of Southend are still some of his fondest.

"We had great times at Southend and I owe a lot to David Webb," explained Prior.

"I was playing up front when he came to Roots Hall, but he converted me into a good defender.

"He really got it out of me as an apprentice and I may not have enjoyed the success I have if it wasn't for him.

"But that's Webby for you. He knows what to do with players and he isn't afraid to give youth a chance.

"However, the biggest disappointment for me at Southend was that we couldn't win promotion to the Premier League.

"We were top of Division One at one stage, but we were still only getting about 8,000 people at Roots Hall. We should have had 15,000 fans there week in, week out.

"But I suppose it's that same old problem of people jumping in their cars and going 40 minutes up the road to watch Spurs or West Ham."

And Prior said the Hammers were new heroes to the blue part of Manchester, following their recent 1-0 FA Cup win at Old Trafford.

"Most of the real football fans in Manchester support City and it has given the whole place a lift," said Prior.

"I'd say 70 per cent of the people around here follow us - most of the United supporters probably live closer to West Ham than Manchester!"

Blues return is not out

Prior has two years left on his contract at Maine Road, but said he had not ruled out a Roots Hall return one day.

"You can never say never," he said. "My family still live in Hockley and I still own a house in Rayleigh.

"Southend are very dear to me and it's great to see David Webb back at the club, but any possible move back south is a long way off.

"But if I ever did come back in the future I'd hope that Rob Newman had finally hung up his boots. It seems like he has been playing forever and I'm sure the old boy could do with a good rest!"

By Bernie Friend

Reporter's e-mail: bernie.friend@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.