Neil Smillie

Neil Smillie (born 19 July 1958) is an English former professional football player and manager. He played for a number of clubs, and appeared in the 1983 FA Cup final for Brighton & Hove Albion.

Playing career The son of the former Barnsley and Lincoln City player Ron Smillie, Neil Smillie was born in Barnsley. He began his career with Crystal Palace, where he spent seven years, during which he had a spell on loan at Brentford and also spent two summers playing for Memphis Rogues in the North American Soccer League. In 1982, he was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion. During his time with that club, he played in the 1983 FA Cup final, in which Brighton held Manchester United to a 2–2 draw before losing in a replay.

In 1985, Smillie moved to Watford for a fee of £100,000 but his spell at Vicarage Road was unsuccessful, with only 16 first-team appearances. In 1986, he moved on to Reading. Two years later, he moved again to Brentford, where he was a first-team regular for five years with over 170 appearances.

Managerial career In 1993, the new Gillingham manager Mike Flanagan made Smillie his first signing, appointing him as player-coach.