Tranmere Rovers has today confirmed that captain Steve McNulty will leave the club this summer when his contract expires.
Macca joined Rovers from Luton Town in October 2015 and after a slow start, soon made himself at home as a key figure in the Tranmere team. Our defensive record with him in the team was outstanding. His leadership could not be questioned while his compsure and quality on the ball was well above the level he found himself at.
He captained the club to the National League play-offs in 2016-17 which ended with defeat to Forest Green in the final. In 2017-18, McNulty and Tranmere went one step further, beating Boreham Wood in remarkable circumstances at Wembley Stadium.
That game illustrated his importance to Rovers – his inspired leadership and no-nonsense defending helped Tranmere through one of our toughest and most important 90 minutes.
He started the 2018-19 season in the same vein. Great on the ball and providing the catalyst for some brilliant early season football for Tranmere, playing out from the back at every opportunity.
As the season wore on, injury caught up with him a little and Ellis, Monthe and Nelson desputised wonderfully well.
However, Macca was to go out with a bang, back at Wembley Stadium.
Struggling to manage the physical bombardment of Newport in Saturday’s play-off final, the big man was called upon by Micky Mellon one final time. He answered the call like few others could.
Instantly taking control of the Rovers backline, he popped Jamille Matt in to his back pocket, pointed and barked at team mates to stay in shape, leading his team mates through another challenging time. It ended in the way it simply had to, knowing what we know now. A grandstand winner and another promotion.
Whatever McNulty does next, every Tranmere fan will wish him well. A cult hero here as much as he was at Luton, will there be another season on the pitch somewhere, or will this promotion specialist hang up his boots for a well-earned rest?
Either way, thanks for everything, Steve.
