Mick McNeil
Encyclopedia
This article is on the footballer. For the Simple Minds keyboardist, see Mick MacNeil
.
Muchael "Mick" McNeil (born 7 February 1940) is a former Middlesbrough
and Ipswich Town
footballer who made nine appearances for England
in 1960 and 1961. During his career he made 178Football League appearances for Middlesbrough
and almost 150 appearances for Ipswich Town
.
; after leaving school, the former Middlesbrough Boys player was studying to become an analytical chemist
while turning out for Cargo Fleet. He was spotted by Middlesbrough
coach Jimmy Gordon and he signed for Boro.
He made his Middlesbrough debut aged 18, in a game verus Brighton, in which Boro won 6–4. He soon lost his place, but the next season he moved to left-back and made the position his own, retaining it for the next two seasons. Despite Middlesbrough being in the Second Division
, McNeil was called up by the England national team
, having already represented the under-23 side. He was only 21 when he won his last cap.
The emergence of other talents at Middlesbrough, including left-back Gordon Jones, saw McNeil shuffled around the defensive line to central defense, and then to right-back before Cyril Knowles
' arrival move him back to the left.
Following 193 appearances and 3 goals in all competitions, McNeil's sale to Ipswich Town
in 1964 was greeted with derision by the fans, having also lost Alan Peacock
and Knowles recently. However, McNeil had suffered injuries of late, and had disagreements with manager Raich Carter
, handing in a transfer request.
While at Ipswich, McNeil won promotion. In 1971, in his early 30s, he quit the game to set up a highly successful sports outfitters in Bury St Edmunds.
Mick MacNeil
Michael "Mick" MacNeil was the Scottish composer and keyboardist for the band Simple Minds, best remembered for their UK #7/US #1 hit single "Don't You ". Having joined in 1978 Johnny & The Self-Abusers to create Simple Minds, MacNeil left the band in 1990...
.
Muchael "Mick" McNeil (born 7 February 1940) is a former 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...
and Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
footballer who made nine appearances for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1960 and 1961. During his career he made 178Football League appearances for 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...
and almost 150 appearances for Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
.
Playing career
McNeil was born in MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
; after leaving school, the former Middlesbrough Boys player was studying to become an analytical chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
while turning out for Cargo Fleet. He was spotted by 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...
coach Jimmy Gordon and he signed for Boro.
He made his Middlesbrough debut aged 18, in a game verus Brighton, in which Boro won 6–4. He soon lost his place, but the next season he moved to left-back and made the position his own, retaining it for the next two seasons. Despite Middlesbrough being in 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...
, McNeil was called up by the England national team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, having already represented the under-23 side. He was only 21 when he won his last cap.
The emergence of other talents at Middlesbrough, including left-back Gordon Jones, saw McNeil shuffled around the defensive line to central defense, and then to right-back before Cyril Knowles
Cyril Knowles
Cyril Barry Knowles was a footballer who played full-back for Tottenham Hotspur and England. He was the brother of fellow professional footballer Peter Knowles.- Early career :...
' arrival move him back to the left.
Following 193 appearances and 3 goals in all competitions, McNeil's sale to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in 1964 was greeted with derision by the fans, having also lost Alan Peacock
Alan Peacock
Alan Peacock is a former English footballer.He spent the majority of his career at Middlesbrough, also playing for Leeds United and Plymouth Argyle. He joined Middlesbrough in 1954 and became a regular in the side in 1958 alongside Brian Clough. Clough scored the majority of the goals, partly due...
and Knowles recently. However, McNeil had suffered injuries of late, and had disagreements with manager Raich Carter
Raich Carter
Horatio Stratton "Raich" Carter was one of the greatest English footballers of the pre-war era...
, handing in a transfer request.
While at Ipswich, McNeil won promotion. In 1971, in his early 30s, he quit the game to set up a highly successful sports outfitters in Bury St Edmunds.