William Neill (rugby league)

William Neill
Personal information
Full name William Gladstone Neill
Nickname Webby
Born 1884
Paddington, New South Wales
Died 19 March 1964
Bexley, New South Wales
Playing information
Position fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1908–09 South Sydney 18 0 0 0 0
1910–13 Newtown 24 0 0 0 0
1914 Glebe 2 0 0 0 0
Total 44 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1909–11 Australia
1910–11 New South Wales 4 0 0 0 0
Source:

William "Webby" Neill (1884–1964) was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer of the early 20th century who later became a leading referee in the New South Wales Rugby Football League.

Neill played for South Sydney in the first ever NSWRFL premiership season in 1908[1] and that year went on to play in the first ever Grand final, which his team won. The following season Souths also won the premiership and he was first selected for the Australian national side that year. Neill moved to Newtown the following season, playing in their 1910 NSWRFL season grand final-winning team to make it three premierships in three years. The following year he was selected to go on the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, the second-ever. He played for another three seasons at Newtown before a final season with Glebe.[2]

Neill later took to refereeing in the NSWRFL. He oversaw matches in a long refereeing career from 1916 to 1932 and officiated in a number of Grand finals in that time.

He was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1931.[3]

Webby Neill is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No. 50

References

  1. ↑ Webby Neill at rabbitohs.com.au
  2. ↑ William Neill at yesterdayshero.com.au
  3. ↑ Referee, Sydney "New Life Members" 13 Jan 1931 (Page 14).

External links


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