Background
Neal was born in Fencehouses and started his playing career at Dinnington Main Colliery Welfare, from where, in 1925, he joined Blackpool, then in the Football League Second Division.
Neal was born in Fencehouses and started his playing career at Dinnington Main Colliery Welfare, from where, in 1925, he joined Blackpool, then in the Football League Second Division.
He spent most of his career at and Southampton. He made his debut, in the number 7 shirt, on 1 May 1926, at Sheffield Wednesday in the final league game of the season. Over the next five seasons his appearance and goal totals in the league were: 17/3, 24/6, 32/5, 7/2 and 4/1.
He helped to the title in 1930, their only championship to date.
He spent the first half of the 1931-1932 season at Derby County, and in February 1932, the Southampton Supporters" Club put up the funds to secure his transfer to replace Bert Jepson. In 1937, after 177 appearances for Southampton, he moved on to Bristol City before finishing his career at Accrington Stanley.