Ex-Bristol City and Cardiff man Marlon Pack: I suffered Portsmouth heartbreak - and it was the making of my career

Marlon Pack reflected on his heartbreaking Pompey release and admitted: It was the making of me.
Marlon Pack in action for Pompey during a pre-season friendly in July 2010. Picture: Paul Jacobs  102378-41Marlon Pack in action for Pompey during a pre-season friendly in July 2010. Picture: Paul Jacobs  102378-41
Marlon Pack in action for Pompey during a pre-season friendly in July 2010. Picture: Paul Jacobs 102378-41

The Buckland lad was shown the door at Fratton Park by Steve Cotterill in the summer of 2011.

A former South stand season-ticket holder, he made just two appearances after rising through the ranks of his boyhood club.

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Instead Pack’s first-team playing time was largely restricted to loan spells at Wycombe, Dagenham & Redbridge and Cheltenham.

However, the midfielder bounced back from his exit to resurrect his career at Cheltenham, Bristol City and Cardiff.

Now aged 29, he’s in his fifth season in the Championship – and is convinced that upsetting Pompey separation benefited his career in the long-term.

Pack told The News: ‘I get on well with Steve Cotterill and still speak to him now. We’ve also had this conversation ourselves.

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‘Obviously you are devastated – but at the time it was the best thing which happened to me.

Marlon Pack made 282 appearances and scored 12 times for Bristol City after bouncing back from his Pompey release. Picture: Harry Trump/Getty ImagesMarlon Pack made 282 appearances and scored 12 times for Bristol City after bouncing back from his Pompey release. Picture: Harry Trump/Getty Images
Marlon Pack made 282 appearances and scored 12 times for Bristol City after bouncing back from his Pompey release. Picture: Harry Trump/Getty Images

‘Without going on loan to Cheltenham and then being released by Pompey, I’m not sure I would have gone on to do what I’ve managed so far.

‘I then signed for Cheltenham permanently and played regularly for another two seasons before moving up.

‘In terms of foundations and working your way up, that was the best schooling for me and a bit of hard love from Steve Cotterill kind of pushed me towards it.

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‘I thought after a good Cheltenham loan spell I had something to offer. It wasn’t to be, the gaffer had other ideas. It was the making of me, I suppose.

‘He actually said I needed to leave, he didn’t think I was ready at the time, which I probably wasn’t. He also said it was a hard decision.

‘In the last couple of weeks of that season, I had driven to Eastleigh on a Monday off to meet with Cotterill and find out what was happening.

‘We had an honest conversation. I knew anyway, it didn’t come out of the blue. I had accepted it before actually hearing the news.

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‘Had I been a second-year pro in and around the first-team all year, not playing and without going on loan, options would have been very limited.

‘Whereas I was lucky. I had been on loan at Cheltenham and done enough for them to want to sign me. I knew all the lads, the manager, Mark Yates, was great with me and it was a nice place to live, not too far from Portsmouth.

‘The manager said he would build the team around me. I had gone from somewhere where I was a small fish to being a big fish. It was that feeling of being wanted.

‘It was a great decision from me. The only regret I have is not getting promoted at Cheltenham.’

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In December 2013, Pack’s path would cross with Cotterill once again, this time at Bristol City.

However, the midfielder established himself in the manager’s team, culminating in success.

In 2014-15, the Robins claimed the double of the League One title and the EFL Trophy during a remarkable campaign.

Pack made 46 appearances that term, scoring three times.

He added: ‘Steve Cotterill came in at Bristol City and my first thoughts were “What’s going to happen here?”.

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‘I didn’t play for the first few games after his arrival. I was thinking “Here we go”. It worked out all right in the end, though, I think I won him around eventually.

‘I would never change anything in terms of my upbringing and football schooling.

‘I had some bumps, one of which was being released by Pompey – and you use that as your motivation.’

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