Neal Eardley

Not to be confused with Neal Ardley.
Neal Eardley

With Birmingham City in 2013 pre-season
Personal information
Full name Neal James Eardley
Date of birth (1988-11-06) 6 November 1988
Place of birth Llandudno, Wales
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) [1]
Playing position Right back
Club information
Current team
 Birmingham City
Number 2
Youth career
000?–2006 Oldham Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2009 Oldham Athletic 113 (10)
2009–2013 Blackpool 104 (2)
2013– Birmingham City 14 (0)
2015 → Leyton Orient (loan) 1 (0)
National team‡
2003–2004 Wales U17 3 (0)
2005 Wales U19 1 (0)
2006–2010 Wales U21 10 (1)
2007–2011 Wales 16 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:40, 18 December 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:40, 18 December 2015 (UTC)

Neal James Eardley (born 6 November 1988) is a Welsh international footballer who plays for Football League Championship club Birmingham City. His predominant position is as a right back. He previously played for Oldham Athletic and Blackpool, and represented Wales at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, before winning his first full cap in 2007.

Club career

Oldham Athletic

Born in Llandudno, Eardley made the transition from the Boundary Park youth system of Oldham Athletic to the first team in May 2006. He made his first team debut in a 1–1 draw versus Scunthorpe United on 6 May.[2]

In the 2006–07 season Eardley became a regular starter, initially in a more attacking role before being shifted to defence. However, it got off to a rough start, when he was sent off in the opening game on 5 August shortly after teammate Chris Taylor, as Oldham lost 1–0 to Tranmere Rovers.[3] In September he was given his first professional contract, lasting until June 2009.[4] He scored his first goal on 9 December 2006 in a 2–1 loss to Chesterfield from a free kick.[5] In his first season as a regular starter, Eardley made a total of 41 appearances, scoring two goals.[6]

The following season Eardley cemented his place as an integral member of the Oldham defence and was named captain during Sean Gregan's absence.[6] In October 2007 he signed a one-year extension to his contract, extending it until 2010.[7]

On 11 March 2008, he scored his first ever brace from penalty kicks in a 2–0 win over Bournemouth.[8] Almost two months later, he again had a multi-goal game in a 4–1 victory over Crewe Alexandra.[9] In total, he made 49 appearances, scoring six goals.[6]

Eardley was named in the 2008–09 season League One Team of the Year, along with teammate Chris Taylor.[10]

Blackpool

On 6 August 2009, Sky Sports reported that Oldham Athletic had accepted a bid for Eardley from Championship side Blackpool, whose manager, Ian Holloway, had been trying to sign him throughout the close season, with Eardley having been given permission to talk to the Seasiders and undergo a medical at Bloomfield Road.[11] The following day, he signed a two-year contract, with an option for a further 12 months, for an undisclosed fee,[12] that was reported to be about £350,000.[13] On 8 August he was an unused substitute as the Seasiders started the 2009–10 season with a 1–1 draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

On 18 August he made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Derby County at Bloomfield Road.[14] On 25 January 2010 he was named in the Press Association's Championship "Team of the Week", along with team-mate Charlie Adam following his performance two days before in the 3–2 home victory over Watford.[15][16]

On 8 February 2010 Eardley was one of three players, along with Barry Bannan and Ishmel Demontagnac, disciplined by Ian Holloway, when they were seen out at a nightclub two days previously in Blackpool following the home defeat to Leicester City, even though Eardley was nursing a knee problem, and was due to undergo treatment the following day. Holloway explained: "I'm disappointed – we'll have a party once we've got 52 points. If they think that's appropriate, then they're messing with the wrong man. Bannan's probably broken his toe but it was apparently good enough to go out dancing on a Saturday night. How can you be injured and be dancing? I like a dance with anybody but it's got to be the right time and when you're in a good mood. I'm not in a good mood when I lose and neither should they be." All three were dropped from the squad for the next game, away to Sheffield Wednesday.[17]

Eardley scored his first goal for Blackpool with a free-kick in a 2–2 draw with Everton in the Premier League at Bloomfield Road on 6 November 2010, coincidentally his birthday.[18] He was subsequently named in the Premier League Team of the Week, alongside teammate and fellow goalscorer David Vaughan.[19]

On 12 February 2011, four days after appearing for Wales in their friendly defeat to the Republic of Ireland, Eardley was left out of the starting eleven against Aston Villa at Bloomfield Road in favour of Alex Baptiste.[20]

Six months later, Eardley was left out of the squad for Blackpool's first game since their relegation from the Premier League, citing dissatisfaction at his 50% pay cut from the previous campaign.[21] For the following game, a League Cup first-round tie at Sheffield Wednesday, Eardley, playing in central midfield, captained the side.

