 WithBirmingham City in 2013 pre-season | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Neal James Eardley[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1988-11-06)6 November 1988 (age 37) | ||
| Place of birth | Llandudno, Wales | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Right back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Blackpool (U-18s coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Oldham Athletic | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2009 | Oldham Athletic | 113 | (10) |
| 2009–2013 | Blackpool | 104 | (2) |
| 2013–2016 | Birmingham City | 14 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | →Leyton Orient (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Hibernian | 2 | (0) |
| 2017 | Northampton Town | 10 | (0) |
| 2017–2020 | Lincoln City | 122 | (3) |
| 2020–2021 | Burton Albion | 10 | (0) |
| 2021 | →Barrow (loan) | 19 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Connah's Quay Nomads | 19 | (1) |
| Total | 414 | (16) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2004 | Wales U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2005 | Wales U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2010 | Wales U21 | 10 | (1) |
| 2007–2011 | Wales | 16 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Neal James Eardley (born 6 November 1988) is a Welsh former internationalfootballer who last played forCymru Premier championsConnah's Quay Nomads. He represented Wales atunder-17,under-19 andunder-21 levels, before winning the first of his 16 senior caps in August 2007. Eardley is now a coach for former clubBlackpool.[3]
He began his career atOldham Athletic, and made his first team debut in May 2006. He turned professional four months later and quickly became a regular first team player before he was named in the 2008–09League OnePFA Team of the Year. He was signed by Blackpool in August 2009 for a reported fee of £350,000. Blackpool were promoted out of theChampionship via the play-offs in2010, and he played 31Premier League matches in their 2010–11 relegation campaign. He spent a further two seasons at Blackpool, before he moved on toBirmingham City in July 2013. He struggled with injuries throughout his three-year stay at Birmingham, playing just 21 matches, as well as one appearance on loan atLeyton Orient in January 2015. He joined Scottish clubHibernian on a short-term deal in September 2016, and then returned to England to play forNorthampton Town in January 2017. He signed a short-term contract with Lincoln City in August 2017. On 4 August 2020, Eardley signed for League OneBurton Albion. He was released at the end of the 2020–21 season.
Born inLlandudno, Eardley graduated from the youth system atOldham Athletic to make his first team debut underRonnie Moore in a 1–1 draw withScunthorpe United atBoundary Park on 6 May 2006.[4] In the2006–07 season, Eardley became a regular starter under new managerJohn Sheridan, initially starting in a more attacking role before being shifted to defence. However, his season got off to a rough start, when he was sent off in the opening game on 5 August shortly after teammateChris Taylor was also red carded, as Oldham lost 1–0 toTranmere Rovers.[5] In September he was given his first professional contract, which was due to run until June 2009.[6] He scored his first goal with afree kick in a 2–1 loss atChesterfield on 9 December.[7] In his first season as a regular starter, Eardley made 41 appearances, scoring twice, as the "Latics" qualified for theLeague One play-offs, but were beaten byBlackpool at the semi-final stage.[8]
Thefollowing season Eardley cemented his place as an integral member of the Oldham defence and was namedcaptain duringSean Gregan's absence.[2] He signed a one-year extension to his contract in October, extending it until 2010.[9] On 11 March, he scored a brace frompenalty kicks in a 2–0 win overAFC Bournemouth.[10] Almost two months later, he again scored a brace in a 4–1 victory overCrewe Alexandra.[11] In total, he made 49 appearances and scored six goals as Oldham posted an eighth-place finish.[2]
Eardley earned praise from managerJoe Royle in April 2009, but despite missing matches through international call-ups was named in theLeague One Team of the Year for his performances across his 34 league appearances during the2008–09 campaign, alongside teammate Chris Taylor.[12][13] However Royle left the club and his successor,Dave Penney, signed cover at right-back in apparent anticipation at losing Eardley during the transfer window.[14]
