Chris Neal

Christopher Michael Neal (born 23 October 1985) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National League North club AFC Fylde.

For the Darlington winger, see Chris Neal (footballer, born 1947).
For other people with similar names, see Chris Neal (disambiguation).

Chris Neal
Neal with Port Vale in 2013
Personal information
Full name Christopher Michael Neal[1]
Date of birth (1985-10-23) 23 October 1985[2]
Place of birth St Albans, England[2]
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 AFC Fylde
Number 1
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2009 Preston North End 1 (0)
2005 → Tamworth (loan) 5 (0)
2006 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 0 (0)
2007 → Morecambe (loan) 0 (0)
2009–2012 Shrewsbury Town 64 (0)
2012–2016 Port Vale 123 (0)
2016 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2 (0)
2016 → Bury (loan) 10 (0)
2016–2018 Fleetwood Town 25 (0)
2018–2020 Salford City 61 (0)
2020– AFC Fylde 0 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:04, 29 January 2020 (UTC)

He began his career at Preston North End, making his English Football League debut in February 2005, having previously impressed in a brief loan spell at Conference club Tamworth. He had short loan spells at Shrewsbury Town and Morecambe in the 2006–07 season as a covering player, before he was signed by Shrewsbury Town permanently in July 2009. He was the club's regular custodian as promotion to League One was achieved in 2011–12. He joined Port Vale in July 2012, and helped the club to secure promotion out of League Two in 2012–13. He joined Doncaster Rovers on loan in February 2016, and then Bury the following month. He joined Fleetwood Town on a free transfer in May 2016, before joining Salford City in May 2018. He dropped down to the National League North to sign with AFC Fylde in August 2020.

Career

Preston North End

Neal began his career at Preston North End, signing professional forms under Billy Davies at the start of the 2004–05 season.[4] He went on loan to Conference National club Tamworth in January 2005.[5] He made his debut for the "Lambs" on 8 January, in a 4–3 defeat to Aldershot Town at the Recreation Ground.[6] He kept a clean sheet on his debut at The Lamb Ground 16 days later, as Tamworth recorded a 1–0 win over Accrington Stanley; during the game he was credited with making a "brilliant" save.[7] He played a total of six games for Mark Cooper's team, before returning to Preston in February. He made his first and only appearance for the "Lilywhites" on 18 February, as Gavin Ward was forced to leave the field 83 minutes into a 1–1 draw with Ipswich Town in a Championship fixture at Deepdale.[8] At the end of the season Chester City and Tamworth attempted to sign him on loan,[9][10] but both clubs were unsuccessful. He was linked to a move to Oldham Athletic in July 2006,[11] but again no move materialized.

Neal had to wait until September 2006 for another loan move, as he spent one month at Gary Peters' League Two club Shrewsbury Town, providing cover for Chris Mackenzie after an injury to Ryan Esson.[12] Neal appeared on the Shrewsbury bench for six league matches but did not make it onto the pitch at Gay Meadow, though he did play the full 90 minutes of the League Trophy match at Hereford United. At the end of the season he was signed by Morecambe as an emergency loan after the club's regular custodian Steven Drench dislocated an elbow, leaving manager Sammy McIlroy to choose between Davies and Neal for the 2007 Conference National play-off Final at Wembley.[13] Despite being awarded a winners medal he did not spend any time on the pitch for the Lancashire club as the club's rookie goalkeeper, Scott Davies, proved up to the task of keeping goal in the club's successful promotion bid.[14] Neal did not make a senior appearance in 2007–08 or 2008–09 under either Paul Simpson or Alan Irvine. During this time he shook off a bout of conjunctivitis.[15]

Shrewsbury Town

In July 2009, Neal made a permanent move from Preston, rejoining Paul Simpson's Shrewsbury Town for a nominal fee.[16] He started the first four games of the 2009–10 season, but lost his place to loanee David Button due to a groin injury,[17] and played just six further games that season. He began the 2010–11 campaign as the "Shrews" preferred keeper following an injury to rival Ben Smith,[18] but lost his first team place in November after 20 appearances, and only played a handful of games thereafter as a fit again Smith was preferred by manager Graham Turner.[19] He made his first League Two appearance of the 2011–12 season on 8 October, but remained between the sticks for the rest of the season, as Shrewsbury won promotion as the division's runners-up.[20]

