Neil Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Neil Sullivan is an English
-born Scottish
ex-international professional Association footballer. A goalkeeper, Sullivan currently plays for Doncaster Rovers
after signing on a permanent basis from Leeds United
at the end of the 2006–07 season, following two loan moves to Doncaster. He has 28 full caps for Scotland.
in 1988, amassing a total of 224 appearances between 1988 and 2000. It was during his tenure at Wimbledon that Sullivan was often acknowledged as one of the best goalkeepers in the league marked by his selection for the division's 1997–98 team of the season.
Sullivan was the goalkeeper against whom David Beckham
scored a goal from the halfway line, while he was off his line. He also played one game on loan for Crystal Palace
in 1992.
from Wimbledon, where he made over 80 appearances. He then moved to Chelsea
in the 2003–04
season, playing eight times for them.
team Leeds United
, by manager Kevin Blackwell
to replace Paul Robinson who had left Leeds to join Tottenham. Sullivan beat off competition for number one spot from young goalkeeper Scott Carson
. In his first season (2004–05
), he was voted as the club's Player of the Year after some superb saves throughout the season, including saving several penalties for Leeds. Leeds finished 10 points off the playoffs after a season of rebuilding. In his second season at Leeds, they reached the playoff final against Watford
, with Sullivan again having a decent season. But the playoff final ended in disaster for Sullivan with Leeds losing 3–0 to Watford and Sullivan being at fault for the second goal.
Due to an injury picked up in the pre-season match against Nottingham Forest
, Sullivan made few appearances in the 2006–07 campaign for Leeds, with loan goalkeeper Tony Warner
filling in whilst Sullivan was injured. Kevin Blackwell was sacked and replaced by Dennis Wise
. Wise decided to sign Graham Stack on loan to compete with Warner and Sullivan. On 23 November 2006, he moved on loan to Doncaster Rovers
. His loan was however cut short and he returned to Leeds on 21 December 2006. Manager Dennis Wise told the press after Leeds' 2–1 victory against Coventry City
that Sullivan had put on weight, and his performances were not as good, hence his loan to Doncaster. Leeds signed Casper Ankergren
as the new number one goalkeeper. Sullivan re-signed on loan for Doncaster Rovers in February 2007. After the end of his loan at Doncaster, Sullivan returned to Leeds but was released at the end of his contract.
on 21 March 2008, mis-controlling a backpass which led to a Yeovil goal, but the disappointment of this mistake was over-shadowed by a very successful season between the sticks, in which Sullivan kept an impressive 20 clean sheets.
He overcame this to help Doncaster win promotion to the Championship with a playoff final win over former club Leeds United, leaving them in the third tier of the Football League for at least another year.
Sullivan was also credited with a man-of-the-match performance against Aston Villa
on 24 January 2009 which gave Doncaster a 0–0 draw that helped keep them in the FA Cup
.
The veteran goalkeeper continued to be an ever-present in the Rovers side throughout the 2009–10 season, appearing in all 46 league games for the club.
In 2010, Sullivan signed a one-year-contract extension for the Rovers, meaning he would be at the club until the end of the 2010/11 campaign. However, he had an injury-hit season, and was eventually replaced by Gary Woods
as no.1. However, at the end of the season, he signed another one-year extension.
. He was named in the Scottish squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
in France, but was an unused substitute in all of Scotland's three matches.
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...
-born Scottish
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...
ex-international professional Association footballer. A goalkeeper, Sullivan currently plays for Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
after signing on a permanent basis from 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...
at the end of the 2006–07 season, following two loan moves to Doncaster. He has 28 full caps for Scotland.
Wimbledon
Sullivan began his career with local club WimbledonWimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
in 1988, amassing a total of 224 appearances between 1988 and 2000. It was during his tenure at Wimbledon that Sullivan was often acknowledged as one of the best goalkeepers in the league marked by his selection for the division's 1997–98 team of the season.
Sullivan was the goalkeeper against whom David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
scored a goal from the halfway line, while he was off his line. He also played one game on loan for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in 1992.
Spurs & Chelsea
In 2000, Sullivan moved to Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
from Wimbledon, where he made over 80 appearances. He then moved to 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 the 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season, playing eight times for them.
Leeds United
In June 2004, he was signed by ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
team 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...
, by manager Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Patrick Blackwell is an English former professional football goalkeeper who since retiring as a player has worked as a coach and a manager. He has an identical twin, Noel.-Early career:...
to replace Paul Robinson who had left Leeds to join Tottenham. Sullivan beat off competition for number one spot from young goalkeeper Scott Carson
Scott Carson
Scott Paul Carson is an English footballer who plays for Bursaspor as a goalkeeper.He joined the Leeds United football academy in 2002, making his full first team debut for Leeds against Manchester United in February 2004...
. In his first season (2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
), he was voted as the club's Player of the Year after some superb saves throughout the season, including saving several penalties for Leeds. Leeds finished 10 points off the playoffs after a season of rebuilding. In his second season at Leeds, they reached the playoff final against Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, with Sullivan again having a decent season. But the playoff final ended in disaster for Sullivan with Leeds losing 3–0 to Watford and Sullivan being at fault for the second goal.