Blackpool manager,Ian Holloway signed Eardley on 7 August 2009 for an undisclosed fee – reported to be about £350,000; Eardley signed a two-year contract, with an option for a further 12 months.[15][16][17] On 18 August, Eardley made his debut for the "Seasiders" in a 0–0 draw withDerby County atBloomfield Road.[18] He and teammateCharlie Adam were named in theChampionship Team of the Week following their performance in the 3–2 home victory overWatford on 23 January 2010.[19] However he was disciplined by Holloway the following month, along withBarry Bannan andIshmel Demontagnac, when they were seen out at a nightclub inBlackpool following a home defeat toLeicester City, even though Eardley had a knee problem and was due to undergo treatment the next day. Holloway explained: "I'm disappointed – we'll have a party once we've got 52 points". All three were dropped from the squad for the next game, away toSheffield Wednesday.[20] The2009–10 season ended on a high note though as Blackpool far exceeded their 52 points target to instead qualify for the play-offs with 70 points; they went on to beatCardiff City 3–2 in theplay-off final atWembley Stadium, though Eardley was not in the matchday squad.[21]
Eardley scored his first goal for the Tangerines with a free kick in a 2–2 draw withEverton in thePremier League at Bloomfield Road on 6 November 2010 – the day of his 21st birthday.[22] He was subsequently named in the Premier League Team of the Week, alongside teammate and fellow goalscorerDavid Vaughan.[23] He played 33 games across the2010–11 campaign, but could not prevent Blackpool from being relegated with a 4–2 defeat to championsManchester United atOld Trafford on 22 May.[24]
After Blackpool's relegation from the Premier League, Eardley's pay was cut by 50%: Holloway suggested he was "so messed up by the whole thing" that he would be left out of the squad for the opening game of the2011–12 season.[25] For the following game, aLeague Cup first-round tie at Sheffield Wednesday, Eardley, playing in central midfield, captained a weakened side and missed a penalty.[26] He made his first appearance in the league on 20 August; within two minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute with Blackpool 2–0 down toBrighton & Hove Albion; he set up a goal forKevin Phillips[27] and went on to produce a "brilliant display" that "helped Pool grab the unlikeliest of draws".[26] He signed a new one-year contract with the club on 26 August,[28] but injuries disrupted his first-team appearances in the early part of the season.[26][29] He scored a "25-yard screamer into the top corner" in a 2–2 draw withBirmingham City on 26 November which he dedicated toWales international managerGary Speed, who died the next day.[30] Eardley started at right-back in theplay-off final defeat againstWest Ham United,[31] taking his appearance total to 33 for the season.[32] The club took up their option of a further year on his contract to keep him at Bloomfield Road for another season.[33]
In September 2012, Holloway suggested that Eardley had matured over the previous year, during which his first child, a girl, had been born.[34] He remained a first-team regular untilMichael Appleton replaced Holloway as manager, but played less frequently thereafter,[35] and appeared even less underPaul Ince as he ended the2012–13 campaign with just 26 appearances to his name. Although disappointed by his lack of opportunity – "there has been a lot chopping and changing within the club and sometimes that happens" – he felt he had learnt from the experience and was settled at the club and in the area.[36]
In May 2013, Eardley agreed a three-year deal with Birmingham City, to begin on 1 July after his contract with Blackpool expired.[37] He started the first seven games of the2013–14 season,[38] and was described as "fast emerging as a key player in Birmingham City's new-look system" playing at wing-back under managerLee Clark.[39] Half an hour into the match againstIpswich Town on 31 August he suffered a knee injury, later diagnosed as a rupturedmedial ligament and a partial tear to theanterior cruciate ligament, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season.[40] He returned to the starting eleven for the defeat atMiddlesbrough on the opening day of the2014–15 season, but was unable to establish himself in the first team, and was not used in the Championship again following his red card during a 1–0 defeat atBlackburn Rovers on 21 October.[41][42] In January 2015, he joined League One clubLeyton Orient on loan for a month.[43] However, the loan spell was ended prematurely on 9 February after just one appearance.[44]
Eardley finally returned to Birmingham's first team for the League Cup win atBristol Rovers in August 2015.[45] He was unable to dislodgePaul Caddis from the Championship starting eleven until 18 September, but after 44 minutes of the visit to Ipswich Town, he dislocated a shoulder.[46] He made his next first-team appearance on 5 December, in a 2–0 defeat toHuddersfield Town atSt Andrew's, started the next four matches, then missed a few weeks with a minor groin problem.[47] Returning on 9 January 2016 for theFA Cup-tie with Bournemouth, he lasted until half-time, and was carried off the field with cruciate ligament damage.[48] He was released by Birmingham when his contract expired at the end of the season.[49]
"Every time he seems to get an innocuous bang in a game you almost fear the worst, he seems to be the unluckiest player going.".