Eardley signed a new, one-year contract with the club on 26 August 2011.[22] Eardley made his first appearance of the 2011–12 season, where he came on as a substitute in the 58th minutes against Brighton & Hove Albion and two minutes into coming on, he set up a goal for Kevin Phillips.[23] At the start of the season, Eardley had been on and off in the first team, due to injuries.[24][25] On 26 November 2011, Eardley scored a "stunning 25-yard strike" in a 2–2 draw against Birmingham City.[26] Eardley dedicated his goal against Birmingham City to Gary Speed, who died the following day.[27] Eardley started in the right-back for play-off final against West Ham United.[28] Eardley kept his first-team place despite making twenty-six appearance of 2011–12 season. As a result of his appearance, his stay at Blackpool was extended another 12 months,[29] which Holloway commented: "A huge event has happened in his life, with the birth of his little girl, and I really think this is the making of him."[30]

At the start of the 2012–13 season, Eardley kept his place in the first team, playing in either centre and right back in defence. However, his first-team place was gone following Holloway's departure and since have various changes of management. Following his first two appearances of 2013, Eardley made a return to the first team.[31] Towards the end of the 2012–13, Eardley would often make an appearance on and off the pitches, mostly spent on the bench. Eardley was offered a new contract by the club despite making twenty-three appearance in the season.[32][33] Eardley said of his season at Blackpool, quoting: "I've obviously not played as many games as I probably would have liked, but there has been a lot chopping and changing within the club and sometimes that happens."[34]

Birmingham City

In May 2013, Eardley agreed a three-year deal with Birmingham City, to begin on 1 July after his contract with Blackpool expired.[35] He started the first seven games of the season,[36] but half an hour into the match against Ipswich Town on 31 August suffered a knee injury, later diagnosed as a ruptured medial ligament and a partial tear to the anterior cruciate ligament, which was expected to keep him out for the season.[37] He returned to the starting eleven for the defeat at Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 2014–15 season,[38] but was unable to establish himself either as a starter or, latterly, in the matchday squad. In January 2015, he joined League One club Leyton Orient on loan for a month.[39] However, the loan spell was ended prematurely on 9 February.[40]

Eardley finally returned to Birmingham's first team for the League Cup win at Bristol Rovers in August 2015.[41] He was unable to dislodge Paul Caddis from the league starting eleven until 18 September, but after 44 minutes of the visit to Ipswich Town, he dislocated a shoulder.[42] He made his next first-team appearance on 5 December, in a 2–0 defeat at home to Huddersfield Town, started the next four matches, then missed a few weeks with a minor groin problem.[43] Returning on 9 January 2016 for the FA Cup-tie with AFC Bournemouth, he lasted until half-time, and was carried off the field with cruciate ligament damage.[44]

Club career statistics

As of match played 9 January 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Oldham Athletic 2005–06[45] League One1000000010
2006–07[46] League One36230101[lower-alpha 1]0412
2007–08[47] League One42650201[lower-alpha 2]0506
2008–09[48] League One34200201[lower-alpha 2]0372
Oldham Athletic total 1131080503012910
Blackpool 2009–10[49] Championship2401020—270
2010–11[50] Premier League3111010—331
2011–12[51] Championship26130103[lower-alpha 1]0331
2012–13[52] Championship230201000260
Blackpool total 10427050301192
Birmingham City 2013–14[36] Championship500020—70
2014–15[38] Championship401010—60
2015–16[41] Championship501020—80
Birmingham City total 140205000210
Leyton Orient 2014–15[38] League One10———10
Career total 232121701506027012
  1. 1 2 Appearances in Football League play-offs
  2. 1 2 Appearances in Football League Trophy

International career

Eardley made three appearances for Wales at under–17 level in 2003 and 2004. In 2005 he played once for the Welsh under–19s before making his debut with the under-21 side in 2007.

Eardley earned his first senior cap for Wales in a 1–0 win over Bulgaria on 22 August 2007, coming on as a substitute in the 46th minute.[53] He also played twice in Wales' unsuccessful Euro 2008 qualifying campaign,[6] a 2–1 win over San Marino on 17 October 2007 and on 17 November, a 2–2 draw with Republic of Ireland.

In March 2009 Eardley played in Wales under–21s' opening two games in Qualifying Group Three for the 2011 UEFA European Under–21 Championship, both against Luxembourg under–21s. The first game, on 27 March, was a 0–0 draw at Deich, Ettelbruck Luxembourg.[54] Then four days later he scored the first goal, from a penalty kick, in a 5–1 win at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli.[55]

On 6 June 2009 he made his first appearance in World Cup qualification as Wales beat Azerbaijan 1–0 in their 2010 World cup UEFA Group Four game at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan.[56]

He missed the under-21 side's third 2011 UEFA qualifying game, a 4–1 victory over Hungary under-21s on 11 August as he had been called up to the full Wales squad for a friendly against Montenegro at the Podgorica City Stadium in Montenegro the following day, which they lost 2–1, with Eardley replacing Sam Ricketts in the 57th minute.[57]

Later in August he was again named in Brian Flynn's Wales under-21 squad for their next 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group Three qualifying game against Italy under-21s on 4 September.[58] He helped Wales win 2–1, their first-ever victory over Italy at under-21 level. He was then called up to the full squad for their World Cup qualifier against Russia on 9 September, and was an unused substitute in the match, which Wales lost 3–1.

