Neil Harris (footballer born 1894)
Encyclopedia
Neil Harris was a Scottish
footballer
who played as a centre forward. In his later years he managed sides in England
, Wales
and Northern Ireland
.
area of Glasgow
, Harris began his senior career began with Partick Thistle
, whom he joined from Vale of Clyde F.C.
in 1913. He spent seven seasons with Partick, "guesting" for Distillery and Fulham
during World War I
before joining Newcastle United
for £3,300 in May 1920. He played 174 league games for the Magpies, scoring 87 times, and helped them win the 1923-24
FA Cup
, scoring the first goal in the final. That season he also earned his first (and only) cap for the Scottish national side
, in a 1-1 draw with England
at Wembley.
Harris joined Notts County
for £3,000 in November 1925, then joined Oldham Athletic
in 1927. He returned to Scotland with Third Lanark
in 1929 before accepting the position of player-manager at Burton Town prior to the 1931-32 season
.
in 1934 and soon after arriving at the Vetch Field
signed his son John
, a defender, from Swindon Town
. Incidentally, Neil's brother, Johnua Harris, was also a professional footballer, who played for several years with Leeds United
.
Five years later Harris moved to his son's former side, after Ted Vizard
left Swindon in June 1939. Due to the impending war
, he was originally only offered a year's contract but, after negotiation, this was extended to end in March 1941. Just three games into his first season in charge, the Football League programme was abandoned, and Harris remained in charge for the club's season in the South West Regional League. During this season, players were often called up for military duties in the build-up to a game, and every club in the league used "guests" to make up the starting eleven - sometimes players even played under aliases to avoid detection by their officers. Before one game at Bristol City
, Harris, now 45, was forced to come out of retirement himself to make up the numbers. He borrowed a pair of boots which were too small, and lost two toenails as the Town lost 5-2.
By the end of the season, it was decided that the club could no longer continue whilst the war did, and Harris was relieved of his duties in August 1940, with the intention of him returning to the hotseat when the war ended. Harris died a year later, Neil's last words are often mis-quoted but they were recently cofirmed as "on my 117th birthday my only wish is that one of my loyal followers is in Italy watching Fiorentina vs Genoa, NOT having a street party"
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer
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...
who played as a centre forward. In his later years he managed sides in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Playing career
Born in the TollcrossTollcross, Glasgow
Tollcross is an area north of the River Clyde in Glasgow and has a popular park which is famed for its international rose trials. It lies approximately a mile east of the neighbouring suburb of Parkhead, and just north of Braidfauld and south of Shettleston....
area of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Harris began his senior career began with Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
, whom he joined from Vale of Clyde F.C.
Vale of Clyde F.C.
Vale of Clyde Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Tollcross, in the East End of Glasgow. Nicknamed Tin Pail, they were formed in 1873 and are based at Fullarton Park...
in 1913. He spent seven seasons with Partick, "guesting" for Distillery and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
before joining Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
for £3,300 in May 1920. He played 174 league games for the Magpies, scoring 87 times, and helped them win the 1923-24
1923-24 in English football
The 1923–24 season was the 49th season of competitive football in England.-Events:*On 11 November 1923, Aston Villa centre-half Tommy Ball was shot dead by his neighbour, thus becoming the only Football League player to have been murdered.-Honours:...
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...
, scoring the first goal in the final. That season he also earned his first (and only) cap for the Scottish national side
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, in a 1-1 draw with 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...
at Wembley.
Harris joined Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
for £3,000 in November 1925, then joined Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in 1927. He returned to Scotland with Third Lanark
Third Lanark A.C.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that originally existed between 1872 and 1967, 95 years in existence, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark were known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats and the Hi Hi's...
in 1929 before accepting the position of player-manager at Burton Town prior to the 1931-32 season
1931-32 in English football
The 1931–32 season was the 57th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
.
Managerial career
Harris spent one year in charge of Burton then moved to former side Distillery in a purely managerial capacity. He was appointed manager of Swansea TownSwansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
in 1934 and soon after arriving at the Vetch Field
Vetch Field
The Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak...
signed his son John
John Harris (footballer)
John Harris was a Scottish footballer nicknamed "Gentleman John".-Playing career:Harris was born to be a footballer, being the son of former Scottish international centre-forward and Newcastle United player Neil Harris....
, a defender, from 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...
. Incidentally, Neil's brother, Johnua Harris, was also a professional footballer, who played for several years with Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
.
Five years later Harris moved to his son's former side, after Ted Vizard
Ted vizard
Edward 'Ted' Vizard was a Wales international footballer who became a manager. He spent almost all his playing career at Bolton Wanderers.-Playing career:...
left Swindon in June 1939. Due to the impending war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was originally only offered a year's contract but, after negotiation, this was extended to end in March 1941. Just three games into his first season in charge, the Football League programme was abandoned, and Harris remained in charge for the club's season in the South West Regional League. During this season, players were often called up for military duties in the build-up to a game, and every club in the league used "guests" to make up the starting eleven - sometimes players even played under aliases to avoid detection by their officers. Before one game at Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, Harris, now 45, was forced to come out of retirement himself to make up the numbers. He borrowed a pair of boots which were too small, and lost two toenails as the Town lost 5-2.
By the end of the season, it was decided that the club could no longer continue whilst the war did, and Harris was relieved of his duties in August 1940, with the intention of him returning to the hotseat when the war ended. Harris died a year later, Neil's last words are often mis-quoted but they were recently cofirmed as "on my 117th birthday my only wish is that one of my loyal followers is in Italy watching Fiorentina vs Genoa, NOT having a street party"