Neal Eardley
Neal James Eardley (born 6 November 1988) is a former Wales international footballer who last played for Cymru Premier champions Connah’s Quay Nomads. He represented Wales at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, before winning the first of his 16 senior caps in August 2007. Eardley is now a coach for former club Blackpool.
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With Birmingham City in 2013 pre-season | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Neal James Eardley | ||
| Date of birth | 6 November 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Llandudno, Wales | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | 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 | |||
He began his career at Oldham 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 2008–09 League One PFA Team of the Year. He was signed by Blackpool in August 2009 for a reported fee of £350,000. Blackpool were promoted out of the Championship via the play-offs in 2010, and he played 31 Premier League matches in their 2010–11 relegation campaign. He spent a further two seasons at Blackpool, before he moved on to Birmingham 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 at Leyton Orient in January 2015. He joined Scottish club Hibernian on a short-term deal in September 2016, and then returned to England to play for Northampton Town in January 2017. He signed a short-term contract with Lincoln City in August 2017. On 4 August 2020, Eardley signed for League One Burton Albion. He was released at the end of the 2020–21 season.