Port Vale

He failed to agree fresh terms with Shrewsbury, having only been offered a one-year deal,[21] and instead signed a two-year contract with Port Vale in July 2012, having impressed manager Micky Adams in a match between the two clubs some months earlier.[22] He admitted that he had expected to stay at the New Meadow, but that he was happy to switch clubs in an attempt to win promotion out of League Two for a second successive season with the "Valiants".[23] He began the 2012–13 season in excellent form, and was named as man of the match after saving eleven shots in a 1–0 win over Bradford City at Valley Parade on 29 September.[24] However three days later he dropped a "clanger" at Vale Park as a weak 25 yard shot from Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Luke Howell "somehow squirmed beneath the embarrassed keeper and trickled into the Vale net" in a disappointing 1–1 draw.[25] He began wearing protective face gear after bruising his cheekbone against Dagenham, and then continued to wear the gear as he superstitiously believed they were essential to the team's run of good results (however he stopped this practice after a run of defeats in December[26]).[27] He made "a string of flying stops during a man-of-the-match display" in an FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on 1 December.[28] He remained a near ever-present, playing 51 games as Vale were promoted at the end of the season in third-place, and was voted as both the Port Vale's players' player of the season and away fan's player of the season.[29]

Neal made a strong start to the 2013–14 season before injuring his wrist at the end of November.[30] After returning to fitness he displaced deputy goalkeeper Sam Johnson and retained his first team spot until he damaged his ankle ligaments in a challenge with Tranmere Rovers defender Ian Goodison on 22 March; the resulting injury kept him out of action for the rest of the season.[31] Despite his injuries he was again voted as both the Port Vale's players' player of the season and away fan's player of the season,[32] and signed a new two-year contract in the summer.[33]

Neal started the 2014–15 season on the bench, as Johnson was selected for the season opener.[34] After returning to the starting line-up in September he won praise for his performances.[35] He again earned praise in December for a series of consistent performances and impressive saves in close games.[36] He remain the first choice goalkeeper until he was suspending after being sent off in a 3–1 defeat at Leyton Orient.[37] He returned to the first team following his suspension, and was one of the most consistent performers of the season.[38]

He missed the start of the 2015–16 season after picking up an ankle injury in pre-season, and only returned to match fitness at the end of October.[39] He joined league rivals Doncaster Rovers on a 28-day loan on 1 February as manager Darren Ferguson looked to provide competition for Thorsten Stuckmann and Marko Maroši.[40] Neal stated that he joined "Donny" in order to play first team football.[41] He played two games at Keepmoat Stadium before his loan spell was ended by Port Vale on 20 February as injury to Jak Alnwick restored Neal to the Vale first team.[42] He retained his first team place at Vale until on 18 March, when he joined Bury on loan until the end of the season.[43] After making a good start to his time at Gigg Lane, he told the Bury Times that he hoped to join the club permanently on a free transfer.[44] He was released by Port Vale upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.[45] In December 2019, local newspaper The Sentinel ran a poll of fans to debate Port Vale's best goalkeeper of the 2010s; Neal finished in second-place with 30% of the vote, behind Scott Brown (44%) and ahead of Jak Alnwick (26%).[46]

Fleetwood Town

Neal signed a two-year contract with League One club Fleetwood Town in May 2016, and joined the club shortly after the departure of Chris Maxwell.[47] He was named in the EFL team of the week after keeping a second successive clean sheet in a 2–0 win over Coventry City on 3 September.[48] However he lost his first team place to Alex Cairns in November; manager Uwe Rösler admitted that the situation was a "little bit harsh on Chris Neal because Chris Neal did nothing wrong" and it was Cairns's strong form that made him undroppable.[49] On 6 January 2018, he kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw with Leicester City in the Third Round of the FA Cup, and was rewarded with a year's supply of pizza from sponsors Papa John's Pizza.[50] He was released by manager John Sheridan upon the expiry of his contract at Highbury Stadium at the end of the 2017–18 season.[51]

