Bob McNeil

Robert McNeil (24 November 1890 – 21 February 1948) was a Scottish footballer who played for Hamilton Academical and Chelsea. He was a neat outside left who dribbled well and had an accurate shot.[3]

For the Sunderland and Greenock Morton player, see Robert McNeill (footballer).
For other people with the same name, see Robert MacNeil (disambiguation).

Bob McNeil
Personal information
Full name Robert McNeil
Date of birth 24 November 1890
Place of birth Springburn, Scotland
Date of death 21 February 1948(1948-02-21) (aged 57)[1]
Place of death Hamilton, Scotland
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Outside left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Wishaw Palace Rangers
Shettleston
1910–1914 Hamilton Academical 100 (14)
1914–1927 Chelsea 279 (27)
1915–1916 → Motherwell (loan) 10 (3)
1916–1919 → Hamilton Academical (loan) 87 (16)
1919 → Motherwell (loan) 1 (1)
Total 477 (61)
International career
1912–1913 Scottish League XI[2] 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Club

Born in Springburn, Glasgow, McNeil spent part of his childhood in Wishaw, Lanarkshire. After spells in the Junior grade where his clubs included Shettleston, he joined Hamilton Academical in December 1910[4][5] and quickly established himself, playing in the 1911 Scottish Cup Final which Accies lost to Celtic after a replay.[6]

McNeil transferred to Chelsea from Hamilton Academical in April 1914.[3] He scored on his competitive debut, and was a member of the Blues side that reached the 1915 FA Cup Final. He made a total of 306 appearances for Chelsea and scored a total of 32 goals.[7][8]

During World War I when the English Football League was suspended but the Scottish Football League continued, McNeil returned north for several guest spells, including nearly three full seasons with Hamilton, shorter spells with Motherwell and a single match for Celtic (in the 1918 Glasgow Cup final)[9] before returning to Chelsea.[5][4] He later worked as a trainer at Hamilton.[5][4] Following his death from stomach cancer, he was buried at Cambusnethan Cemetery.[10]

International

McNeil represented the Scottish Football League XI three times in his initial spell at Hamilton,[2][5] and played for both sides in the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots trial matches,[5] but never appeared for Scotland at full international level.

Personal life

His son Willie McNeil also appeared for Hamilton Academical in the late 1930s, playing in the same position.[11]

Honours

Hamilton Academical

Chelsea

References
  1. Death of Bobby M'Neil, The Wishaw Press and Advertiser, 27 February 1948 (scan via Ancestry) (subscription required)
  2. (SFL player) R McNeill [sic], London Hearts Supporters Club
  3. Unknown (1915). Cup Final Programme.
  4. John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. McNeil, Bobby (1910), Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  6. Scottish Cup–Replayed Final, The Glasgow Herald, 17 April 1911 (via The Celtic Wiki)
  7. Glanvill, Rick (2006). Chelsea FC: The Official Biography - The Definitive Story of the First 100 Years. Headline Book Publishing Ltd. p. 406. ISBN 0-7553-1466-2.
  8. Chelsea FC Player Profile: Bobby McNeil, Stamford-bridge.com
  9. (Celtic player) McNeill,?, FitbaStats
  10. Robert "Bobby" McNeil, Find A Grave
  11. McNeil, Willie (1936), Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
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