Due to an injury picked up in the pre-season match against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, Sullivan made few appearances in the 2006–07 campaign for Leeds, with loan goalkeeper Tony Warner
Tony Warner
Anthony Randolph "Tony" Warner is a Trinidad and Tobago international football goalkeeper who currently plays for the Wellington Phoenix.-Footballing career:...
filling in whilst Sullivan was injured. Kevin Blackwell was sacked and replaced by Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
. Wise decided to sign Graham Stack on loan to compete with Warner and Sullivan. On 23 November 2006, he moved on loan to Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. His loan was however cut short and he returned to Leeds on 21 December 2006. Manager Dennis Wise told the press after Leeds' 2–1 victory against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
that Sullivan had put on weight, and his performances were not as good, hence his loan to Doncaster. Leeds signed Casper Ankergren
Casper Ankergren
Casper Ankergren is a Danish professional football goalkeeper currently playing for English team Brighton & Hove Albion...
as the new number one goalkeeper. Sullivan re-signed on loan for Doncaster Rovers in February 2007. After the end of his loan at Doncaster, Sullivan returned to Leeds but was released at the end of his contract.
Doncaster Rovers
On 15 May 2007, returning to Doncaster shortly afterwards. He has since then been the first team keeper and his consistent performances throughout the 2007–08 season helped Doncaster to promotion. He made an error in the 2–1 loss to Yeovil TownYeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
on 21 March 2008, mis-controlling a backpass which led to a Yeovil goal, but the disappointment of this mistake was over-shadowed by a very successful season between the sticks, in which Sullivan kept an impressive 20 clean sheets.
He overcame this to help Doncaster win promotion to the Championship with a playoff final win over former club Leeds United, leaving them in the third tier of the Football League for at least another year.
Sullivan was also credited with a man-of-the-match performance against 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...
on 24 January 2009 which gave Doncaster a 0–0 draw that helped keep them in 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...
.
The veteran goalkeeper continued to be an ever-present in the Rovers side throughout the 2009–10 season, appearing in all 46 league games for the club.
In 2010, Sullivan signed a one-year-contract extension for the Rovers, meaning he would be at the club until the end of the 2010/11 campaign. However, he had an injury-hit season, and was eventually replaced by Gary Woods
Gary Woods (footballer)
Gary Woods is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Doncaster Rovers.-Manchester United:Woods joined Manchester United from Cambridge United in July 2007 after trials with a host of Premier League sides, including Arsenal...
as no.1. However, at the end of the season, he signed another one-year extension.
International career
Sullivan has also been capped 28 times by ScotlandScotland 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...
. He was named in the Scottish squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
in France, but was an unused substitute in all of Scotland's three matches.
Club
| Club | Season | Division | League | 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... |
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... |
FA Trophy FA Trophy The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams... |
Europe | Play Offs Football League Play-Offs The Football League play-offs are an annual series of football matches to determine some of the promotion places within the Football League. Essentially, each division of the league offers a certain number of automatic promotion places to the top two or three clubs. A further promotion place is... |
Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1989–90 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
First Division 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.... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... (Loan) |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1992–93 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1993–94 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1994–95 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1995–96 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1996–97 | 36 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 50 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 38 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 44 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1998–99 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 46 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 44 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Wimbledon Total | 181 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 18 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 224 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
Premier League | 35 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||
| 43 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2001–02 | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 38 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2002–03 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 39 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| Tottenham Hotspur Total | 64 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 81 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | 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... |
Premier League | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||
| 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Chelsea Total | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 Leeds United A.F.C. season During the 2004–05 English football season, Leeds United A.F.C. competed in the Football League Championship, having been relegated from the FA Premier League last season after 14 years in the top flight... |
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... |
Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... |
46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||
| 50 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2005–06 2005–06 Leeds United A.F.C. season During the 2005–06 English football season, Leeds United competed in the Football League Championship, their second consecutive season at this level. The club managed to reach the play-off final, but lost to .-First-team squad:... |
42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 3 | 0 | 50 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2006–07 2006–07 Leeds United A.F.C. season During the 2006–07 English football season, Leeds United competed in the Football League Championship.-Season summary:The 2006–07 season started badly with Leeds conceding late goals in several matches, and in September 2006 Blackwell's contract as manager of Leeds United was terminated. Leeds... |
7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 10 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2006–07 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... (Loan) |
League One Football League One Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system.... |
3 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 14 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Leeds United Total | 95 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 0 | 110 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
League One Football League One Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system.... |
46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| 3 | 0 | 55 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2008–09 | Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... |
46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| 51 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2009–10 2009–10 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season The 2009–10 Football League Championship was Doncaster Rovers F.C.s second season in the Championship. This article shows statistics of the club's players in the season, and also lists all matches that the club has played during the 2009–10 season.-Legend:... |
45 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 47 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2010–11 2010–11 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season The 2010–11 season will be the 131st season in Doncaster Rovers Football Club's existence, and their 3rd consecutive year in the second tier of English football.-Pre-season:Doncaster's first pre-season friendly is an away game against local team Askern Villa... |
31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 34 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2011–12 2011–12 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season -Kits:Doncaster continue with Nike as their kit suppliers and One Call Insurance as their shirt sponsor. Their home kit contains Doncaster's traditional broad red and white hoops however this season they have opted for black trimmings on their kit and the red shorts and socks replace last season... |
9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Doncaster Rovers Total | 193 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 213 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 50 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 637 | 0 | ||||
External links
- Neil Sullivan player profile at doncasterroversfc.co.uk
- Neil Sullivan player profile at leedsunited.com