Salford City

On 17 May 2018, Neal signed a two-year contract with newly promoted National League club Salford City.[52] He was a former teammate of "Ammies" manager Graham Alexander as Preston.[53] He made his debut in the opening match of the 2018–19 season as Salford recorded a 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient at Moor Lane on 4 August.[54] He made a total of 51 appearances throughout the campaign as Salford qualified for the play-off semi-finals with a third-place finish, and he saved two penalties in the shoot-out following a 1–1 draw with Eastleigh to secure a place in the final.[55] A 3–0 victory over AFC Fylde in the final won Salford a place in the English Football League for the first time.[56] He shared the first-team goalkeeping spot with new signing Kyle Letheren during the 2019–20 season, though both players were released at the end of the campaign.[57][58]

AFC Fylde

On 15 August 2020, Neal signed with National League North club AFC Fylde; he said that after speaking with manager Jim Bentley that "what happened last year with relegation we are hoping was just a blip, for some reason it was a bit of an off-season but hopefully we can rectify that this season".[59]

Career statistics
As of match played 19 February 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Preston North End 2004–05[60] Championship 1000000010
2005–06[61] Championship 0000000000
2006–07[62] Championship 0000000000
2007–08[63] Championship 0000000000
2008–09[64] Championship 0000000000
Total 1000000010
Tamworth (loan) 2004–05[60] Conference National 5000—1[lower-alpha 1]060
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2006–07[62] League Two 0000001[lower-alpha 2]010
Morecambe (loan) 2006–07[62] Conference National 0000—0000
Shrewsbury Town 2009–10[65] League Two 7010101[lower-alpha 2]0100
2010–11[66] League Two 22010101[lower-alpha 2]0250
2011–12[67] League Two 35030001[lower-alpha 2]0390
Total 640502030740
Port Vale 2012–13[68] League Two 46020102[lower-alpha 2]0510
2013–14[69] League One 31040102[lower-alpha 2]0380
2014–15[70] League One 40010101[lower-alpha 2]0430
2015–16[71] League One 6000000060
Total 12807030501430
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2015–16[71] League One 2000000020
Bury (loan) 2015–16[71] League One 100000000100
Fleetwood Town 2016–17[72] League One 17010102[lower-alpha 3]0210
2017–18[73] League One 8030004[lower-alpha 3]0150
Total 250401060360
Salford City 2018–19[74] National League 46030—2[lower-alpha 4]0510
2019–20[75] League Two 15020103[lower-alpha 3]0210
Total 610501050720
AFC Fylde 2020–21[74] National League North 0000—0000
Career total 2880210702103400
  1. Appearances in the FA Trophy
  2. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  3. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  4. Appearances in the National League play-offs

