Neil Finn (footballer)

Neil Finn (born 29 December 1978 in Rainham, Essex) is a former professional footballer. He played one game for West Ham United in the Premier League during the 1995-96 season, aged 17, becoming at that time the youngest player to ever to appear in a Premier League match. He remains the youngest goalkeeper to play in the Premier League.[2]

Neil Finn
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-12-29) 29 December 1978
Place of birth Rainham, Essex, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1998 West Ham United 1 (0)
1998 → Dorchester Town (loan)
1998 Aldershot Town 0 (0)
2004–2008 Romford 73 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 02:05, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

Career

Finn was a product of the West Ham youth academy,[3] and began his professional career as a trainee in August 1995.[4] After just three reserve games,[3] he became the then youngest player to ever to appear in a Premiership match on New Year's Day 1996 against Manchester City,[5] when first-choice goalkeeper Luděk Mikloško was suspended and Les Sealey was injured.[6] He won a runners-up medal in the 1996 FA Youth Cup final with Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand.[3] He was offered a new contract in July 1997,[7] but joined Dorchester Town on loan in March 1998 and was released by West Ham two months later.[4] After a period out of the game, he joined non-league side Romford in 2004.[8]

References
  1. "Neil Finn". Premier League. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  2. "Premier League stats: Arsenal's progress, the youngest player and Spurs see red". BBC Sport. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  3. Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. p. 82. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
  4. "Neil Finn". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  5. "Finn shows battling spirit". 4thegame. 9 July 1997. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  6. Smith, Martin (14 October 1995). "Football Diary". Telegraph. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  7. "Harry musing over personnel". 4thegame. 9 July 1997. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  8. "Neil Finn". Romford F C Archive. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
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