Joe O'Neill

Joseph John O'Neill (born 28 October 1982) is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He played in the Football League for Preston North End, Bury, Mansfield Town and Chester City.

Joe O'Neill
Personal information
Full name Joseph John O'Neill[1]
Date of birth (1982-10-28) 28 October 1982[2]
Place of birth Blackburn, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
0000–2001 Preston North End
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Preston North End 2 (0)
2003–2004 → Bury (loan) 23 (3)
2004 → Mansfield Town (loan) 15 (0)
2005 → Chester City (loan) 11 (1)
2005–2006 York City 37 (5)
2006–2009 Altrincham 112 (14)
2009–2010 Stalybridge Celtic 37 (15)
2010–2012 Guiseley 58 (7)
2012–2013 Droylsden 36 (4)
2013–2014 Ashton United 32 (6)
2014–2015 Nelson 42 (19)
Total 405 (74)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, O'Neill started his career in the youth system at Preston North End turning professional in the summer of 2001.[3] He suffered an Achilles injury which hampered his early career with the club, however, he did sign a two-year contract extension in 2003.[4] In July 2013, O'Neill joined Football League Third Division side Bury on a season-long loan.[4] He made his professional debut in August 2013, coming on as a substitute for Lee Connell in the Football League Cup defeat to Tranmere Rovers. His league debut for the club came in a 2–1 win over Huddersfield Town. His first professional goal came in the same month, when the Shakers beat York City 2–0. O'Neill made a total of 27 appearances for the club in all competitions scoring three goals. In August 2004, O'Neill joined Football League Two side Mansfield Town on a three-month loan, after impressing on trial.[5] His stay at Field Mill was an unsuccessful one as he failed to score in seventeen appearances and he returned to Preston in November. He made his first team debut for North End in December 2004, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 win over Reading. He made his only start for the club in a 2–0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup. In January 2005, O'Neill joined League Two side Chester City on loan for an initial month with the view to a permanent deal.[6] O'Neill scored once during his loan spell against Rushden & Diamonds in eleven appearances.

In the summer of 2005, he was released by Preston and joined Conference National side York City on a free transfer.[7] In August 2005, O'Neill scored a hat-trick on his league debut for York in a 4–1 away win at Southport.[7] He only went on to score twice more throughout the season appearing 38 times in all competitions, before his release in the summer of 2006.[7] O'Neill then signed for fellow Conference National side Altrincham on a free transfer.[7] He featured regularly in his first season with the club with Colin Little as his strike partner, although not prolific he was praised for his excellent work rate and he swept the board at the end of season player of the year awards.[7][8] In the summer of 2007, O'Neill turned down an offer to join Football League Two side Rotherham United and agreed a new deal with Altrincham.[8] In his next two seasons with the club O'Neill featured heavily from the bench and often playing out of position on the wing.[9] Injuries also hampered his time at the club and he left in the summer of 2009, having made 128 appearances in all competitions scoring nineteen times.[9][10]

In June 2009, O'Neill dropped down to the Conference North and signed for Stalybridge Celtic.[11] He made his debut in August 2009 in a 4–1 win over Redditch United, scoring his first goal in a 3–1 defeat to Corby Town.[11] It was at Stalybridge where O'Neill enjoyed the best scoring run of his career scoring 21 goals in 45 appearances in his only season with the club.[11] In 2010, O'Neill was on the move again, joining Conference North side Guiseley on a free transfer. His first season for the club was fairly prolific, scoring 17 goals in 51. O'Neill was used more sparingly in his second season with the club featuring mainly on the wing and he failed to score in 35 appearances. He left the club in the summer of 2012, having been told his contract would not be renewed.[12] O'Neill remained in the Conference North with Droylsden for a season, however, he could not help the club escape relegation as the team struggled throughout the campaign.[13] In the summer of 2013, O'Neill dropped down to the Northern Premier League Premier Division with Ashton United, where he joined his brother Matty.[13] O'Neill went on to make 39 appearances for Ashton scoring six times.[14] In February 2014, O'Neill was on the move again, dropping down to North West Counties League First Division side Nelson, joining his brothers Ed and Matty.[15] In his first season with the club he scored an impressive eight goals in ten appearances, as the Admirals gained promotion to the NWCFL Premier Division.[16] In April 2015, O'Neill announced his retirement from football following a 4–1 defeat to 1874 Northwich on the final day of season.[17]

