Bobby Neill (footballer)

Robert Scott Gibson Neill (24 September 1875 – 2 March 1913) was a Scottish footballer who played for Hibernian, Liverpool, Rangers and Scotland. He played at centre half and at wing half.[4]

For those of a similar name, see Robert Neill (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Robert Miln Neill.

Bobby Neill
Personal information
Full name Robert Scott Gibson Neill[1]
Date of birth 24 September 1875
Place of birth Calton, Scotland[1]
Date of death 2 March 1913(1913-03-02) (aged 37)
Place of death Govan, Scotland
Position(s) Centre half
Wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Ashfield
1893–1894 Northern
1894–1896 Hibernian 31 (10)
1895 → Liverpool (loan) 0 (0)
1896–1897 Liverpool 22 (2)
1897–1904 Rangers 92 (24)
National team
1896–1900[2] Scotland 2 (2)
1901[3] Scottish League XI 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Neill started his career in north Glasgow with Juniors Ashfield and seniors Northern, then moved on to Hibernian.[5] He played in the 1896 Scottish Cup Final, which Hibs lost 3–1 against Heart of Midlothian.

After a one-year spell with Liverpool, Neill joined Rangers in 1897. During his seven seasons there he amassed four Scottish League championships, one Scottish Cup (1898), three Glasgow Cups (1897–98, 1899–1900 and 1901–02) and two Charity Cups (1896–97 and 1899–1900). He made 109 first class appearances for Rangers and scored 28 goals,[6] and was part of the club's 'perfect season' in the 1898–99 Scottish Division One where they won all 18 fixtures, featuring in all of those matches.[7]

Neill gained two Scotland caps during his career, both coming against Wales.[8] He scored two goals on his debut, a 4–0 win for Scotland on 21 March 1896.[8] His second cap, which ended in a 5–2 win for Scotland, was on 3 February 1900.[8]

After retirement he became a restaurateur, but died in March 1913 aged thirty-seven.

References
  1. Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  2. Scotland player Bobby Neill, London Hearts Supporters Club
  3. Saturday's Football. | Scotland V. England–League International Match, The Glasgow Herald, 18 March 1901
  4. [A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players], John Litster / Scottish Football Historian magazine, October 2012
  5. Hibernian player Neill, Robert, FitbaStats
  6. Rangers player Neil, Bobby, FitbaStats
  7. Stuart Spencer (16 January 2019). "The Season of 1898-99". Scottish Football Museum. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  8. Brown, Alan; Tossani, Gabriele (17 March 2016). "Scotland - International Matches 1891-1900". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
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