Neville Southall
Encyclopedia
Neville Southall MBE
(born 16 September 1958) is a former Wales
international footballer, best known for his time with Everton
. He has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985. He was awarded the MBE
in 1995 for his services to football.
Southall joined Everton in 1981 and went on to make a club record 578 appearances in the Football League
and Premier League (750 in all competitions) and helped the team to win a number of honours including the league championship and FA Cup
on two occasions each and the European Cup Winners Cup. He also played internationally for Wales
, winning a record 92 caps
between 1982 and 1998.
Since his retirement as a player, Southall has managed a number of non-league
teams with little success and has coached the Welsh national youth teams.
, he played youth football as centre back
for his school team and the Llandudno Swifts, where he played alongside Joey Jones
.
As a teenager, Southall had unsuccessful trials at Crewe Alexandra
and Bolton
. He then worked as a binman
, waiter and hod carrier and therefore entered the game relatively late.
, Bury paying Winsford United
£6,000. He played 39 Fourth Division
games in the 1980–81 season
, his performances attracting the attention of Howard Kendall
. In 1981 he signed with First Division
Everton
for £150,000. He spent January and February 1983 on loan at Port Vale
, back in the Fourth Division, he played nine games before being re-called to Goodison Park
.
He became one of Everton's longest serving players and also one of its most iconic, enjoying early success in the 1980s.
In the 1983–84 season Southall and Everton made two appearances at Wembley in the Milk Cup
final which was ultimately lost to Liverpool in a replay, and the FA Cup
final
, which brought home the first of piece of silverware during a the most successful era in Everton's history.
Southall's form in 1984–85 helped Everton win the league title, and the European Cup Winners' Cup but was only a Norman Whiteside goal from a possible treble, after the FA Cup final
went to extra time before Everton lost 1–0 to Manchester United. Southall was named Football Writers Footballer of the Year in 1985, one of only four goalkeepers to win the award.
He missed a third successive FA Cup Final, in 1986
, due to injury and his deputy Bobby Mimms
took his place for the clash with Liverpool, which ended in a 3–1 defeat, and narrowly missed out on another championship. However a further championship winners medal was achieved in 1986–87.
In 1989, Southall was between the sticks in another all-Merseyside final. As had happened in 1986, the FA Cup final
saw Everton losing to Liverpool, this time with a 3–2 scoreline after extra time. Halfway through the 1989–90 season, with Jim Leighton
under fire for Manchester United's dismal league form, there was a rumour that Alex Ferguson
would bring Southall to Old Trafford
, but the transfer never happened and United signed Les Sealey
from Luton Town
instead.
During the opening match of the 1990–91 season, he famously sat down during a "sulking session" against a goalpost at half-time whilst his teammates were still in the changing rooms while three goals down to newly promoted Leeds United
(a game eventually lost 3–2), a lasting image which epitomised the era. This was a turbulent time for Southall as he handed in several transfer requests throughout the season and did so further on in his Everton career.
By now Everton were a declining force, however Southall remained a constant fixture for the blues and his loyalty was rewarded in 1995 when he turned in a man of the match
performance to thwart Manchester United
in the FA Cup
final and claim his first silverware for eight years, when Everton had been league champions.
Southall was also given a testimonial
against Celtic
in 1995 for his services to Everton.
In December 1997 the ageing Southall went to Southend United
of Division Two
on loan, he played nine games before moving on to Stoke City
in February 1998. The move to Stoke was made permanent the following month, Everton allowing him to leave on a free transfer after 18 years. At the end of the season
he was released, before he signed with Torquay United
of the Third Division
in December 1998. Now aged 40, he was still fit enough to play 61 competitive games before departing in February 2000. He made a remarkable return to the Premier League by signing with Bradford City
. He appeared at Valley Parade
on 12 March 2000, at the age of 41, conceding two to Leeds United
's Michael Bridges
(20 years his junior) in a 2–1 defeat. He remains one of the oldest players ever to have appeared in the Premier League.
Moving on from Bradford at the end of the 2000–01 season
he later turned out for York City
, Rhyl
, Shrewsbury Town
, Dover Athletic
and Dagenham & Redbridge
. By 2002 his career as a player had finally come to an end at the grand old age of 44.
caps
are a national record, he conceded 126 goals, for an average of 1.34 per match. The 1958 FIFA World Cup
is the only time Wales qualified for a major tournament and the British Home Championship
was played for the final time in 1984
, therefore the majority of Southall's caps came in friendlies
or qualifying games.
