Matthew O'Neill (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name= Matthew O'Neill
| fullname = Matthew Paul O'Neill{{Cite book
| editor-first = Barry J.
| editor-last = Hugman
| title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/2006
| year = 2005
| publisher = Queen Anne Press
| isbn = 9781852916626
| page = 308 }}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1984|6|25}}
| birth_place = Accrington, England
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = 2000–2003
| youthclubs1 = Burnley
| years1 = 2003–2005 | clubs1 = Burnley | caps1 = 13 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2005 | clubs2 = → Accrington Stanley (loan) | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2005–2006 | clubs3 = Accrington Stanley | caps3 = 3 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2005 | clubs4 = → Radcliffe Borough (loan) | caps4 = 11 | goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2006–2007 | clubs5 = Radcliffe Borough | caps5 = 52 | goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2007–2013 | clubs6 = Ashton United | caps6 = | goals6 =
| years7 = 2013 | clubs7 = Nantwich Town | caps7 = | goals7 =
| years8 = 2013–2015 | clubs8 = Nelson | caps8 = 54 | goals8 = 7
| club-update = 09:33, 17 April 2016 (UTC)
}}
Matthew Paul O'Neill (born 25 June 1984) is an English professional footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder for Burnley.
Career
O'Neill started his career in the youth system at Burnley, starting a three-year scholarship in 2000.{{Cite news
| title = O'Neill and Pilkington sign up
| url = http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/oneill_and_pilkington_sign_up_107322/index.shtml
| publisher = Claretsmad
| date = 19 June 2003
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} His professional debut for the club came in April 2003, coming on as a substitute for Mark McGregor in a 7–4 defeat to Watford.{{Cite news
| title = Matt O'Neill - Claretsmad profile
| url = http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/feat/ed35/matt_oneill_310649/index.shtml
| publisher = Claretsmad
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} He made his first start in a 2–0 win over Gillingham. In June 2013, O'Neill signed his first professional contract with the club on a one-year contract. In his first year as a professional, O'Neill struggled to make an impact only making four appearances. In the summer of 2004 he signed a one-year extension to his contract.{{Cite news
| title = O'Neill goes to Accrington Stanley
| url = http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s37/st67365.htm?print=1
| publisher = The Longside
| date = 18 February 2005
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} In November 2004, O'Neill played his final game for the Clarets in a 2–1 win over rivals Leeds United.{{Cite news
| title = Matt joins Stanley
| url = http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/matt_joins_stanley_231031/index.shtml
| publisher = Claretsmad
| date = 25 July 2005
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} In February 2005, O'Neill joined Conference National side Accrington Stanley on an initial one-month loan deal, which was later extended to two months. He made his debut for the club in a 2–2 draw with Forest Green Rovers. His only goal for the club came in a 4–3 Conference League Cup win over Northwich Victoria.{{Cite news
| title = Accrington Stanley 4 Northwich Victoria 3
| url = http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/accrington-stanley-4-northwich-victoria-1266973
| publisher = Accrington Observer
| date = 10 March 2005
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} O'Neill returned to Burnley in May 2005 but was however released by manager Steve Cotterill due to the expiry of his contract. In July 2005, O'Neill re-joined Conference National side Accrington Stanley after training with the club during pre-season. In August 2005, O'Neill was on the move again, joining Northern Premier League Premier Division side Radcliffe Borough on loan until October 2005.{{Cite news
| title = Transfers - August 2005
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/4737751.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} In January 2006, he joined Radcliffe on a permanent basis after leaving Accrington.{{Cite news
| title = Matt O'Neill - 2005/06 Stats
| url = http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2005/player_details.php?playerid=6496
| publisher = SoccerFactsUK
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} O'Neill stayed with Radcliffe for another season but the club struggled throughout the campaign and were relegated from the NPL Premier Division in 2007.{{Cite news
