Andrew McNeil
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| Andrew McNeil | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew McNeil | |
| Date of birth | January 19, 1987 (age 20) | |
| Place of birth | Edinburgh, Scotland | |
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Hibernian | |
| Number | 41 | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| 2003-2004 | Southampton | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2004-2006 2006-present |
Southampton Hibernian |
0 (0) 7 (0) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2006 | Scotland under-21s | 1 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Andrew McNeil (born 19 January 1987, in Edinburgh) is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing as a goalkeeper for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League.
A former student at Leith Academy, McNeil drew early inspiration, and an inclination towards goalkeeping, from watching Jim Leighton play for his local side, Hibs.[1] However, it was in England that he opted to start his career, joining first club Southampton in August 2003 through their academy system, earning a professional contract in 2004.
He was a member of Southampton's youth team that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in 2005, losing on aggregate to Ipswich Town.
He negotiated an early release from his contract when new Saints manager George Burley signed a rival young goalkeeper, Bartosz Białkowski, in January 2006.[1] Despite occasionally appearing on the substitute's bench, he did not make a competitive appearance during his time with Southampton.
Two days after his departure from the St Mary's Stadium, McNeill returned to Edinburgh to sign for Hibernian, his boyhood favourites, on the recommendation of Gordon Marshall.[1] Initially given a contract until the end of the season, his displays for the Hibs reserve side ensured this deal was extended, as well as securing him a place in the Scotland squad for the 2006 UEFA U-19 Championships. He was the first choice goalkeeper as the young Scots reached the final, only to lose 2-1 to Spain.[2]
McNeil became a regular on the Hibs bench during the early part of the 2006-07 season before making his debut in a 2-0 victory over Dunfermline Athletic on 30 December 2006.[3] After this game he was confirmed as the Easter Road side's first choice custodian by manager John Collins, in place of Zbigniew Małkowski.[4] His first five first team games featured three clean sheets. By a bizarre coincidence of fixtures, three of his first five games have been against Aberdeen, including two games in the Scottish Cup.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Andy just gloves being in like Jim. Scotsman.com Sport. Retrieved on January 4, 2007.
- ^ Young Scots give hope for bright future. Scotsman.com Sport. Retrieved on January 4, 2007.
- ^ Hibernian 2-0 Dunfermline Ath. BBC Sport. Retrieved on January 4, 2007.
- ^ Collins makes McNeil No.1 choice. BBC Sport. Retrieved on January 4, 2007.
[edit] External link
| Hibernian F.C. - Current Squad |
|---|
|
1 Simon Brown | 2 Whittaker | 3 Murphy | 4 Zemmama | 5 Jones | 6 Stewart | 7 Scott Brown | 9 Killen | 10 Benjelloun | 12 Martis | 14 Beuzelin | 15 Hogg | 17 Sproule | 18 McCluskey | 19 Sowunmi | 20 Fletcher | 21 Baillie | 22 Shiels | 25 McCann | 26 Stevenson | 27 Lynch | 28 Campbell | 32 Ayre | 33 Chisholm | 41 McNeil | 42 Grof | -- Haji | Manager: Collins |
 |
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