Lewis Neal
_(cropped).jpg) Neal playing for Orlando City B in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lewis Ryan Neal | ||
| Date of birth | 14 July 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2000 | Stoke City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2005 | Stoke City | 70 | (2) |
| 2001 | → ÍBV (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2005–2009 | Preston North End | 65 | (5) |
| 2008 | → Notts County (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2009 | Carlisle United | 16 | (2) |
| 2009–2011 | Shrewsbury Town | 31 | (2) |
| 2011 | Orlando City | 21 | (4) |
| 2012–2014 | D.C. United | 53 | (2) |
| 2015 | Orlando City | 21 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Orlando City B | 49 | (5) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of May 15, 2018 | |||
Lewis Ryan Neal (born 14 July 1981) is an English professional footballer who plays for the Orlando SeaWolves of the Major Arena Soccer League, and coaches in the academy system of Orlando City.
Career
Neal started his career at Stoke City, making his debut in the Football League Trophy on 6 December 2000 against Scarborough. He played 70 league games and scored 2 goals for Stoke before signing for Preston North End in 2005 in a player swap deal for Marlon Broomes.
On 31 October 2008, Neal signed a month-long loan deal with Notts County,[1] and made his debut at home to Bury.
After playing 65 league games for Preston, Neal was allowed to join Carlisle United on 30 January 2009, after agreeing to a termination package. He signed a contract to the end of the season.[2] He made his Carlisle debut in the 1–1 home draw against Walsall, but at the end of the season manager Greg Abbott decided to release him.
A day after his contract expired with Carlisle on 2 July 2009, Neal signed a two-year contract with League Two club Shrewsbury Town.[3]
On 22 January 2011, he was released by Shrewsbury Town, by mutual consent. He moved to the United States and entered training camp with Orlando City Soccer Club of the USL Pro league, the third tier of US Soccer. He scored the team's first ever goal on 19 February in a friendly against Philadelphia Union.[4] Lewis signed with Orlando on 21 March 2011.[5]
In early 2012, Neal was on trial with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer but was not offered a contract.[6] He signed into the league with D.C. United on 13 March 2012.[7] During his time with D.C., he scored the lone goal in the 2013 U.S. Open Cup final against Real Salt Lake, giving D.C. their third Open Cup title.
After three years with D.C., Neal returned to Florida when he was selected by new franchise Orlando City SC in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. He was released by Orlando at the end of the 2015 season.[8] On 17 December, Orlando City confirmed that Neal had been resigned on a two-year deal giving him an extended role with the organization including an academy coaching role, a playing position on the Orlando City B team and media duties.[9]
Personal life
Neal earned his US green card in February 2013.[10] This status qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.
Career statistics
- As of match played 29 November 2014[11]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Other[A] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke City | 2000–01 | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | Second Division | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2002–03 | First Division | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | First Division | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2004–05 | Championship | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 24 | 1 | ||
| Total | 70 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 82 | 3 | ||
| ÍBV (loan) | 2001 | Úrvalsdeild | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 | 1 | |
| Preston North End | 2005–06 | Championship | 24 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 29 | 2 | |
| 2006–07 | Championship | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08 | Championship | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 | 2 | ||
| Total | 65 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 5 | ||
| Notts County (loan) | 2008–09 | League Two | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Carlisle United | 2008–09 | League One | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2009–10 | League Two | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
| 2010–11 | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 2 | ||
| Orlando City | 2011 | USL Pro | 21 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 4 |
| D.C. United | 2012 | Major League Soccer | 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| 2013 | Major League Soccer | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2014 | Major League Soccer | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| Total | 58 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 65 | 2 | ||
| Orlando City | 2015 | Major League Soccer | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Orlando City B | 2016 | United Soccer League | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| Career Total | 290 | 19 | 22 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 353 | 21 | ||
- A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League play-offs, Football League Trophy and CONCACAF Champions League.
Honours
- Orlando City
- D.C. United
References
- ↑ "Magpies swoop for Neal loan deal". BBC Sport. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ↑ "Winger Neal makes Carlisle switch". BBC Sport. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ↑ "Shrewsbury complete Neal signing". BBC Sport. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ↑ Orlando City Soccer Club: News Archived 23 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine.. Orlandocitysoccer.com.
- ↑ Orlando City Signs English Championship Veteran – OurSports Central – Independent and Minor League Sports News. OurSports Central (21 March 2011).
- ↑ Team Building Exercises With Garth Lagerway. Theshinguardian.com.
- ↑ "Lewis Neal acquired". DC United.
- ↑ Orlando Sentinel (25 November 2015). "Orlando City parts ways with goalkeeper Tally Hall". OrlandoSentinel.com.
- ↑ "Lewis Neal Re-Joins Orlando City Family in Extended Role". Orlando City Soccer Club.
- ↑ Goff, Steven (22 February 2013). "D.C. United news & notes". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ↑ "Lewis Neal". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
External links
- Lewis Neal at Soccerbase
- Lewis Neal at Soccerway