Neil Brisco

Neil Brisco

Personal information
Full name	Neil Anthony Brisco[1]
Date of birth	26 January 1978[2]
Place of birth	Wigan, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
000?–1997	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1997–1998	Manchester City	0	(0)
1998–2004	Port Vale	119	(2)
2004–2006	Rochdale	27	(0)
2004	→ Northwich Victoria (loan)	5	(1)
2005	→ Northwich Victoria (loan)	5	(0)
2006	Scarborough	0	(0)
2006	Barrow	?	(?)
2006	Mossley	2	(0)
2007–2009	Leigh RMI	?	(?)
2009	Chorley	1	(0)
Total		159+	(3+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Neil Anthony Brisco (born 26 January 1978) is an English former footballer. A versatile player, he was comfortable both in defence and in midfield.^[3]

A former Manchester City trainee, he made his name in a six-year spell with Port Vale between 1998 and 2004, lifting the Football League Trophy in 2001. Following this he spent two years at Rochdale, also playing on loan at Northwich Victoria, before entering non-league football permanently in 2006. He then spent brief periods with Scarborough, Barrow, and Mossley. Following a couple of years with Leigh RMI, he retired from the game at Chorley in 2009, so as to concentrate on his work with the prison service.

Playing career

Brisco started his career as a trainee with Manchester City, though he never made it onto the field for the Maine Road club. At the end of the 1997–98 season City lost their First Division status, though Brisco maintained his by signing with Port Vale. He made his debut in the 1998–99 season, playing 87 minutes of the club's 3–0 defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup. In 1999–2000 he played fourteen games, though Vale were relegated into the Second Division.

He scored his first competitive goal on 10 February 2001, in a 2–1 victory over Bournemouth at Vale Park.^[4] Overall he was restricted to 21 appearances in 2000–01, and so underwent surgery on an ankle injury to try to regain match fitness.^[5] Despite this he was still a part of Brian Horton's 2001 Football League Trophy winning first eleven.^[6] He became a key first player in the 2001–02 campaign, making 43 appearances in league and cup. He found his first team chances more limited during the 2002–03 season, and played just 24 games as the "Valiants" endured administration. He did though manage to find the net on 15 March, in a 1–1 draw with local rivals Crewe Alexandra at the Alexandra Stadium. He was allowed a move to Stockport County in August 2003, with manager Carlton Palmer wanting a dominant midfielder; however Brisco failed a medical because of a knee injury and the move did not go through. He made thirty appearances in 2003–04, and though manager Martin Foyle was disappointed with his side for failing to reach the play-offs, he still offered Brisco a one-month period in which to mull over a new contract offer.^[7] He chose to reject the deal, and so left to join League Two Rochdale.^[8]

However he proved to be unhappy at Spotland, and requested a loan move after a few months.^[9] He got his wish in November, as he joined Northwich Victoria of the Conference National.^[10] After five games, Rochdale manager Steve Parkin denied "Vics" manager Steve Burr's request to extend the loan into a second month.^[11] Brisco quickly returned to the Victoria Stadium though, joining the club on loan in January 2005.^[12] The loan ran into February, as Brisco helped the club to climb out of the relegation zone.^[13] Regardless of this, following his return to his parent club Northwich were demoted to the Conference North for the 2005–06 season due to ground concerns. Brisco went on to play seventeen games for Rochdale in 2005–06, despite struggling with a knee injury.^[14] He was not offered a new contract at the end of the campaign.^[15]

He spent brief periods with Conference North sides Scarborough and Barrow, before heading into Northern Premier League Premier Division with Mossley in November 2006.^[16] He spell with Mossley lasted a matter of weeks, and he left after playing just two games.^[17] Following a couple of years with Leigh RMI,^[18] he joined Chorley in November 2009. After only one Northern Premier League Division One North game for the club he retired from football, so as to concentrate on his work in the prison service.^[19]

Statistics

Season	Club	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other[20]		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1996–97	Manchester City	First Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1997–98			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1998–99[21]	Port Vale	First Division	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
1999–2000[22]			13	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	14	0
2000–01[23]		Second Division	17	1	0	0	0	0	5	0	22	1
2001–02[24]			37	0	1	0	2	0	3	0	43	0
2002–03[25]			24	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	24	1
2003–04[26]			27	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	30	0
Total			119	2	5	0	2	0	9	0	135	2
2004–05[27]	Rochdale	League Two	11	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	12	0
2004–05[27]	Northwich Victoria (loan)	Conference National	10	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	11	1
2005–06[28]	Rochdale	League Two	16	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	17	0
Total			27	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	29	0
2006–07	Scarborough	Conference North	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006–07	Mossley	Northern Premier Division	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Total			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
2009–10	Chorley	Northern Division One	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Total			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Career total			159	3	5	0	2	0	12	0	178	3

Notes

• Statistics at Barrow and Leigh RMI unavailable.

Honours

with Port Vale

• Football League Trophy winner: 2001^[29]

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 62. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
2. "Neil Brisco". port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
3. Westbrook, Ian (18 April 2001). "Port Vale pen pictures". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
4. "Widdrington fails in appeal bid". BBC Sport. 15 February 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
5. "McPhee in talks with Port Vale". BBC Sport. 25 May 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
6. "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
7. "Foyle releases Vale trio". BBC Sport. 11 May 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
8. "Dale snap up Brisco". BBC SPORT. 4 June 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
9. "Brisco can leave Rochdale on loan". BBC Sport. 9 November 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
10. "Burr lures Brisco from Rochdale". BBC Sport. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
11. "Brisco ends Northwich loan spell". BBC Sport. 22 December 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
12. "Brisco returns to Vics on loan". BBC Sport. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
13. "Burr keen to strengthen midfield". BBC Sport. 28 February 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
14. "Brisco undergoes knee operation". BBC Sport. 27 April 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
15. "Rochdale boss makes player cuts". BBC Sport. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
16. "Lilywhites Bag Brisco". mossleyweb.com. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
17. "Brisco Bombed Out". mossleyweb.com. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
18. "351 Neil Brisco". clarkechroniclersfootballers.blogspot.com. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
19. "Brisco, Neil". chorleyfc.com. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
20. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
21. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
22. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
23. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
24. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
25. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
26. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
27. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
28. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
29. "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

External links

• Neil Brisco career statistics at Soccerbase