Lewis Neal
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{for|the American football player|Lewis Neal (American football)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Lewis Neal
| image = Lewis Neal (29461608480) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Neal playing for Orlando City B in 2016
| fullname = Lewis Ryan Neal
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1981|7|14}}
| birth_place = Leicester, England
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = 1998–2000 | youthclubs1 = Stoke City
| years1 = 2000–2005 | clubs1 = Stoke City | caps1 = 70 | goals1 = 2
| years2 = 2001 | clubs2 = → ÍBV (loan) | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2005–2009 | clubs3 = Preston North End | caps3 = 65 | goals3 = 5
| years4 = 2008 | clubs4 = → Notts County (loan) | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2009 | clubs5 = Carlisle United | caps5 = 16 | goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2009–2011 | clubs6 = Shrewsbury Town | caps6 = 31 | goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2011 | clubs7 = Orlando City | caps7 = 21 | goals7 = 4
| years8 = 2012–2014 | clubs8 = D.C. United | caps8 = 53 | goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2015 | clubs9 = Orlando City | caps9 = 21 | goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2016–2017 | clubs10 = Orlando City B | caps10 = 49 | goals10 = 5
| years11 = 2018–2019 | clubs11 = Orlando SeaWolves (indoor) | caps11 = 18 | goals11 = 4
| manageryears1 = 2021–2022 | managerclubs1 = Central Florida Panthers (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2022–2023 | managerclubs2 = Miami FC (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2023 | managerclubs3 = Miami FC (interim)
}}
Lewis Ryan Neal (born 14 July 1981) is an English former professional footballer.
Career
Neal started his career at Stoke City, making his debut in the Football League Trophy on 6 December 2000 against Scarborough. He went on loan to Icelandic side Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja before returning to Stoke. He played 70 league games and scored 2 goals for Stoke before signing for Preston North End in 2005 in a player swap deal for Marlon Broomes.
On 31 October 2008, Neal signed a month-long loan deal with Notts County,
{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/7702295.stm|title=Magpies swoop for Neal loan deal|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 October 2008 |access-date=2 July 2009}} and made his debut at home to Bury.
After playing 65 league games for Preston, Neal was allowed to join Carlisle United on 30 January 2009, after agreeing to a termination package. He signed a contract to the end of the season.
{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/7862544.stm|title=Winger Neal makes Carlisle switch|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2009 |access-date=2 July 2009}} He made his Carlisle debut in the 1–1 home draw against Walsall, but at the end of the season manager Greg Abbott decided to release him.
A day after his contract expired with Carlisle on 2 July 2009, Neal signed a two-year contract with League Two club Shrewsbury Town.
{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/shrewsbury/8131297.stm|title=Shrewsbury complete Neal signing|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 July 2009 |access-date=2 July 2009}}
On 22 January 2011, he was released by Shrewsbury Town, by mutual consent. He moved to the United States and entered training camp with Orlando City Soccer Club of the USL Pro league, the third tier of US Soccer. He scored the team's first ever goal on 19 February in a friendly against Philadelphia Union.[http://orlandocitysoccer.com/news/index.html?article_id=58 Orlando City Soccer Club: News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823202932/http://orlandocitysoccer.com/news/index.html?article_id=58 |date=23 August 2011 }}. Orlandocitysoccer.com. Lewis signed with Orlando on 21 March 2011.[http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4169671 Orlando City Signs English Championship Veteran – OurSports Central – Independent and Minor League Sports News]. OurSports Central (21 March 2011).
