John Neal (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Neal is a former English football
player and manager.
Neal was a full-back whose playing career included numerous clubs, including Hull City
, Southend United
and Swindon Town
. His career peaked at Aston Villa
, with whom he won the Second Division
championship in 1960 and the inaugural League Cup
a year later.
In 1968, after retiring, Neal was appointed manager of Wrexham
, leading the club into the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1972 following a Welsh Cup
triumph. Two years later, Neal also took the club to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup
. He later succeeded Jack Charlton
at Middlesbrough
but left after a disagreement with the board over transfer
policy.
Neal was appointed manager of Chelsea
in May 1981, with Ian McNeill
as his assistant, and inherited a club in turmoil. His early years at the club were unsuccessful, with the side narrowly avoiding relegation to the Third Division
during the 1982–83
season with a dramatic win against Bolton Wanderers
. However, Neal also proved a shrewd judge of talent as he signed impressive players such as David Speedie
, Kerry Dixon
, Pat Nevin
, Nigel Spackman
and Eddie Niedzwiecki
for a combined total of less than £500,000. In 1984, just a year after nearly falling to the Third Division, Chelsea were promoted as Second Division
champions.
Upon returning to the top tier, the club consolidated its position under Neal and for a time were challenging for a place in Europe (though the events at Heysel
that season would have rendered European qualification immaterial anyway). Having finished a nonetheless impressive 6th, Neal retired at the end of the season due to ill-health and underwent heart surgery in 1986. He now lives in Wrexham
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager.
Neal was a full-back whose playing career included numerous clubs, including Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. His career peaked at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, with whom he won the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
championship in 1960 and the inaugural League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
a year later.
In 1968, after retiring, Neal was appointed manager of Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
, leading the club into the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1972 following a Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
triumph. Two years later, Neal also took the club to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. He later succeeded Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
but left after a disagreement with the board over transfer
Transfer (football)
In professional association football, a transfer is the action taken whenever a player under contract moves between professional clubs. It refers to the transferring of a player's registration from one professional association football club to another. In general, the players can only be...
policy.
Neal was appointed manager of Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in May 1981, with Ian McNeill
Ian McNeill
Ian McNeill is a former professional footballer and manager.Playing at inside forward, McNeill's career included stints at Aberdeen, Leicester City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southend United. Upon retiring, McNeill moved into management, taking charge of Wigan Athletic between 1968 and 1970...
as his assistant, and inherited a club in turmoil. His early years at the club were unsuccessful, with the side narrowly avoiding relegation to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
during the 1982–83
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
season with a dramatic win against Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. However, Neal also proved a shrewd judge of talent as he signed impressive players such as David Speedie
David Speedie
David Robert Speedie is a retired Scottish footballer who played for several clubs in England during the 1980s and 1990s, most notably Chelsea, Coventry City, Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers. He accumulated more than 500 football league appearances and scored almost 150 goals in a 14 year...
, Kerry Dixon
Kerry Dixon
Kerry Michael Dixon is a retired English professional footballer who played most notably for Chelsea and England.-Early years:...
, Pat Nevin
Pat Nevin
Patrick Kevin Francis Michael "Pat" Nevin is a retired Scottish footballer. In a 20-year career, he played for Clyde, Chelsea, Everton, Tranmere Rovers, Kilmarnock and Motherwell as a winger. Nevin was a fans' favourite at Chelsea during the 1980s...
, Nigel Spackman
Nigel Spackman
Nigel James Spackman is an English football manager and former player. He was formerly a midfield player who was an integral part of the much-admired Liverpool team of 1988...
and Eddie Niedzwiecki
Eddie Niedzwiecki
Eddie Niedzwiecki is a retired Welsh footballer of Polish origin who played as a goalkeeper for Wrexham and Chelsea.Starting at Wrexham at the age of 14, Niedzwiecki stayed with the club until the summer of 1983, when he was signed for Chelsea by former Wrexham manager, John Neal...
for a combined total of less than £500,000. In 1984, just a year after nearly falling to the Third Division, Chelsea were promoted as Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champions.
Upon returning to the top tier, the club consolidated its position under Neal and for a time were challenging for a place in Europe (though the events at Heysel
Heysel Stadium disaster
The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred on 29 May 1985 when escaping fans were pressed against a wall in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, as a result of rioting before the start of the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool of England and Juventus of Italy...
that season would have rendered European qualification immaterial anyway). Having finished a nonetheless impressive 6th, Neal retired at the end of the season due to ill-health and underwent heart surgery in 1986. He now lives in Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
.
External links
- John Neal profile at Swindon Town FC