He was between the sticks for Wales in the fateful World Cup qualifier at Ninian Park
on 10 September 1985, when their hopes of qualification ended when Scotland
scored a late equaliser to force a 1–1 draw. However, the result of the game was put into perspective when Scotland manager Jock Stein
suffered a heart attack at the end of the game and died shortly afterwards.
His first cap came against Northern Ireland
at the Racecourse Ground
, Wrexham
on 27 May 1982 in the 1982 British Home Championship
, Wales won 3–0. Fifteen years later, a month away from his 39th birthday, he won his final cap, a World Cup qualifying
game against Turkey
on 20 August 1997, the Turks won 6–4, though Southall only played half the match.
following the dismissal of Bobby Gould
after a 4–0 defeat against Italy
on 5 June 1999. In his only game in charge Wales lost 2–0 to Denmark
on 9 June 1999. After his playing days were over, in September 2000 Southall applied for the vacant management position at Fram Reykjavik in Iceland
. He later gained coaching experience with the Welsh national squad, Dagenham & Redbridge
, Canvey Island
and Molesey
before becoming manager of Dover Athletic
in December 2001. His managing stint at the Kent club was short and he was sacked in March 2002, after only a few months in charge.
He had a spell as Wales under-19 coach, but quit his post in November, claiming he was treated with "a total lack of respect" and that the coaching was compromised because "...as always, it's about money." FAW
management committee chairman Ken Tucker made a stinging rebuke, saying: "Nev is making comments on things he knows little about. It is sad when people make comments without any knowledge of the finances of the FAW."
A month after resigning from the national scene, Southall returned to management with Hastings United
. However just one year on he was sacked, with the Hastings chairman saying that "there have recently been an increasing number of issues on which Neville and I have disagreed and it had got to the point where our working relationship had broken down, beyond the point of repair, as far as I was concerned".
In November 2005, Paul Merson
and Walsall
approached Southall, ex-England
star David Seaman
and Chris Woods
to perform in an FA Cup
game at Merthyr Tydfil
as their two first choice goalkeepers, Joe Murphy and Andy Oakes
, were unavailable. Southall decline the offer.
In 2008, he became part of the coaching team at Margate
in the Isthmian League Premier Division, However in 2009 he became the caretaker Manager after Terry Yorath
resigned as manager after just one season in charge of the club.
, with a legal bill of £6,000.
Southall teaches academy football for 10 hours a week at Chaucer Technology School in Canterbury
, Kent
, and has also taught tennis
and cross country running
.
Individual
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(born 16 September 1958) is a former 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...
international footballer, best known for his time with Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. He has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985. He was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 1995 for his services to football.
Southall joined Everton in 1981 and went on to make a club record 578 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...
and Premier League (750 in all competitions) and helped the team to win a number of honours including the league championship and 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...
on two occasions each and the European Cup Winners Cup. He also played internationally for 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...
, winning a record 92 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...
between 1982 and 1998.
Since his retirement as a player, Southall has managed a number of non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
teams with little success and has coached the Welsh national youth teams.
Early life
A native of LlandudnoLlandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
, he played youth football as centre back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for his school team and the Llandudno Swifts, where he played alongside Joey Jones
Joey Jones
For other persons named Joey Jones, see Joey Jones.For other similarly named people, see Joseph Jones or Joe Jones.Joseph Patrick "Joey" Jones is a former Wales international football full-back who played for Liverpool for three seasons, including the 1977 season, in which they chased "the...
.
As a teenager, Southall had unsuccessful trials at Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
and Bolton
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. He then worked as a binman
Waste collector
A waste collector is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and remove refuse and recyclables from residential, commercial, industrial or other collection site for further processing and disposal...
, waiter and hod carrier and therefore entered the game relatively late.
Club career
In 1980 he joined BuryBury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, Bury paying Winsford United
Winsford United F.C.
Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1883 and is nicknamed The Blues...
£6,000. He played 39 Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
games in the 1980–81 season
1980-81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
, his performances attracting the attention of Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall is an English football manager and former player. He is most famous for his connection to Everton, a club that he both played for and managed. His uncle Harry Taylor played for Newcastle United and Fulham in the 1950s....
