From Bramall Lane to the Recording Studio: Sheff Utd Coach Launches Debut Solo EP
Lee McMahon, Sheffield United's rehabilitation coach, embarks on a solo music career with his debut EP, inspired by a bar co-owned by ex-player Ben Osborn. McMahon's songs explore themes of adversity and positivity, showcasing his passion for music alongside his coaching role.
Image Credits: Rich Linley - CameraSport via Getty Images
Lee McMahon spends his days helping Sheffield United try and become a smash hit in the race for promotion from the Championship.
From Football Rehab to the Recording Studio
Bramall Lane’s rehabilitation coach is aiming to be a chart topper himself, after releasing an EP inspired by a business venture involving one of the club’s former players.
McMahon, the man responsible for coaxing injured members of The Blades’ squad back into shape, is also a gifted musician who has played at some of the South Yorkshire city’s most iconic venues and heard his work played on national radio.
Previously a member of popular local band The Tivoli, McMahon has now launched a solo career and is preparing to unveil a collection of songs about a series of fictional characters in a real-life bar co-owned by ex-United midfielder Ben Osborn.
A Songwriting Journey Sparked by a Bar and Friendship
“I love my job in football,” McMahon told SportsBoom.com.
“But I’m also extremely passionate about my music and so when Ozzy told me what he was doing I told him that I’d write something to help celebrate its opening.”
“I came up with a song about a guy who did whatever he could to support his family but had just been made redundant and was staring into a middle-aged abyss, worrying about the future but proud that he knew he’d done everything he could to make sure they were looked after.”
“The tagline for that one was ‘This is the place you’ll always be loved when life gets tough’ and Ben and his business partner liked it so much they had a neon sign, with those words on them, put up behind the bar itself.”
Things just went from there and I created more and more songs about people in my imagination.
Lee McMahon
Themes of Adversity and Positivity in McMahon's Music
“They were all different, were on different pathways, but there was a common thread going through all the songs and that was the path from adversity to positivity - a bit like football itself I guess.”
“For risk of sounding like something off Cheers, I think it's a really good concept,” McMahon added.
“And I’m really proud of the songs too. So, I’m putting them out there now for people to listen to and hopefully gain some exposure.”
Osborn, who left The Blades to join Derby County last summer, has invited McMahon to the bar to perform and shoot video content for a website designed to showcase his talents.
The songs, which are being drip fed onto global streaming sites, will soon be available to buy on a limited-edition vinyl record entitled ‘Lonely Boy Bar Part One’ with Part Two set to follow next year.
A Lifelong Passion for Music
McMahon, whose artist’s name is LPMC, said: “A lot of the lads I’ve got to know through United know how much I’m into my music and they’re all really supportive.”
“I’ve recorded in places like Dean Street Studio in London and the Circus Studio in Nottingham. It’s something I’ve been involved with for more than 25 years now.”
“When I was in the band, we were the first unsigned band to play at the O2 in Sheffield and then got picked up by an independent label,” he added.
“Everything I do is self-funded which is why, for a few years, I had to put my music on hold a little bit, but I never stopped writing songs and on one of my albums I played every instrument and sang as well.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.