Bobby McNeal explained

Bobby McNeal
Fullname:Robert McNeal
Birth Date:19 January 1891
Birth Place:Hobson, County Durham, England
Death Place:West Bromwich, England
Height:[1]
Position:Left-half
Youthclubs1:Hobson Wanderers
Years1:1910–1925
Clubs1:West Bromwich Albion
Caps1:370
Goals1:9
Totalcaps:370
Totalgoals:9
Nationalyears1:1914
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0

Robert McNeal (19 January 1891 – 15 May 1956) 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. He won the Second Division (1910–11), First Division (1919–20), and Charity Shield (1920), and played in the 1912 FA Cup final.

Early and personal life

Robert McNeal was born on 19 January 1891 in Hobson, near Stanley, County Durham.[2] He was the eldest of three children to John and Hannah (née Bell); his father was a coal miner.[2] He married Emily Elizabeth Howell in 1913 and has two daughters: Rita Marion and Jeanne.[2] After leaving the game, he became a licensee in West Bromwich.[2]

Club career

McNeal played football for the village team before becoming professional with West Bromwich Albion in June 1910. In his first full season he helped the club to the Second Division title. The "Throstles" then finished ninth in the First Division in 1911–12. He also won a runners-up medal in the 1912 FA Cup final when Albion lost 1–0 to Barnsley in a replay at Bramall Lane.[3] Albion went on to post top ten finishes in the league in 1912–13, 1913–14, and 1914–15, before the Football League was suspended due to World War I.

During the war he appeared as a guest player for Fulham, Middlesbrough, Notts County and Port Vale.[4] McNeal was part of West Bromwich Albion's league championship-winning side of 1919–20. The team also won the 1920 Charity Shield with a 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Albion then dropped to 14th and 13th-place finishes in 1920–21 and 1921–22. They finished seventh in 1922–23 and 16th in 1923–24 before posting a second-place finish in 1924–25 – they ended the campaign just two points behind champions Huddersfield Town. In May 1925, McNeal retired through injury and became a licensee of a pub in the West Bromwich area.[5] From 1926 to 1927, McNeal served as Albion's coach on a part-time basis.

International career

McNeal earned two England 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 at Ninian Park.[6] His second and final cap came on 14 April as Scotland ran out 3–1 winners at Hampden Park.[7] 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.

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Bromwich Albion1910–11Second Division29120311
1911–12First Division37080450
1912–13First Division30130331
1913–14First Division36230392
1914–15First Division37210382
1919–20First Division42210432
1920–21First Division37110381
1921–22First Division41030440
1922–23First Division40040440
1923–24First Division29040330
1924–25First Division12000120
Total37093004009

Honours

West Bromwich Albion

1910–11[2]

1919–20[2]

1920[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: First Division prospects. West Bromwich Albion . Hawthorne . Athletic News . Manchester . 22 August 1921 . 6.
  2. Web site: England Players - Bobby McNeal . www.englandfootballonline.com . 13 March 2023.
  3. Book: Matthews, Tony . The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion . Breedon Books . 2005 . 148 . 1-85983-474-4.
  4. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 195. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  5. Book: Betts, Graham . England: Player by player . Green Umbrella Publishing. 2006. 1-905009-63-1. 163.
  6. Web site: Wales 0 – England 2. englandstats.com. 16 June 2009.
  7. Web site: Scotland 3 – England 1. englandstats.com. 16 June 2009.