‘Similarities to Gareth Bale’ – The inside track from Morecambe staff on progression of Millwall new boy Adam Mayor

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

It has been some rise for winger Adam Mayor at Morecambe – although it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Millwall’s latest addition.

The Lions agreed a deal in the region of £300,000 for the 19-year-old at the end of the January transfer window, a record fee for the Shrimps which had previously been Jack Redshaw’s switch to Blackpool in 2015.

Mayor had an extra year as a scholar at Morecambe before he was handed professional terms.

Now he has jumped up two divisions and penned a long-term deal at Millwall, becoming the first permanent signing made by head coach Joe Edwards.

“The journey into the first-team for Adam was an interesting one,” Morecambe academy manager Stewart Drummond told the South London Press.

“He was on the first team radar to an extent as an U18 but he wasn’t given much of an opportunity.

“Adam had quite a few sessions with the previous manager Stephen Robinson, there were three or four lads who trained regularly with him, but when the change of manager came then Adam wasn’t really in the picture.

“At the end of his U18 season the academy staff came to us and wanted to retain him.  He wasn’t given a full contract by the first team, so we retained him on an extended scholarship.

“We sent him out on loan. The timing of coming back from Colne worked in his favour. He got his chance in the first team and Derek (Adams, manager) stuck with him.

“He never looked back.”

Mayor was picked up by Morecambe at 16 following his release from Preston.

Having bounced around at Tranmere and Bury during his formative years, the winger made his league debut for the Lancashire club in August 2022.

Drummond said: “He had a tough under-nine to U16 programme. He has been at academies that have closed during his time too.

“We took him up to Morecambe and I think it’s fair to say he’s overcome quite a few challenges.

“He would agree that when he came into us he was a little bit short on confidence and we had to build him back to believing in himself and getting him back to his true ability. That’s in the past and he’s flourishing now.”

Neil Wainweight, head of Morecambe’s academy coaching, could always see the talent once Mayor had been imbued with belief.

He said: “Physically you look at him and you watch him on the first bits to see how he moves well and controls a ball – all the basics – and he was really good.

“You could always see, which links in with the confidence, that there was more to come.

“I came away from the first day that he was in here and thought: ‘He could really be a player.’

“I felt as though I could help him that little bit more, because I played in the same position as him. It was a case of spotting the areas where confidence was a main issue for him and trying to help him accordingly.

“All the hard work has come from him and we have just helped him along the way as much as we could have.

“He has physically developed a lot over the last two-and-a-half years.

“Adam did a lot of work away from the football club as well so that helped him with his pace and power. He had decent levels of that anyway.

“It’s built him into the physical specimen he is now and he can only get better as well.”

Mayor made 39 appearances in his debut campaign under Adams  – netting four times and picking up three assists – as Morecambe were relegated to League Two.

“He really established himself,” said Wainwright.

“A marker last season would have been when he played against Derby. He only had a couple of games to his name and he was fantastic – the best player on the night.

“Fast forward to the summer when we’re playing bounce games against the first team and not only does he look a lot better than the scholars who are here now but, for me, he was the best player in the first-team squad.

“His rise might have been slower when he was in the U18s and finding his feet but he has kicked on as a professional – playing every week and being one of the first names on the teamsheet.”

Despite featuring predominantly as a left-winger, turning out 15 times in League Two on the flank, he also operated up front and behind a striker in both of his senior seasons.

“He likes to stay wide,” said Drummond. “There are certain similarities to Gareth Bale in terms of pace, power and attitude to get forward.

“I’m sure he won’t mind me saying he didn’t offer a great deal in terms of assists and goals in his first year. It took a long time to get going.

“Now when you look at him and his confidence has grown – he’s a lot more direct and likes to get past his defender.

“He wants to get to the byline and get the ball into the box.

“He’s certainly come on loads in the last nine to 12 months. He looks like a real good prospect now.”

Mayor continued to impress on the pitch at the start of this season and saw off the likes of Rico Lewis, Curtis Jones, Adam Wharton, George

Thomason and Jordan Beyer to claim The Athletic’s Rising Star accolade at the North West Football Awards in November.

By the time January rolled around he had eight goal contributions in 24 games. He was also placed on standby lists for England U19 and U20 teams this season.

The highly-rated youngster will now fight for a place in Edwards’ Millwall first team for the rest of the season. Drummond said: “There is always a willingness as a player to move on and as high as quick as you can. But he has a good base of around 70 games at League One and League Two as experience.

“That will only help him now in the Championship with Millwall – he can have that bit of confidence and know-how of what a first team looks like. You have to set your targets high, and Adam does.

“The interesting one is always that transition. He’s left Morecambe and gone to Millwall – he needs to establish himself in that group. He needs to set himself little mini-targets along the way.

“He needs to make an impact at first-team level and then keep reassessing his targets from there.

“Profile-wise, he’s great. He’s only a young player and still has some learning to do with the tactical side. But it’s in his hands now in terms of where he gets to with it all.