Career
He is currently the first-team coach of Arsenal. As a player, Banfield had a fairly undistinguished career as a centre half, playing for Crystal Palace (1979-1981) and Leyton Orient (1983-1984), with a spell at Australian side Adelaide City in between. He represented Grays Athletic before his stint in the Football League.
Whilst at Palace, Banfield represented England Schoolboys.
After retiring from playing he entered coaching, and joined Arsenal in 1997. Until 2004, he coached and managed various youth teams at Arsenal, winning two FA Youth Cups, an FA Premier Academy League U17 title in 1999-1900 and an Academy League U19 title in 2003-2004.
He succeeded Eddie Niedzwiecki as Arsenal Reserves coach after the former"s departure for Blackburn Rovers in September 2004. He was also Republic of Ireland U21 assistant manager under Don Givens between April 2004 and May 2005.
On 24 May 2012 it was announced that Neil Banfield was to become the first-team coach for Arsenal.