. In 1981 he signed with 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....
Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
for £150,000. He spent January and February 1983 on loan at 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...
, back in the Fourth Division, he played nine games before being re-called to Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
.
He became one of Everton's longest serving players and also one of its most iconic, enjoying early success in the 1980s.
In the 1983–84 season Southall and Everton made two appearances at Wembley in the Milk Cup
1984 Football League Cup Final
The 1984 Milk Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool and Everton. Liverpool were extremely fortunate to make it to the final of the competition after knocking out a Walsall side from the 4th Division who most neutrals and pundits would agree were the superior team at Anfield...
final which was ultimately lost to Liverpool in a replay, and 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...
final
1984 FA Cup Final
The 1984 FA Cup Final was contested by Everton and Watford at Wembley. Everton won 2–0, with one goal by Graeme Sharp and a particularly memorable goal from Andy Gray. He was adjudged by many to have fouled the Watford goalkeeper Steve Sherwood by heading the ball from Sherwood's hands....
, which brought home the first of piece of silverware during a the most successful era in Everton's history.
Southall's form in 1984–85 helped Everton win the league title, and the European Cup Winners' Cup but was only a Norman Whiteside goal from a possible treble, after the FA Cup final
1985 FA Cup Final
The 1985 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United and holders Everton at Wembley Stadium. United won by a single goal, scored in extra time by Norman Whiteside....
went to extra time before Everton lost 1–0 to Manchester United. Southall was named Football Writers Footballer of the Year in 1985, one of only four goalkeepers to win the award.
He missed a third successive FA Cup Final, in 1986
1986 FA Cup Final
The 1986 FA Cup Final was a Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton at Wembley. The match was played seven days after Liverpool had secured the league title, with Everton finishing as runners-up...
, due to injury and his deputy Bobby Mimms
Bobby Mimms
Robert Andrew "Bobby" Mimms is an English former football goalkeeper.-Playing career:Born in York, Mimms began his footballing career as an apprentice at Halifax Town. However, he failed to break into the first team and joined Rotherham United in November 1981 for a fee of £15,000...
took his place for the clash with Liverpool, which ended in a 3–1 defeat, and narrowly missed out on another championship. However a further championship winners medal was achieved in 1986–87.
In 1989, Southall was between the sticks in another all-Merseyside final. As had happened in 1986, the FA Cup final
1989 FA Cup Final
The 1989 FA Cup Final was the final of the 1988–89 FA Cup, the top football knockout competition in England. The match was a Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton, played at Wembley Stadium, London, on 20 May 1989. Liverpool won 3–2 after extra time, with goals from John Aldridge and two...
saw Everton losing to Liverpool, this time with a 3–2 scoreline after extra time. Halfway through the 1989–90 season, with Jim Leighton
Jim Leighton
James "Jim" Leighton MBE is a Scottish former football goalkeeper. Among the clubs he played for are Aberdeen , Manchester United, Arsenal, Dundee and Hibernian.-Club:...
under fire for Manchester United's dismal league form, there was a rumour that Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
would bring Southall to Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, but the transfer never happened and United signed Les Sealey
Les Sealey
Leslie Jesse "Les" Sealey was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for, among others, Coventry City, Luton Town, Manchester United, Aston Villa and West Ham United...
from Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
instead.
During the opening match of the 1990–91 season, he famously sat down during a "sulking session" against a goalpost at half-time whilst his teammates were still in the changing rooms while three goals down to newly promoted 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...
(a game eventually lost 3–2), a lasting image which epitomised the era. This was a turbulent time for Southall as he handed in several transfer requests throughout the season and did so further on in his Everton career.
By now Everton were a declining force, however Southall remained a constant fixture for the blues and his loyalty was rewarded in 1995 when he turned in a man of the match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
performance to thwart Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
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...
final and claim his first silverware for eight years, when Everton had been league champions.
Southall was also given a testimonial
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
against Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in 1995 for his services to Everton.
