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Football wannabe Tony sees the light

28/11/2002

FROM footballer to theatre director may not be the most logical career path, but for Salfordian Tony Mercer that's not a problem.

When he was 17, the Weaste lad's football career looked all set to kick off, with trials at Oldham and Everton - until an accident put paid to his dreams.

But 25 years on, Tony has still lived the life many would covet, having travelled the world and met members of royalty, doing something he regards as a hobby.

He works as artistic director for Wild Rose International Productions, the first company to stage ice shows in small venues.

The company, now celebrating its 10th anniversary with new shows at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music, have won accolades across the world, but Tony says his involvement came about by accident.

As a teenager with dreams of Old Trafford glory, he began doing lighting shows for new wave band Salford Jets in his spare time, after being asked by bass player Diccon Hubbard, his art teacher at Salford Grammar School.

Ironically, it was while playing in a charity match organised by the band's lead singer, Piccadilly Radio DJ Mike Sweeney, that his knee was injured, ending his football career.

In the meantime, his part-time lighting job had started throwing up work offers, and Tony began working on stage shows for The Supremes, Kool and The Gang, and Salford's own Elkie Brooks.

He later designed theatre and nightclub lighting, and while working for a Dionne Warwick concert met Vee Deplidge, with whom he went on to form Wild Rose Productions.

Tony said: "When I was younger all I wanted to be was a footballer and it took me a long time to get over the fact it wouldn't happen. I was getting more satisfaction out of my hobby, and 25 years later I'm still surprised I get paid for doing this.

"I still think that I'm doing this as my hobby. Four years ago we were asked to do a show for Prince Rainier of Monaco, and I was thinking I'm just a lad from Salford, how come I'm being asked to do this?"