Honours

Individual

Blackpool

References

  1. ↑ "Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  2. ↑ "Oldham 1–1 Scunthorpe". BBC Sport. 6 May 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "Tranmere 1–0 Oldham". BBC Sport. 5 August 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  4. ↑ "Eardley earns first Oldham deal". bbc.co.uk. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  5. ↑ "Chesterfield 2–1 Oldham". BBC Sport. 9 December 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Neal Eardley". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  7. ↑ "Eardley extends Oldham contract". bbc.co.uk. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Oldham 2–0 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 11 March 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  9. ↑ "Crewe 1–4 Oldham". BBC Sport. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  10. ↑ "League One Team of the Year". Sky Sports. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  11. ↑ O'Rourke, Peter (6 August 2009). "Pool agree Eardley fee; Defender set for Bloomfield Road talks". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  12. ↑ "Eardley Arrives". Blackpool F.C. 7 August 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  13. ↑ Watt, William (7 August 2009). "Pool sign Welsh defender". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  14. ↑ "Blackpool vs Derby County". Blackpool F.C. 18 August 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  15. ↑ "Championship Team of the Week". The Football League. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  16. ↑ "Team Of The Week (25/01/2010)" (PDF). The Football League. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  17. ↑ "Ian Holloway axes Blackpool trio after nightclub visit". BBC Sport. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  18. ↑ "Blackpool 2–2 Everton" – BBC Sport, 6 November 2010
  19. ↑ "Premier League Team of the Week on 9 November 2010". Premier League Official Website. 15 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013.
  20. ↑ "Blackpool 1–1 Aston Villa" – BBC Sport, 12 February 2011
  21. ↑ "Defender could miss Hull match" – Blackpool Gazette, 5 August 2011
  22. ↑ "Eardley signs new Blackpool deal", Blackpool Gazette, 26 August 2011
  23. ↑ "Brighton 2–2 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  24. ↑ "Eardley hopes obstacles come to end". Blackpool Gazette. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  25. ↑ "Holloway finds secret weapon". Blackpool Gazette. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  26. ↑ "Blackpool 2–2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  27. ↑ "Eardley dedicates goal to Speed". Blackpool Gazette. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  28. ↑ "Blackpool 1 – 2 West Ham". BBC Sport. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  29. ↑ "Ormerod heads for Pool exit". Blackpool Gazette. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  30. ↑ "Big 12 months for Pool defender". Blackpool Gazette. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  31. ↑ "Eardley hoping for run in Pool side". Blackpool Gazette. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  32. ↑ "Thomas Ince & Matt Phillips: Blackpool take up one-year options". BBC Sport. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  33. ↑ "Blackpool extend contracts of Tom Ince, Matt Phillips and ten others". Sky Sports. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  34. ↑ "Eardley Reflects On Campaign". Blackpool F.C. 15 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  35. ↑ "Neil Eardley will be joining Birmingham at the start of July". Sky Sports. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  36. 1 2 "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  37. ↑ Walker, Andy (4 September 2013). "Eardley out for season". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  38. 1 2 3 "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  39. ↑ "Neal Eardley signs on loan". Leyton Orient F.C. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  40. ↑ Putnam, Sam (9 February 2015). "Neal Eardley returns to Blues". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  41. 1 2 "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  42. ↑ Dick, Brian (19 September 2015). "Neal Eardley: Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett on the unlucky defender's latest injury blow". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  43. ↑ Lewis, Peter (23 December 2015). "Welcome return for key Blues trio". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  44. ↑ Dick, Brian (15 January 2016). "Birmingham City defender suffers 'heartbreaking' injury likely to end season". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Neal Eardley in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  53. ↑ "Bulgaria 0–1 Wales". BBC Sport. 22 August 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  54. ↑ "Luxembourg U21 0–0 Wales U21". bbc.co.uk. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  55. ↑ "Wales U21 5–1 Luxembourg U21". bbc.co.uk. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  56. ↑ "Match Report: Azerbaijan – Wales". FIFA. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  57. ↑ "Montenegro 2–1 Wales". bbc.co.uk. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  58. ↑ "Eardley Named In Wales U-21 Party". Blackpool F.C. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.

External links

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