Bobby McNeal

Robert McNeal (15 January 1891 – 15 May 1956) was an English footballer who played as a left-half. Despite his career running through World War I, he managed nearly 400 appearances in the Football League for West Bromwich Albion, playing in some of the most successful seasons in the club's history. He won the Second Division (1910–11), First Division (1919–20), and Charity Shield, and played in the 1912 FA Cup final.

Early and personal life Robert McNeal was born on 19 January 1891 in Hobson, near Stanley, County Durham. He was the eldest of three children to John and Hannah (née Bell); his father was a coal miner. Albion went on to post top ten finishes in the league in 1912–13, 1913–14, and 1914–15, before the Football League was suspended due to World War I.

During the war he appeared as a guest player for Fulham, Middlesbrough, Notts County and Port Vale. McNeal was part of West Bromwich Albion's league championship-winning side of 1919–20. The team also won the 1920 Charity Shield with a 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Albion then dropped to 14th and 13th-place finishes in 1920–21 and 1921–22. They finished seventh in 1922–23 and 16th in 1923–24 before posting a second-place finish in 1924–25 – they ended the campaign just two points behind champions Huddersfield Town. In May 1925, McNeal retired through injury and became a licensee of a pub in the West Bromwich area. From 1926 to 1927, McNeal served as Albion's coach on a part-time basis. His second and final cap came on 14 April as Scotland ran out 3–1 winners at Hampden Park. Overall the competition was something of a minor embarrassment for the country, as the Irish finished as champions and England finished third behind the Scots and just one point ahead of the Welsh.

Career statistics

Honours West Bromwich Albion Football League Second Division: 1910–11 FA Cup runner-up: 1912 Football League First Division: 1919–20 FA Charity Shield: 1920