John Neal (Welsh footballer)

{{short description|Welsh footballer}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = John Neal

|image =

| image_size =

|caption =

|fullname = John Edward Neal

|birth_date = {{birth date|1899|11|29 |df=y}}

|birth_place = Llandudno, Wales

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1965|1|14|1899|6|4|df=y}}

|death_place = Rhos on Sea, Denbighshire, Wales

|height =

|position = Centre forward, inside left

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 = 1919–1921

|clubs1 = UCNW Bangor

|caps1 =

|goals1 =

|years2 = 1921–1924

|clubs2 = Llandudno

|caps2 =

|goals2 =

|years3 = 1924–1929

|clubs3 = Colwyn Bay United

|caps3 =

|goals3 =

|years4 = 1929–1930

|clubs4 = Wrexham

|caps4 = 17

|goals4 = 3

|years5 = 1930–1931

|clubs5 = Colwyn Bay United

|caps5 =

|goals5 =

|totalcaps =

|totalgoals =

|nationalyears1 = 1930

|nationalteam1 = Wales

|nationalcaps1 = 2

|nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 =

| managerclubs1 = Colwyn Bay United

}}

John Edward Neal (29 November 1899 – 14 January 1965) was a Welsh international footballer who played for UCNW Bangor, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Wrexham. He was part of the Wales national football team, playing 2 matches. He played his first match on 25 October 1930 against Scotland and his last match on 22 November 1930 against England.{{cite web|url=http://eu-football.info/_players.php?id=218|title=Wales player database 1872 to 2013|publisher=eu-football.info|accessdate=30 April 2016}}

The Unknowns

The Football League refused to allow clubs to release players for internationals if it clashed with a League game. Welsh selectors were forced to pick home based players, including Llandudno-born Neal. The team dubbed 'the Unknowns' and captained by Cardiff City's Fred Keenor gained a 1–1 draw against Scotland at Glasgow's Ibrox Park in October 1930. Neal won his second and final cap in the next match, a 4–0 defeat by England in Wrexham the following month.

See also

References