In December 1997 the ageing Southall went to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
of Division Two
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...
on loan, he played nine games before moving on to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in February 1998. The move to Stoke was made permanent the following month, Everton allowing him to leave on a free transfer after 18 years. At the end of the season
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
he was released, before he signed with Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
of the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in December 1998. Now aged 40, he was still fit enough to play 61 competitive games before departing in February 2000. He made a remarkable return to the Premier League by signing with Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. He appeared at Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
on 12 March 2000, at the age of 41, conceding two to 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...
's Michael Bridges
Michael Bridges
Michael Bridges is an English football striker who currently plays for A-League club, Newcastle Jets. Bridge has previously played over 200 Premier League games.-Sunderland:...
(20 years his junior) in a 2–1 defeat. He remains one of the oldest players ever to have appeared in the Premier League.
Moving on from Bradford at the end of the 2000–01 season
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
he later turned out for York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
, Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
, Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic F.C.
Dover Athletic Football Club is an association football team based in the town of Dover, Kent, England. The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town's previous club, Dover, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club...
and Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
. By 2002 his career as a player had finally come to an end at the grand old age of 44.
International career
His 92 WelshWales 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...
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...
are a national record, he conceded 126 goals, for an average of 1.34 per match. The 1958 FIFA World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
is the only time Wales qualified for a major tournament and the British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
was played for the final time in 1984
1984 British Home Championship
The 1984 British Home Championship was the one hundredth anniversary of the British Home Championship and the final football tournament between the Home Nations to be held, with both England and Scotland announcing their withdrawal from future competition, citing waning interest in the games,...
, therefore the majority of Southall's caps came in friendlies
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
or qualifying games.
He was between the sticks for Wales in the fateful World Cup qualifier at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
on 10 September 1985, when their hopes of qualification ended when 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...
scored a late equaliser to force a 1–1 draw. However, the result of the game was put into perspective when Scotland manager Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
suffered a heart attack at the end of the game and died shortly afterwards.
His first cap came against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
at the Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
, Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
on 27 May 1982 in the 1982 British Home Championship
1982 British Home Championship
The 1982 British Home Championship between the British Home Nations was won by a dominant England football team which won all three of its matches as the tournament returned after being abandoned in 1981 due to civil distubances in Northern Ireland...
, Wales won 3–0. Fifteen years later, a month away from his 39th birthday, he won his final cap, a World Cup qualifying
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone .A total of 50 UEFA teams entered the competition. The European zone was allocated 15 places in the final tournament...
game against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
on 20 August 1997, the Turks won 6–4, though Southall only played half the match.
Coaching and management career
Still active he was appointed caretaker manager of WalesWales 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...
following the dismissal of Bobby Gould
Bobby Gould
Robert Anthony "Bobby" Gould is an English former footballer and manager.-Playing career:Born in Coventry, Gould started his career at Coventry City, making his debut for the club whilst still an apprentice at the age of 16. He did not sign professional until June 1964...
after a 4–0 defeat against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
on 5 June 1999. In his only game in charge Wales lost 2–0 to Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
on 9 June 1999. After his playing days were over, in September 2000 Southall applied for the vacant management position at Fram Reykjavik in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. He later gained coaching experience with the Welsh national squad, Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
, Canvey Island
Canvey Island F.C.
Canvey Island F.C, known as the Gulls or Yellow Army, are an English football club founded in 1926 that play in the Isthmian League Premier Division....
and Molesey
Molesey F.C.
Molesey F.C. is an English football club based in West Molesey, Surrey. The club are currently members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division and play at the Walton Road Stadium.-History:...
before becoming manager of Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic F.C.
Dover Athletic Football Club is an association football team based in the town of Dover, Kent, England. The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town's previous club, Dover, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club...
in December 2001. His managing stint at the Kent club was short and he was sacked in March 2002, after only a few months in charge.
He had a spell as Wales under-19 coach, but quit his post in November, claiming he was treated with "a total lack of respect" and that the coaching was compromised because "...as always, it's about money." FAW
Football Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
management committee chairman Ken Tucker made a stinging rebuke, saying: "Nev is making comments on things he knows little about. It is sad when people make comments without any knowledge of the finances of the FAW."
A month after resigning from the national scene, Southall returned to management with Hastings United
Hastings United F.C.
Hastings United is a semi-professional English football club who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division and are affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association and the Hastings Football Association....
. However just one year on he was sacked, with the Hastings chairman saying that "there have recently been an increasing number of issues on which Neville and I have disagreed and it had got to the point where our working relationship had broken down, beyond the point of repair, as far as I was concerned".