| title = Matty O'Neill - Ashton United profile
| url = http://www.ashtonutd.com/mattyoneill.htm
| publisher = SoccerFactsUK
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} He made a total of 85 appearances in all competitions during his time with Radcliffe scoring eleven goals.{{Cite news
| title = Matt O'Neill - 2006/07 Stats
| url = http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2006/player_details.php?playerid=6496&surname=O\%27Neill&forename=Matthew
| publisher = SoccerFactsUK
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} O'Neill remained in the NPL Premier Division with Ashton United after manager Danny Johnson had been impressed with his form at Radcliffe. He scored an incredible volley on his debut for the club in a 7–2 demolition of Frickley Athletic. O'Neill stayed with Ashton United for six years making over 170 appearances as they continued to compete in the NPL Premier Division. He also won the Supporters' Player of the Year award in 2010.{{Cite news
| title = Matty O'Neill - Nantwich Town profile
| url = http://www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk/?p=7613
| publisher = Nantwich Town FC
| accessdate = 14 May 2014}} In September 2013, he joined fellow NPL Premier Division side Nantwich Town, making his debut as a substitute in the FA Cup defeat to Rugby Town. O'Neill spent three months at Nantwich before dropping down the football pyramid to join North West Counties Football League First Division side Nelson.{{Cite news
| title = Matty O'Neill - Nelson profile
| url = http://www.nelsonfootballclub.co.uk/s/the-team-80049.html?player_id=1160852
| publisher = Nelson FC
| accessdate = 14 May 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140502185335/http://www.nelsonfootballclub.co.uk/s/the-team-80049.html?player_id=1160852
| archive-date = 2 May 2014
| url-status = dead
}} His debut for the club came in December 2013, in a 3–1 home win over 1874 Northwich.{{Cite news
| title = Blues in 7th Heaven
| url = http://www.nelsonfootballclub.co.uk/news/blues-in-7th-heaven-1112865.html
| publisher = Nelson FC
| date = 7 December 2013
| accessdate = 14 May 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140514203607/http://www.nelsonfootballclub.co.uk/news/blues-in-7th-heaven-1112865.html
| archive-date = 14 May 2014
| url-status = dead
}} He finished the season with three goals in fourteen appearances for the Admirals as they were crowned champions and gained promotion to the NWCFL Premier Division.{{Cite web
|title=NWCFL D1 Statistics
|url=https://app.box.com/s/6bh2nqyce9w7u3pl3hvk
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140327015838/https://app.box.com/s/6bh2nqyce9w7u3pl3hvk
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=27 March 2014
|publisher=App Box
|accessdate=1 May 2014
}}
Personal life
O'Neill attended Mount Carmel RC High School in Accrington along with fellow professional footballers Joel Pilkington and Richard Chaplow. He is the brother of former Preston North End, Bury, Mansfield Town and Chester City professional footballer Joe O'Neill, and also Ed O'Neill.{{Cite web
| title = Oh Brother! A day of records as Nelson siblings make history
| url = http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/11048232.Oh_Brother__A_day_of_records_as_Nelson_siblings_make_history/?ref=rss
| publisher = Lancashire Telegraph
| accessdate = 1 May 2014}} In March 2014, the brothers made history in the 8–1 win for Nelson over Widnes Vikings, being the first three siblings to score in the same game in the North West Counties Football League.
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Club statistics | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Burnley
|2002–03{{Soccerbase season|33110|2002|access-date=14 May 2014}} |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04{{Soccerbase season|33110|2003|access-date=14 May 2014}}
|First Division |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05{{Soccerbase season|33110|2004|access-date=14 May 2014}}
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="1"|Accrington Stanley (loan)
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1Appearance in Conference League Cup | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||
| rowspan="2"|Accrington Stanley
|Conference National |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase|name=Matty O'Neill}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oneill, Matthew}}
Category:Footballers from Accrington
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players
Category:Radcliffe F.C. players
Category:Ashton United F.C. players
Category:Nantwich Town F.C. players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:English Football League players