Bishop's artistic touch

By Paul Garrity
BBC Radio Merseyside

Bishop was noted for his physical play and for scoring some important goals

Former Tranmere midfielder Eddie Bishop recently returned to the club to help celebrate the 125th anniversary celebrations at Prenton Park.

Bishop, 46, only had a brief spell playing for Rovers, making 97 appearances for the club between 1988 and 1990, but is held in high regard by fans on the Wirral.

In that time, he scored 22 goals for a side which managed promotion from the old Division Four in 1989 and a trip to Wembley the following season in the Division Three play-off final.

As a typical hard-tackling midfield general, he was not known for his creative flair on the pitch, but as Bishop explained, he certainly has developed an artistic eye since hanging up his boots.

"I started a business when I was a player and I have had to go into it full time now," Bishop told BBC Radio Merseyside. "Its a wrought iron business - making wrought iron gates, railings and furniture.

"But, I'm actually at university as well now. I'm doing a fine art degree, so I'm looking to get away from that business.

"Hopefully, in two years, I will be an artist."

Bishop was brought to Prenton Park by then manager John King in 1988, after learning his trade in non-league football.

He started his career at Winsford United and also turned out for Northwich Victoria, Altrincham and Runcorn before his big move to Tranmere.

To this day, he still has great memoires of his Rovers debut.

"I'm not sure I remember my first day [at the club] but I remember my home debut," said Bishop.

"It was when Johnny King was manager and it was six games into the season after we hadn't started too well.

"We beat Peterborough 1-0 and I was lucky enough to get the goal, so it was a happy start for me.

"I was only here three years, but when I look back at my career, my happiest times were here.

"We did have a fair amount of success with promotion and the trips to Wembley. I have very fond memoires - I loved it.

"When I was here Johnny King brought a lot of lads from non-league football - the likes of Dave Martin, Dave Higgins and Mark McCarrick.

"I suppose coming from non league where there were a lot of Scousers at the club helped stabilise and galvanise the team."

Bishop was held in high regard by fans of Chester City when he left Rovers

Despite the many highs in his spell at Tranmere, he left the Wirral in 1990 for Chester City where he spent the next six seasons.

Although he finds it difficult due to his busy schedule, with his business and university commitments, Bishop still looks out for Tranmere's results.

He admits he is worried about the financial future of the club and believes Rovers' youth system will have to be relied on to save the club from dropping down the football pyramid.

"With the way the finances are now, we have to rely on the youth system quite a lot," Bishop added.

"The players that have come through have made a lot of money for the club.

"They've got no money to bring players in so hopefully that will be the future for the club."