In November 2005, Paul Merson
Paul Merson
Paul Charles Merson is a retired English football player, and former player-manager of Walsall. His playing career has included spells at Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and finishing his playing career at Tamworth. He also played for England 21 times...
and Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
approached Southall, ex-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...
star David Seaman
David Seaman
David Andrew Seaman MBE is a former English football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, most notably Arsenal. He retired from the game on 13 January 2004, following a recurring shoulder injury...
and Chris Woods
Chris Woods
Christopher 'Chris' Charles Eric Woods is a former England international football goalkeeper, who played in the Football League and Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Southampton and Burnley, in the Scottish Football League for Rangers, and in Major...
to perform in an 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...
game at Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil F.C.
Merthyr Tydfil Football Club was a Welsh football club based at the Penydarren Park ground in Merthyr Tydfil. In 2010 the club was liquidated and reformed under the name Merthyr Town, which was accepted into Division One of the Western League.-History:...
as their two first choice goalkeepers, Joe Murphy and Andy Oakes
Andy Oakes (footballer)
Andrew Mark 'Andy' Oakes is an English former football goalkeeper. His uncle is the legendary Manchester City midfielder Alan Oakes...
, were unavailable. Southall decline the offer.
In 2008, he became part of the coaching team at Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
in the Isthmian League Premier Division, However in 2009 he became the caretaker Manager after Terry Yorath
Terry Yorath
Terence Charles Yorath is a former footballer and has been a manager at both club and international level. He is also the father of television presenter Gabby Logan....
resigned as manager after just one season in charge of the club.
Personal life
In December 2007, Southall recovered the medals and trophies he had previously given to his teenage daughter, following successful legal action through the Liverpool courts. The case left his daughter, a studentStudent
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
, with a legal bill of £6,000.
Southall teaches academy football for 10 hours a week at Chaucer Technology School in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, and has also taught tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
.
Honours
- European Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
- Winner: 1985
- 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: 1984–85, 1986–87
- Runners-up: 1985–86
- 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...
- Winners: 19841984 FA Cup FinalThe 1984 FA Cup Final was contested by Everton and Watford at Wembley. Everton won 2–0, with one goal by Graeme Sharp and a particularly memorable goal from Andy Gray. He was adjudged by many to have fouled the Watford goalkeeper Steve Sherwood by heading the ball from Sherwood's hands....
, 1995 - Runners-up: 19851985 FA Cup FinalThe 1985 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United and holders Everton at Wembley Stadium. United won by a single goal, scored in extra time by Norman Whiteside....
, 19891989 FA Cup FinalThe 1989 FA Cup Final was the final of the 1988–89 FA Cup, the top football knockout competition in England. The match was a Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton, played at Wembley Stadium, London, on 20 May 1989. Liverpool won 3–2 after extra time, with goals from John Aldridge and two...
- Winners: 1984
- Football League CupFootball League CupThe 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...
- Runners-up: 19841984 Football League Cup FinalThe 1984 Milk Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool and Everton. Liverpool were extremely fortunate to make it to the final of the competition after knocking out a Walsall side from the 4th Division who most neutrals and pundits would agree were the superior team at Anfield...
- Runners-up: 1984
- FA Charity 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: 1984, 19851985 FA Charity ShieldThe 1985 FA Charity Shield was the 63rd FA Charity Shield, an annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup competitions. The match was played on 10 August 1985 at Wembley Stadium and contested by Everton, who had won the 1984–85 First Division,...
, 19951995 FA Charity ShieldThe 1995 FA Charity Shield was the 73rd FA Charity Shield, an annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup competitions. The match was played on 13 August 1995 at Wembley Stadium and contested by Blackburn Rovers, who had won the Premier League... - Shared: 19861986 FA Charity ShieldThe 1986 FA Charity Shield was a Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton at Wembley. Liverpool achieved a Football League and FA Cup double in 1985–86 so their opponents in the Charity Shield match were Everton who finished as runners-up in both competitions...
- Winners: 1984, 1985
Individual
- FWA Footballer of the Year: 1985
- Football League 100 LegendsFootball League 100 LegendsThe Football League 100 Legends is a list of 100 great association football players who played part or all of their professional career in English Premier season of League football...
: 1998