People
Duncan Neale
You can forget being a footballer!!! My dad's very first words to me when I told him Terry Venables, John Lyall, Bobby Moore, and Jimmy Greaves had all joined pro football clubs.
These were boys I regularly played with over Wanstead Park. No one had a telly so that was our main pastime. I was 15 and studying at SW Essex Technical College, doing German, French, Commerce and Accountancy. I played for London Schoolboys and we went on to win The English Shield.
On leaving college, I went to work in the City of London for William Reid, a large publishing company and played for Ilford amateurs, during which time I was selected to play for a youth team to tour France, Germany and Belgium. I was the only amateur amongst all the others who were full time pros.
When I returned from the tour, on my first day back at work, I went home to find my father and the manager and director of Newcastle United there. They were amongst seven pro clubs who wanted me to sign pro - and Newcastle United were my boyhood heroes, as they as they won the FA cup three times in four years. After a long discussion with them my father asked them would I make the grade as a pro footballer? It's up to him was the reply, but we will do everything we can to make this happen.
On my first day at Newcastle United I met some of my boyhood heroes: George Eastham, Ivor Allchurch, Jimmy Schoolar and many more. Players who I had only read about in football magazines. I managed to get into the reserve team in the Central League in my first year and the following season Schoolar got an injury in the first game and so l made my debut. It was against Fulham and I had to mark Johnny Haynes, Captain of England.
I scored two goals in that game. Then we drew them again in the FA Cup - and this time I scored three! I was the first player since the war at that time to score three goals in a cup game from the half-back position. The ball is signed by both teams and is in the Newcastle United museum along with a signed tankard which I received when I played in Jackie Milburn's testimonial.
I played around 100 games for Newcastle and joined Plymouth Argyle with the late great Malcolm Alison as manager. I met Diane, my wife now and this year is our 60th Wedding Anniversary. I wish she would stop looking in every jeweller's shop we pass!!!
Looking back, I had a wonderfull playing career, plenty of hard work, lots of dedication and good fortune.
© Duncan Neale, December 2025, All rights reserved
This article is protected by copyright - please contact editor@landulph.org.uk if you want to use it.
