Bobby McNeal
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bobby" McNeal was an English
footballer who played as a left-half
. Despite his career running through World War I
he managed nearly 400 appearances in the Football League
for West Bromwich Albion
, playing in some of the most successful seasons in the club's history
.
, County Durham
, where he played football for the village team before he turned professional with West Bromwich Albion
in June 1910. In his first full season he helped the club to the Second Division
title. He also won a runners-up medal in the 1912 FA Cup Final
when Albion lost to Barnsley
in a replay.
During the First World War
he appeared as a guest player for Fulham
, Middlesbrough
, Notts County
and Port Vale
.
McNeal was part of West Bromwich Albion's league
championship-winning side of 1919–20. The team also won the 1920
Charity Shield
.
caps
during the 1914 British Home Championship
, playing the two final England internationals before the onset of World War I
, which caused the suspension of the competition until 1920
. He was one of four England players to win their first cap on 16 March 1914 as Wales
were defeated 2–0. His second and final cap came on 14 April as Scotland
ran out 3–1 winners at Hampden Park
. Overall the competition was something of a minor embarrassment for the country, as the Irish finished as champions and England finished third behind the Scots and just one point ahead of the Welsh.
in the West Bromwich
area. From 1926 to 1927, McNeal served as Albion's coach on a part-time basis.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who played as a left-half
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
. Despite his career running through 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...
he managed nearly 400 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, playing in some of the most successful seasons in the club's history
History of West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion F.C. are an English football club based in West Bromwich. The history of West Bromwich Albion F.C. covers the years from the club's formation in 1878 to the present day. The club were founded as West Bromwich Strollers by workers from Salter's Spring Works in West Bromwich, and...
.
Club career
McNeal was born in HobsonHobson, County Durham
Hobson is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the south of Burnopfield, north of Stanley and Annfield Plain.Hobson was a pit village, the colliery was named Burnopfield Colliery and was sunk in 1742 and closed in 1968....
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, where he played football for the village team before he turned professional with West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in June 1910. In his first full season he helped the club to 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...
title. He also won a runners-up medal in the 1912 FA Cup Final
1912 FA Cup Final
The 1912 FA Cup Final was the 41st FA Cup final. It was contested by Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion. It took two matches to determine a winner...
when Albion lost to Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in a replay.
During the First World War
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...
he appeared as a guest player for 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...
, 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...
, 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...
and Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
.
McNeal was part of West Bromwich Albion's league
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
championship-winning side of 1919–20. The team also won the 1920
1920 FA Charity Shield
The 1920 FA Charity Shield was a football match played on 15 May 1920 between the winners of the two divisions of the Football League in 1919–20. It was the seventh FA Charity Shield match and was contested by First Division champions West Bromwich Albion and Second Division champions Tottenham...
Charity Shield
FA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
.
International career
McNeal earned two EnglandEngland 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...
caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
during the 1914 British Home Championship
1914 British Home Championship
The 1914 British Home Championship was the last British Home Championship played before the First World War. The competition was played between January and April 1914 and won by Ireland with a team that included Patrick O’Connell, Billy Gillespie, Val Harris, Louis Bookman, Samuel Young and Bill...
, playing the two final England internationals before the onset of 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...
, which caused the suspension of the competition until 1920
1920 British Home Championship
The 1920 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1919–20 season between the British Home Nations. Wales eventually took the trophy as the first of three victories they claimed during the 1920s, their last undisputed triumphs...
. He was one of four England players to win their first cap on 16 March 1914 as Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
were defeated 2–0. His second and final cap came on 14 April as Scotland
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...
ran out 3–1 winners at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
. Overall the competition was something of a minor embarrassment for the country, as the Irish finished as champions and England finished third behind the Scots and just one point ahead of the Welsh.
Later career
In May 1925, he retired through injury and became a licensee of a pubPublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in the West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
area. From 1926 to 1927, McNeal served as Albion's coach on a part-time basis.
Honours
West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 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: 1910–11 - FA CupFA CupThe 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...
runner-up: 19121912 FA Cup FinalThe 1912 FA Cup Final was the 41st FA Cup final. It was contested by Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion. It took two matches to determine a winner... - Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
champions: 1919–20 - FA Community ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
winners: 19201920 FA Charity ShieldThe 1920 FA Charity Shield was a football match played on 15 May 1920 between the winners of the two divisions of the Football League in 1919–20. It was the seventh FA Charity Shield match and was contested by First Division champions West Bromwich Albion and Second Division champions Tottenham...
External links
- Profile at Englandstats.com