Ian Mellor, a left-winger began his career with Manchester City. He played as a substitute as City won the 1972 FA Charity Shield. He then moved to Norwich City in 1973 for a fee of £65,000. The Canaries were struggling against relegation in their first season in English football’s top division when Ian joined. He played in the last eleven league games of the season and played his part in helping the club stay up.
He went on to score nine goals in 43 games for Norwich before playing for Brighton & Hove Albion where he was known as “Spider”. He made 150 appearances for the Seagulls between 1974 and 1978 scoring 35 goals.
In February 1978 Ian moved for £25,000 to Chester. He helped Chester finish fifth in Division Three in his first season and was on target in a Football League Cup giant killing against First Division Coventry City in 1978-79.
At the end of the season Ian moved to Sheffield Wednesday, securing a place in Wednesday history by scoring in the 4–0 defeat of Sheffield United, in the famous ‘Boxing Day Massacre’, here he remained until joining Bradford City in June 1982.
He spent two seasons with City before ending his professional career.