Ian Mellor struck up a special goal-getting partnership with Peter Ward for high-flying Albion.

Ward reckons they read each other’s minds in those heady days of the 1970s.

“Me and him used to set each other up - we worked well together,” he said from his home in Florida.

No one was more pleased for Mellor than defender Andy Rollings, one of the players who joined him on the move to the Goldstone from Norwich City.

Mellor died this week at the age of 74 after a battle against illness.

Popularly known as Spider, he played for Albion from 1974 to 1978 and is best remembered for the 12 goals and numerous assists he provided as the Seagulls won promotion from the Third Division in 1976-77.

Great days and Ward has been reminiscing.

He said: “I was looking at some old pictures.

“There was one where he has got his arm around me after a goal against York.

“There are lots of good memories.”

Like the Tuesday night Walsall were thrashed 7-0 after a goalless first half.

Ward said: “It was pouring down with rain. He sent us back out and we got three goals each.

“Then Tony Towner crossed the ball and Spider hit it.

“It hit one post, hit the other and I ran it in so I got four and he got three.

“We probably both got a match ball.

“We lived not far apart from each other and I remember one New Year’s Eve it was snowing.

“Myself, Spider and three or four others thought no way would we play the next day so we went out for a few drinks.

“Next morning, we saw them clearing the snow off the pitch trying to get the game on!

“Fortunately it got cancelled in the end.”

Mellor was the senior member of the trio who moved from Norwich to the Goldstone in the summer of 1974, along with Steve Govier and rookie defender Rollings.

Rollings said: “I was in Norwich and got a call to go to the ground.

“The two other lads were waiting and Brian Clough and Peter Taylor were there.

“He started off playing wide or off the frontman.

“He had a great touch. His ability on the ball was fantastic and he was a lovely fella.

“He scored on his debut (at home to Crystal Palace) but he didn’t really hit the heights at first.

“He couldn’t find the form he had shown at Norwich.

“Alan (Mullery) saw potential to stick him up front with Wardy and we know what happened the next season.

“I was so pleased for him. Wardy has gone down in history for what he did but Spider was a special player.

“Fans did not know the full story because Spider was a top guy, the type who would be there for you.

“I kept in touch for quite a while.

“When you have shared a changing room with someone you share a special bond."

Ward was the nation’s top scorer in the promotion season with 36 goals in league and cup.

He recalled: “When I first came into the team, I was up front with Fred Binney or Sammy Morgan.

“Mullers changed it and it worked. We read each other’s minds.”