— Birmingham managerGary Rowett said that he was "heartbroken" at the way injuries had wrecked Eardley's time at St Andrew's.[50]
On 28 September 2016, Eardley signed forScottish Championship clubHibernian on a short-term deal, due to run until January 2017.[51] He had impressed Hibs managerNeil Lennon on trial, winning a contract ahead ofPoland internationalFilip Modelski.[52] However he was unable to dislodge captainDavid Gray and leftEaster Road shortly before his contract was due to expire, having made only two substitute appearances for the side.[53]
On 12 January 2017, Eardley signed forEnglish League One sideNorthampton Town until the end of the2016–17 season.[53][54] He had originally been signed byRob Page, who was sacked before Eardley's international clearance came through, leavingPaul Wilkinson as caretaker-manager.[55] He had a bright start to his Cobblers career and established himself in the first team under new managerJustin Edinburgh.[56] However he featured in only one further match following a 2–1 defeat to former club Oldham atSixfields on 28 February, and was released in May 2017.[57][58]
After a trial atPort Vale in July 2017,[59] Eardley joinedLincoln City, newly promoted toLeague Two, on a short-term contract until January 2018. According to managerDanny Cowley, "Technically and tactically you can see he's played in the Premier League and will be a good role model. He's one of those that makes everyone around him 5% better."[60] Eardley went straight into the starting eleven for the opening fixture of the2017–18 season, a 2–2 draw away toWycombe Wanderers.[61] He later extended his deal until the end of the season,[62] and after he was voted Player of the Season he then re-signed until 2020.[63] On 28 May 2020, it was announced Eardley will leave the club at the end of his current contract.[64]
Eardley joinedBurton Albion on 4 August 2020 on a one-year deal.[65]
On 14 January 2021, he moved on loan toBarrow.[66]
On 12 May 2021 it was announced that he would be one of 12 players leaving Burton at the end of the season.[67]
In October 2021 he moved into theCymru Premier joiningConnah's Quay Nomads.[68]
Eardley made three appearances for Wales atunder–17 level in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, he played once for theWelsh under–19s before making his debut with theunder-21 side in 2007. In March 2009, Eardley played in Wales under–21s' opening two games inqualifying for the 2011 European Championships, both againstLuxembourg under–21s. The first game, on 27 March, was a 0–0 draw at Deich, Ettelbruck,[69] then four days later he scored the first goal, from apenalty kick, in a 5–1 win atParc y Scarlets,Llanelli.[70] He started Wales under-21s' 2–1 win againstItaly, also a Euro 2011 qualifier,[71] which was their first ever victory over Italy at under-21 level.
Eardley earned his first senior cap forWales underJohn Toshack in a 1–0 win overBulgaria on 22 August 2007, coming on as asubstitute in the 46th minute.[72] He also played twice in Wales' unsuccessfulEuro 2008 qualifying campaign,[2] in a 2–1 win overSan Marino on 17 October 2007 and a 2–2 draw withRepublic of Ireland on 17 November. On 6 June 2009, Eardley made his first appearance in aWorld Cup match, as Wales beatAzerbaijan 1–0 in their2010 qualifier at theTofik Bakhramov Stadium inBaku.[73] He failed to win a cap followingChris Coleman's appointment as manager in January 2012; he had been called up by Coleman in 2013 but was forced to pull out due to the first of one of the numerous injuries that afflicted him during his time at Birmingham.[74]
Speaking in December 2007, Eardley toldFourFourTwo magazine that he felt his strength was his attacking ability, though he needed to improve on his heading skills.[75]
He played alongside his brother at Oldham Athletic, who went on to coach at hometown clubLlandudno.[76]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Oldham Athletic | 2005–06[77] | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006–07[8] | League One | 36 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 41 | 2 | |
| 2007–08[78] | League One | 42 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 50 | 6 | |
| 2008–09[79] | League One | 34 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
| Total | 113 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 129 | 10 | ||
| Blackpool | 2009–10[80] | Championship | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | |
| 2010–11[81] | Premier League | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2011–12[32] | Championship | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2012–13[82] | Championship | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| Total | 104 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 119 | 2 | ||
| Birmingham City | 2013–14[38] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[41] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16[45] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Total | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| Leyton Orient (loan) | 2014–15[41] | League One | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Hibernian | 2016–17[83] | Scottish Championship | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Northampton Town | 2016–17[83] | League One | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| Lincoln City | 2017–18[84] | League Two | 44 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8[e] | 0 | 54 | 1 |
| 2018–19[85] | League Two | 43 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 47 | 2 | |
| 2019–20[86] | League One | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| Total | 122 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 140 | 3 | ||
| Burton Albion | 2020–21[87] | League One | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[f] | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Barrow (loan) | 2020–21[87] | League Two | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| Connah's Quay Nomads | 2021–22[88] | Cymru Premier | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | |
| Career total | 414 | 16 | 25 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 477 | 16 | ||
| Wales national team[89] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 | 4 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 0 |
Lincoln City
Individual
