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Fullname: Hugh McNeil
aka: Hughie McNeil
Born: 1878
Died: 10 Jan 1960
Birthplace: Motherwell
Signed: 1 June 1900 (from Motherwell)
Left: 27 Dec 1901 (to Hamilton)
Position: Centre-half, Defender
Debut: Celtic 1-0 Kilmarnock, League, 27 Oct 1900
Internationals: none
Biog
Ex-Dalziel Rovers defender Hugh McNeil was a Scottish Junior international who made a total of two competitive appearances for Celtic after joining the Bhoys in June 1900 from Motherwell. His first game was a trial in a friendly v Everton.
His competitive debut came in a 1-0 league victory at home to Kilmarnock on 27th October 1900 but in his next appearance a few weeks later he struggled to contain the Hearts forward line as the Edinburgh side chalked up a 3-1 victory. Celtic had at this point of the season hit a bad patch after having been top of the table, losing twice and drawing once in three successive matches. After that Hearts match, Celtic were mostly back on track but still lost out on the league title with Rangers on top.
Following that Hearts match, Hugh McNeil played some more friendly games for the Bhoys but the centre-half would not make another competitive appearance.
Hugh McNeil left Celtic for Hamilton Accies in December 1901, then to Morton in 1902 and later returned to Motherwell in 1904 where he became a Fir Park favourite for a decade playing in around 300 games for the club. It’s said that he made such a good name for himself with Motherwell that for many it was hard to realise that he had ever even played briefly for Celtic. A good turnaround for the man which we can all respect.
He thankfully survived a serious motorcycle crash in September 1913, and continued in football moving in his final years to Wishaw Thistle (1914) and then to Royal Albert (in 1915). He is believed to have wrapped up his playing career in 1919.
His son of the same name was also a footballer who too played for Motherwell and Hamilton in the same position.
He passed away in 1960.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1900 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 2 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
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McNEIL, Hugh (1901)
Hamilon Accies Biog
source: https://sites.google.com/site/hamiltonacademicalmemorybank/players/mcneil-hugh-1901
Overview
When Hugh signed for Accies in December 1901, he was the first half of the father and son combinations to have appeared for Accies since the club‘s admission to the Scottish League.
He had also been with Mossend Brigade earlier in his career. He was with Dalziel Rovers when he was signed by Motherwell in August 1899. Earlier that year, on April 8th, he was in the Scottish Junior side which defeated the English at Celtic Park, 4-0.
Celtic then took a fancy to him though his career there was rather brief, whereupon he came to Douglas Park where he spent half a season as the regular centre half. On 15th March 1902 he was in the victorious Hamilton eleven which won the Lanarkshire Cup against Albion Rovers. While with Accies he again turned out for Celtic as a guest in a friendly match against Everton, on 28th April 1902. This was his second outing against the Merseyside club as he had turned out for Celtic two years earlier in another friendly fixture.
The new season 1902-03, took him to Cappielow and there he remained for two years before again signing for his local club, Motherwell. There he spent the next ten years before in 1914 being freed. Before the year was out he was again on the books at Fir Park for a further three terms.
On the last day of 1917 he moved to Wishaw Thistle before finally retiring in 1919. He survived a serious motor cycle crash in September 1913.
Debut on 17th September 1901 in a Qualifying Cup tie at home to Wishaw United.
Scottish League 18 Appearances 2 Goals
Scottish Qualifying Cup 1 Appearance
Lanarkshire Cup 4 Appearances