Personal life

O'Neill studied at the University of Salford for a degree in Physiotherapy, graduating in 2009.[18][19] He is the brother of former Burnley professional footballer Matthew O'Neill, and also Ed O'Neill.[20] 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 League.[20]

Career statistics
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Preston North End 2001–02[21] First Division 000000—00
2002–03[22] First Division 000000—00
2003–04[23] First Division 000000—00
2004–05[24] Championship 2010000030
Total 2010000030
Bury (loan) 2003–04[23] Third Division 23310102[lower-alpha 1]0273
Mansfield Town (loan) 2004–05[24] League Two 15000002[lower-alpha 1]0170
Chester City (loan) 2004–05[24] League Two 111000000111
York City 2005–06[25] Conference National 37520—00395
Altrincham 2006–07[26] Conference National 44710—3[lower-alpha 2]1488
2007–08[27] Conference Premier 42420—6[lower-alpha 3]2506
2008–09[28] Conference Premier 26300—4[lower-alpha 4]2305
Total 1121430—13512819
Stalybridge Celtic 2009–10[29] Conference North 371533—5[lower-alpha 5]34521
Guiseley 2010–11[30] Conference North 35753—11[lower-alpha 6]75117
2011–12[31] Conference North 23010—11[lower-alpha 7]0350
Total 58763—2278617
Droylsden 2012–13[32] Conference North 36410—00374
Ashton United 2013–14[14] Northern Premier League Premier Division 32630—4[lower-alpha 8]0396
Nelson 2013–14[33] North West Counties League First Division 810——00810
2014–15[34] North West Counties League Premier Division 34910—3[lower-alpha 9]0389
Total 421910—304619
Career total 4057421610511547895
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. Two appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance and goal in Cheshire Senior Cup
  3. One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Conference League Cup, four appearances and two goals in Cheshire Senior Cup
  4. One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Conference League Cup, two appearances and two goals in Cheshire Senior Cup
  5. Four appearances and two goals in FA Trophy, one appearance and one goal in Cheshire Senior Cup
  6. Two appearances in Conference North play-offs, six appearances and four goals in FA Trophy, three appearances and three goals in West Riding County Cup
  7. Two appearances in Conference North play-offs, four in FA Trophy, five in West Riding County Cup
  8. One appearance in FA Trophy, two in Northern Premier League Challenge Cup, one in Manchester Premier Cup
  9. One appearance in FA Vase, one in Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy, one in League Challenge Cup

Honours

Nelson

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2012 and 31/08/2012" (PDF). The Football Association. p. 9. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2005). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/2006. Queen Anne Press. p. 308. ISBN 978-1-85291-662-6.
  3. "Joe O'Neill profile – Altrincham". Altrincham FC. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  4. "Bury secure O'Neill deal". BBC Sport. 2 July 2003. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  5. "Joe O'Neill signs on three-month loan". Stagsnet. 6 August 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  6. "Chester Move For O'Neill". Preston North End Mad. 27 January 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  7. "Joe O'Neill – Altrincham profile". Altrincham FC. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  8. "JOE AND COLIN STAY". Altrincham FC. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  9. "Joe O'Neill – Altrincham departed players". Altrincham FC. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  10. "Trio are released by Altrincham". BBC Sport. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  11. "Joe O'Neill – Stalybridge Celtic profile". Stalybridge Celtic FC. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  12. "Guiseley sign two and release three". Telegraph & Argus. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  13. "Joe O'Neill – Nelson profile". Nelson FC. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  14. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2013/2014". Ashton United F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  15. "Joe O'Neill signs". Nelson F.C. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  16. "NWCFL D1 Statistics". App Box. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  17. "Match Report: Nelson 1 - 4 1874 Northwich". Nelson F.C. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  18. "Joe and Colin stay". Altrincham FC. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  19. My Graduation – July 2009" booklet published by University of Salford, July 2009
  20. "Oh Brother! A day of records as Nelson siblings make history". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  21. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  22. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  23. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  24. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  25. Batters, Dave (2008). York City: The Complete Record. Breedon Books. pp. 406–407, 420–421. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  26. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2006/2007". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  27. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2007/2008". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  28. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2008/2009". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  29. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2009/2010". Stalybridge Celtic F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  30. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2010/2011". Guiseley A.F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  31. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2011/2012". Guiseley A.F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  32. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2012/2013". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  33. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2013/2014 for Nelson". Nelson F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  34. "Games played by Joe O'Neill in 2014/2015". Nelson F.C. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
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