Billy Neil - ex Ranger RIP

[SteveC 150]

The post below is lifted from FF. It was posted by "graemeinnes". It will not take you long to see why I thought it appropriate to copy here:

 

 

Billy Neil - ex Ranger RIP

Sad news about Lanark man, Billy Neil, who passed away last week.

 

Mr Neil played for Glasgow Rangers under Bill Struth, before moving to Bradford Park Avenue.

 

Mr Neil's family had recently donated a number of items including photographs of his playing days, team sheets, tickets and match day programmes.

 

We feel this would be a fitting time to post these, and have included the article from the Bradford based "Telegraph and Argus" newspaper, who have given us their permission to use their text.

 

A true gentleman, and he will be sadly missed.

 

Thoughts are with his family.

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Telegraph and Argus, 30th January 2016

 

FORMER Bradford Park Avenue player William 'Billy' Neil has died at the age of 91.

 

The midfielder played for a host of Scottish clubs in the 1940s before moving south to join Park Avenue, where he played alongside club legend Len Shackleton.

 

Despite plans to return north of the border, Mr Neil remained for the rest of his life in his "adopted home" of Bradford, where he had made many friends.

 

Mr Neil passed away peacefully at Wingfields Nursing Home in Bingley on January 26.

 

Originally from Lanark in Scotland, Mr Neil started his career at the Lanark Air Training Corps before signing professionally at Glasgow Rangers in 1943.

 

His career took him to Dumbarton, Greenock Morton and Stirling Albion before he decided to move south of the border, signing at Avenue in 1947.

 

Mr Neil played as a midfielder alongside renowned Avenue players such as Shackleton, Johnnie Downie and Chick Farr, Ron Greenwood and Billy Elliott.

 

He also returned to the club as a coach in 1957, along with coaching junior teams in East Brierley.

 

Mr Neil's daughter, Vicky Reynolds, said that when he father retired the family had planned to move back to Lanark but ended up staying in Wibsey for the next 65 years.

 

She said: "My dad's intention was to go back but ended up staying in Bradford, I think the main reason he stayed was because of the friends he made here; it became a home to him.

 

"Although all of our family are still in Lanark and he always referred to that as his home, Bradford was his adopted home."

 

While he played, Mr Neil also worked part time as a joiner, and after retiring became a civil engineer before working for the Highways Department of the West Yorkshire and Bradford Metropolitan District Councils.

 

He was also a keen golfer, and was a long term member of South Bradford Golf Club.

 

"He took up golf in his 50s and managed to get down to a ten handicap; he was also club president for a year."

 

Mrs Reynolds said that despite working and playing football, he always took time to play with her and her sister as children.

 

"Some of my fondest memories of my dad are our trips to Scotland in the school holidays to see family in Lanark.

 

"It would take us seven or eight hours to drive there, and when we got there he was like a local celebrity, he couldn't walk down the street without being stopped by people wanting to talk to him."

 

Mr Neil is survived by his wife Grace, 89, who he was married to for 65 years.

 

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Mr Neil has two daughters, Vicky, 61, and Val, 57, and has two grandchildren, Jamie and Dominic, aged 24 and 17, respectively.

 

The funeral of Mr Neil will be held at Scholemoor Crematorium on Friday, February 5, at 12.40pm. People who attend will be able to make donations to Bradford Park Avenue.

 

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.u...otballer_dies/

[Frankie 8,816]

Sad news - thanks for sharing ...

[pete 2,511]

Sad news - thanks for sharing ...

 

While sad, death is the only certainty we all have. At 91 he had a really good innings. That won't make it any easier for the family though. Wishing them all the strength they need. RIP!

[aweebluesoandso 290]

RIP Billy.