Neville Chamberlain

Neville Patrick Chamberlain (born 22 January 1960) is an English former footballer. A forward, he scored 73 goals in 296 league games in a ten-year professional career in the Football League.

He started his career at Port Vale, signing professional forms in January 1978 to become the club's first black pro. He followed his brother Mark Chamberlain to Stoke City in September 1982 for a £40,000 fee. He was loaned out to Newport County and Plymouth Argyle before moving to Newport permanently in 1984. The next year he switched to Mansfield Town and helped the club to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1985–86. He spent the 1987–88 season with Doncaster Rovers before entering the non-League scene with Stafford Rangers, Worksop Town, Shepshed Charterhouse, Matlock Town, Leek Town and Rocester. He later worked in the management teams at Alsager Town and Hanley Town and also acted as his brother's agent.

Career Port Vale Chamberlain joined the Port Vale youth team after being recommended to the club by his manager at "Lads and Dads" team Burslem United. He was named as most improved junior player at the end of the 1975–76 season. He made his senior debut for Port Vale on 31 December 1977, in a 3–0 win over Rotherham United at Vale Park. The next month he signed professional forms with the club, becoming Vale's first ever black pro. He finished the season with two goals in ten games. He scored a hat-trick in a 3–3 draw with Derby County at Pride Park on 22 December, and became the club's top scorer with 17 league and cup goals. However, Colin Addison could not keep him at Somerton Park, and Chamberlain dropped down a division to sign with Fourth Division club Mansfield Town, who were then managed by Ian Greaves. He scored 23 goals in 76 league and cup games for the "Stags", and helped the club win promotion in 1985–86 and become established in the league above in 1986–87. He then departed Field Mill and switched to Doncaster Rovers, who finished bottom of the Third Division in 1987–88 under Dave Cusack and Dave Mackay. He scored a hat-trick in a 3–2 win over Preston North End at Belle Vue on 4 April. Chamberlain then dropped out of the Football League to play for Stafford Rangers, Worksop Town, Shepshed Charterhouse, Matlock Town, Leek Town and Rocester.

Personal life Chamberlain's brother, Mark, was also a footballer. His nephews Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain play professional and semi-professional football respectively, with Alex also an England international. He is of Jamaican descent.

Career statistics

A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy.

Honours Mansfield Town Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1985–86