Mick McNeil

This article is on the footballer. For the Simple Minds keyboardist, see Mick MacNeil.

Michael McNeil

Personal information
Full name	Michael McNeil
Date of birth	7 February 1940 (1940-02-07) (age 71)
Place of birth	Middlesbrough, England
Playing position	Left-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1957–1964	Middlesbrough	178	(3)
1964–1972	Ipswich Town	146	(4)
1972–1976	Cambridge City
National team
1960–1961	England	9	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

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.^[1] During his career he made 178Football League appearances for Middlesbrough and almost 150 appearances for Ipswich Town.^[2]

Playing career

McNeil was born in Middlesbrough; 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.^[3] 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.^[3]

References

1. ^ England statistics for Mick McNeil at englandstats.com
2. ^ Football League Career Stats at Neil Brown
3. ^ ^{a b} Middlesbrough Heroes - official site

External links

• Mick McNeil at Pride of Anglia

Persondata
Name	McNeil, Mick
Alternative names
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	7 February 1940
Place of birth	Middlesbrough, England
Date of death
Place of death