In early 2012, Neal was on trial with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer but was not offered a contract.[http://theshinguardian.com/2012/02/21/team-building-exercises-with-garth-lagerway/ Team Building Exercises With Garth Lagerway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104092526/http://theshinguardian.com/2012/02/21/team-building-exercises-with-garth-lagerway/ |date=4 November 2013 }}. Theshinguardian.com. He signed into the league with D.C. United on 13 March 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.dcunited.com/news/2012/03/lewis-neal-acquired|title=Lewis Neal acquired|work=DC United}} During his time with D.C., he scored the lone goal in the 2013 U.S. Open Cup final against Real Salt Lake, giving D.C. their third Open Cup title.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dcunited.com/post/2013/10/02/dc-united-wins-2013-us-open-cup-13th-major-title|title=D.C. United wins 2013 U.S. Open Cup, 13th major title|date=October 2, 2013|access-date=January 2, 2020}}
After three years with D.C., Neal returned to Florida when he was selected by new franchise Orlando City SC in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. He was released by Orlando at the end of the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-city-lions/on-the-pitch/os-orlando-city-options-tally-hall-lewis-neal-20151124-post.html|title=Orlando City parts ways with goalkeeper Tally Hall|author=Orlando Sentinel|date=25 November 2015|work=OrlandoSentinel.com}} On 17 December, Orlando City confirmed that Neal had been resigned on a two-year deal giving him an extended role with the organization including an academy coaching role, a playing position on the Orlando City B team and media duties.{{cite web|url=http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2015/12/17/lewis-neal-re-joins-orlando-city-family-extended-role|title=Lewis Neal Re-Joins Orlando City Family in Extended Role|work=Orlando City Soccer Club}}
Neal continued his professional career by signing with the Orlando SeaWolves in May 2018, ahead of their inaugural Major Arena Soccer League season.{{cite web |title=SEAWOLVES SIGN EX-ORLANDO CITY LEWIS NEAL |url=https://www.orlandoseawolves.com/news/seawolves-sign-ex-orlando-city-lewis-neal |website=OrlandoSeaWolves.com |access-date=24 December 2019}}
In March 2021, Neal rejoined former SeaWolves coach Tom Traxler by joining the coaching staff of Central Florida Panthers SC of the National Premier Soccer League{{cite web |title=Orlando City alumni Lewis Neal joins the Panthers coaching staff |url=https://cfscpanthers.com/index.php/2021/03/31/welcome-lewis-neal-to-the-panthers/ |website=CFSCPanthers.com |access-date=10 April 2021}}
In June 2023, Anthony Pulis left his position as head coach of USL Championship side Miami FC, and Neal took over as interim head coach.{{cite web |last1=Cozzoli |first1=Matteo |title=Miami FC Announces Departure of Anthony Pulis as Head Coach |url=https://www.miamifc.com/news/2023/06/20/miami-fc-announces-departure-of-anthony-pulis-as-head-coach/ |website=MiamiFC.com |publisher=Miami FC |access-date=3 July 2023}} Neal left the club following the 2023 season.{{cite web |last1=Cozzoli |first1=Matteo |title=Coach Lewis Neal departs Miami FC |url=https://www.miamifc.com/news/2023/11/09/coach-lewis-neal-departs-miami-fc/ |website=MiamiFC.com |publisher=Miami FC |access-date=15 November 2023}}
Personal life
Neal earned his US green card in February 2013.{{cite news|last=Goff |first=Steven |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2013/02/22/d-c-united-news-notes-16/ |title=D.C. United news & notes |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=22 February 2013 |access-date=23 February 2013}} This status qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 24 November 2019}}{{cite web|title=Lewis Neal|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/lewis-neal/15616/|work=Soccerway|access-date=14 December 2013}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other{{ref label|Other|A |
|---|
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="6"|Stoke City
|1||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||3||0
|-
|Second Division
|11||0||2||0||0||0||1||1||14||1
|-
|16||0||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||19||0
|-
|First Division
|19||1||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||22||1
|-
|23||1||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||24||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!70!!2!!6!!0!!3!!0!!3!!1!!82!!3
|-
|ÍBV (loan)
|2001
|5||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||5||1
|-
|rowspan="4"|Preston North End
|Championship
|24||2||4||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||29||2
|-
|Championship
|24||1||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||26||1
|-
|Championship
|17||2||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||18||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!70!!6!!7!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!78!!6
|-
|Notts County (loan)
|4||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||6||0
|-
|16||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||16||1
|-
|rowspan="3"|Shrewsbury Town
|League Two
|29||2||1||0||0||0||1||0||31||2
|-
|League Two
|2||0||0||0||1||0||2||0||5||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!51!!3!!3!!0!!1!!0!!3!!0!!58!!3
|-
|2011
|21||4||1||0||0||0||0||0||22||4
|-
|rowspan="4"|D.C. United
|2012
|22||2||2||0||0||0||0||0||24||2
|-
|2013
|9||0||1||0||0||0||3||1||12||1
|-
|2014
|27||0||1||0||0||0||3||0||31||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!79!!6!!5!!0!!0!!0!!6!!1!!90!!7
|-
|2015
|21||0||1||1||0||0||0||0||22||1
|-
|rowspan="2"|Orlando City B
|2016
|25||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||25||2
|-
|2017
|24||3||0||0||0||0||0||0||25||3
|-
|rowspan="2"|Orlando SeaWolves
|2018
|15||4||0||0||0||0||0||0||15||4
|-
|2019
|2||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career Total
!357!!27!!22!!1!!5!!0!!12!!2!!396!!29
|}
{{refbegin}}
:A. {{note|Other}} The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League play-offs, Football League Trophy and CONCACAF Champions League.
{{refend}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{soccerway|lewis-neal/15616}}
{{Miami FC managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neal, Lewis}}
Category:Footballers from Leicester
Category:English men's footballers
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Stoke City F.C. players
Category:Preston North End F.C. players
Category:Notts County F.C. players
Category:Carlisle United F.C. players
Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players
Category:Orlando City SC (2010–2014) players
Category:Orlando City SC players
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Iceland
Category:English Football League players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Iceland
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Orlando City B players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Orlando SeaWolves players
Category:Major Arena Soccer League players
Category:National Premier Soccer League coaches