Honours

Morecambe

Shrewsbury Town

Port Vale

Salford City

References
  1. "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2015/2016". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. "Salford City sign goalkeeper Chris Neal". Salford City Football Club. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. "Neal extends Tamworth loan spell". BBC Sport. 7 February 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  5. "Keeper Neal in Tamworth loan move". BBC Sport. 7 January 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  6. "Aldershot 4-3 Tamworth". BBC Sport. 8 January 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  7. "Tamworth 1-0 Accrington". BBC Sport. 22 January 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  8. "Preston vs Ipswich Town". pnefc.net. 18 February 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  9. "Chester move in for keeper Neal". BBC Sport. 5 July 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  10. "Tamworth net veteran goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  11. "Preston keeper has Oldham spell". BBC Sport. 18 July 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  12. "Preston keeper leaves after loan". BBC Sport. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  13. "Morecambe bring in keeper on loan". BBC Sport. 14 May 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  14. "Exeter 1–2 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 20 May 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  15. "Preston goalkeeper leaves on loan". BBC Sport. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  16. "Keeper Neal signs for Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  17. "Neal ready for Shrewsbury return". BBC Sport. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  18. "Chris Neal strives to be first choice for Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  19. "Ben Smith surprised by Shrewsbury Town start". BBC Sport. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  20. "Shrewsbury Town keeper Chris Neal has double dream". Shropshire Star. 25 April 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  21. "Fate decrees that Neil is gearing up for League Two promotion challenge again". The Sentinel. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  22. "Port Vale sign Richard Duffy, Chris Neal and David Artell". BBC Sport. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  23. "Port Vale keeper Chris Neal did not expect move". BBC Sport. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  24. "Micky Adams backs keeper Chris Neal after Dagenham and Redbridge howler". The Sentinel. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  25. "Keeper's jeepers robs Vale of crucial victory". The Sentinel. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  26. "Neal says players are up for Cheltenham clash". The Sentinel. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  27. "Neal doesn't mind making a spectacle of himself ... as long as Vale keep winning". The Sentinel. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  28. "Post-match stats for Port Vale's FA Cup clash with Sheffield United". The Sentinel. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  29. "Tom Pope wins player-of-the-year award". The Sentinel. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  30. Baggaley, Mike (30 November 2013). "Adams set to stick with 'terrific' Johnson while Neal is out for at least a month". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  31. Baggaley, Mike (24 March 2014). "Goalkeeper Chris Neal set to miss rest of season". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  32. Baggaley, Mike (5 May 2014). "Tom Pope named Port Vale player of the year". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  33. Baggaley, Mike (9 June 2014). "Chris Neal signs new Port Vale deal". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  34. "Sam Johnson says he faces huge challenge from Chris Neal". The Sentinel. 11 August 2014. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  35. Baggaley, Mike (5 October 2014). "Why Bearded Wonder Chris Neal is star man". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  36. Baggaley, Mike (1 January 2015). "Why this Valiant was Mike Baggaley's player of the month for December". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  37. "Leyton Orient 3 - 1 Port Vale". 28 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  38. Baggaley, Mike (1 May 2015). "Carl Dickinson says 'Chris Neal saved my backside'". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  39. Travers, Chris (26 October 2015). "Port Vale 2, Burton Albion 3: Goalkeeper Chris Neal returns to action in reserve-team defeat". The Sentinel. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  40. "Chris Neal: Doncaster Rovers sign Port Vale goalkeeper on loan". BBC Sport. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  41. "Chris Neal seeks game time after loan move". 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  42. Baggaley, Mike (20 February 2016). "Sheffield United v Port Vale TEAM NEWS: Chris Neal plays for Vale after Jak Alnwick injury". The Sentinel. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  43. "Bury: Nathan Delfouneso, Cian Bolger and Chris Neal join on loan". BBC Sport. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  44. Baggaley, Mike (22 April 2016). "Chris Neal hoping for free transfer move to Bury". The Sentinel. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  45. Baggaley, Mike (13 May 2016). "Port Vale reveal retained list as nine players are released". The Sentinel. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  46. Baggaley, Michael (23 December 2019). "Results revealed as Port Vale fans select keeper of the decade". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  47. "Fleetwood swoop for experienced keeper". Blackpool Gazette. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  48. Hannah, Alex (5 September 2016). "Sky Bet EFL: Team of the Week". www.efl.com. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  49. "Cairns' rise coincides with mass unbeaten run". Blackpool Gazette. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  50. Burton, Chris (7 January 2018). "FA Cup heroics deliver Fleetwood star Chris Neal free pizzas for a year! | Goal.com". goal.com. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  51. "Fleetwood: George Glendon, Chris Neal and Ricardo Kip released". BBC Sport. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  52. Baggaley, Michael (17 May 2018). "Former Port Vale keeper Chris Neal joins Salford City". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  53. ""I'll throw myself into it!" says Alexander". Salford City Football Club. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  54. "Salford City 1–1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  55. "Salford City 1-1 Eastleigh (Salford win 4-3 on penalties)". BBC Sport. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  56. Rindl, Josef (11 May 2019). "AFC Fylde 0–3 Salford City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  57. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  58. Baggaley, Michael (17 May 2020). "Two Port Vale players of the year among 11 released by Salford". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  59. "Chris Neal Joins The Coasters!". AFC Fylde. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  60. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  61. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  62. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  63. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  64. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  65. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  66. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  67. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  68. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  69. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  70. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  71. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  72. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  73. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  74. Chris Neal at Soccerway
  75. "Games played by Chris Neal in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  76. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 37, 342–343. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  77. Anderson, John, ed. (2013). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2013–2014. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 282–283. ISBN 978-0-7553-6413-8.
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