Steve Neville

Steve Neville (born 18 September 1957 in Walthamstow, England) is an English former professional association footballer. In his 14 season career in the Football League he played in 494 games in which he scored 135 goals for Southampton, Sheffield United, Bristol City and in three spells at Exeter City. In England he was part of two divisional title winning teams and was a winner of the Football League Trophy. Near the end of his playing career he picked up a league champions medal playing for South China AA in Hong Kong.

Player

Southampton

Neville began his career as an apprentice with Southampton. He made half a dozen league appearances for Saints in 1977/78. Managed by Lawrie McMenemy, Southampton finished as runners up in England's second tier earning promotion to English football's top flight.

Exeter City (first spell)

Aged 20, Neville signed for Exeter City in the summer of 1978. This coincided with the beginning of 3 of the best seasons in the club's history in terms of league finishes. The three season spell of Third Division finishes of 9th, 8th and 11th have only been better by the club in the early 30s. He was a regular during the club's stay in the third tier in which he hit 22 goals in his 93 league games. Exeter also enjoyed some creditable cup runs. In Neville's first season there they included League Cup wins against Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers before being knocked out in the fourth round by Graham Taylor's resurgent Watford. The next season Exeter reached the same stage knocking out Birmingham City en route. However Neville did not see out the third of those three seasons with Exeter.

Sheffield United

He joined a Sheffield United side midseason in 1980 who failed to hold their place in the Third Division. The season after The Blades bounced back to win the 1981/82 Fourth Division title under Ian Porterfield's management.

Exeter City (second spell)

Aged 22, in the 1982 close season he rejoined Exeter. The team had already peaked though and Exeter didn't reach the heights they did in Neville's first spell there. Exeter were relegated in 83/84, the season of the ill fated reign of Gerry Francis. In his 92 league games Neville scored 27 goals.

Bristol City

In another mid season transfer he joined Bristol City in 1984 signed by Terry Cooper. In his late 20s, it was here Neville was to play the highest level football of his career. The Robins were competitive in the Third Division throughout Neville's time there, challenging for promotion with finishes of 5th, 9th and 6th. In his fourth season there Bristol City finished fifth meriting a place in the play offs where Walsall ultimately won the final. Neville hit 40 goals from his 134 league games.

Neville and his team mates made it to the 1985/86 Football League Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium. Winning 3-0 against Bolton in front of a crowd of 54,502, Neville picked up the man of the match award. The Robins made it to the final again the season after. However Neville didn't play in the final where his team mates lost to Mansfield Town on penalties. The decisive spot kick was missed by David Moyes.

Exeter City (third spell)

Aged 31, he rejoined Exeter for a third spell in the summer of 1988. Neville was again under Cooper's management. In 88/89 Exeter also enjoyed another League Cup run where Blackburn were eliminated as Exeter reached the fourth round again. They were knocked out by Sunderland in a replay after drawing 2-2 at home.

Neville helped the club win promotion back to Division Three in 1990. At the season's end Neville was selected for the divisional team of the year.

In this spell Neville played in 120 Exeter first team league games in which he scored 39 goals. In total for Exeter in the League he played in 305 games and scored 98 league goals. His meandering dribbling style earned him the terrace chant 'weave'.

South China

In 1991 Neville left to play for South China AA, the historically most successful club in the Hong Kong League. South China ended the season as champions. In what has been described as a great period for Hong Kong domestic football,[1] the runners up were South China's great rivals for four seasons in the early 90s, Eastern AA. As had been the case two seasons before with Exeter, Neville was selected for the divisional team of the year.

After playing

In recent years he has coached in Australia for Western Australian state league side Sorrento, now he is reserve coach and assistant. His son, Scott Neville, is a pro footballer and has represented Australia at age group level.

Honours

References

  1. ↑ "Hong Kong's Greatest Rivalry – South China Versus Eastern AA (Salon)". Wild East Football. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
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