Neal Eardley

Neal James Eardley (born 6 November 1988) is a Welsh international footballer who plays for Blackpool. His predominant position is as a right back. He previously played for Oldham Athletic and has represented Wales at under-17, under-19, under-21 levels before winning his first full cap in 2007.

Club career

Oldham Athletic

Born in Llandudno, Eardley made the transition from the Boundary Park youth system of Oldham Athletic to the first team in May 2006. He made his first team debut in a 1–1 draw versus Scunthorpe United on 6 May.^[2]

In the 2006–07 season Eardley became a regular starter, initially in a more attacking role before being shifted to defence. However, it got off to a rough start, when he was sent off in the opening game on 5 August shortly after teammate Chris Taylor, as Oldham lost 1–0 to Tranmere Rovers.^[3] In September he was given his first professional contract, lasting until June 2009.^[4] He scored his first goal on 9 December 2006 in a 2–1 loss to Chesterfield from a free kick.^[5] In his first season as a regular starter, Eardley made a total of 41 appearances, scoring two goals.^[6]

The following season Eardley cemented his place as an integral member of the Oldham defence and was named captain during Sean Gregan's absence.^[6] In October 2007 he signed a one-year extension to his contract, extending it until 2010.^[7]

On 11 March 2008, he scored his first ever brace from penalty kicks in a 2–0 win over Bournemouth.^[8] Almost two months later, he again had a multi-goal game in a 4–1 victory over Crewe Alexandra.^[9] In total, he made 49 appearances, scoring six goals.^[6]

Eardley was named in the 2008–09 season League One Team of the Year, along with teammate Chris Taylor.^[10]

Blackpool

On 6 August 2009, Sky Sports reported that Oldham Athletic had accepted a bid for Eardley from Championship side Blackpool, whose manager, Ian Holloway, had been trying to sign him throughout the close-season, with Eardley having been given permission to talk to the Seasiders and undergo a medical at Bloomfield Road.^[11] The following day, he signed a two-year contract, with an option for a further 12 months, for an undisclosed fee,^[12] that was reported to be about £350,000.^[13] On 8 August he was an unused substitute as the Seasiders started the 2009–10 season with a 1–1 draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

On 18 August he made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Derby County at Bloomfield Road.^[14] On 25 January 2010 he was named in the Press Association's Championship "Team of the Week", along with team-mate Charlie Adam following his performance two days before in the 3–2 home victory over Watford.^[15][16]

On 8 February 2010 Eardley was one of three players, along with Barry Bannan and Ishmel Demontagnac, disciplined by Ian Holloway, when they were seen out at a nightclub two days previously in Blackpool following the home defeat to Leicester City, even though Eardley was nursing a knee problem, and was due to undergo treatment the following day. Holloway explained: "I'm disappointed – we'll have a party once we've got 52 points. If they think that's appropriate, then they're messing with the wrong man. Bannan's probably broken his toe but it was apparently good enough to go out dancing on a Saturday night. How can you be injured and be dancing? I like a dance with anybody but it's got to be the right time and when you're in a good mood. I'm not in a good mood when I lose and neither should they be." All three were dropped from the squad for the next game, away to Sheffield Wednesday.^[17]

Eardley scored his first goal for Blackpool with a free-kick in a 2–2 draw with Everton in the Premier League at Bloomfield Road on 6 November 2010, coincidentally his birthday.^[18] He was subsequently named in the Premier League Team of the Week, alongside teammate and fellow goalscorer David Vaughan.^[19]

On 12 February 2011, four days after appearing for Wales in their friendly defeat to the Republic of Ireland, Eardley was left out of the starting eleven against Aston Villa at Bloomfield Road in favour of Alex Baptiste.^[20]

Six months later, Eardley was left out of the squad for Blackpool's first game since their relegation from the Premier League, citing dissatisfaction at his 50% pay cut from the previous campaign.^[21] For the following game, a League Cup first-round tie at Sheffield Wednesday, Eardley, playing in central midfield, captained the side.

Eardley signed a new, one-year contract with the club on 26 August 2011.^[22]

Club career statistics

As of 2 December 2011.

Notes

a. 1 league play-off appearance for Oldham Athletic in 2007 (included in 2006–07 total)
b. All Football League Trophy results are included in totals

International career

Eardley made three appearances for Wales at under–17 level in 2003 and 2004. In 2005 he played once for the Welsh under–19s before making his debut with the under-21 side in 2007.

Eardley earned his first senior cap for Wales in a 1–0 win over Bulgaria on 22 August 2007, coming on as a substitute in the 46th minute.^[23] He also played twice in Wales' unsuccessful Euro 2008 qualifying campaign,^[6] a 2–1 win over San Marino on 17 October 2007 and on 17 November, a 2–2 draw with Republic of Ireland.

In March 2009 Eardley played in Wales under–21s' opening two games in Qualifying Group Three for the 2011 UEFA European Under–21 Championship, both against Luxembourg under–21s. The first game, on 27 March, was a 0–0 draw at Deich, Ettelbruck Luxembourg.^[24] Then four days later he scored the first goal, from a penalty kick, in a 5–1 win at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli.^[25]

On 6 June 2009 he made his first appearance in World Cup qualification as Wales beat Azerbaijan 1–0 in their 2010 World cup UEFA Group Four game at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan.^[26]

He missed the under-21 sides third 2011 UEFA qualifying game, a 4–1 victory over Hungary under-21s on 11 August as he had been called up to the full Wales squad for a friendly against Montenegro at the Podgorica City Stadium in Montenegro the following day, which they lost 2–1, with Eardley replacing Sam Ricketts in the 57th minute.^[27]

Later in August he was again named in Brian Flynn's Wales under-21 squad for their next 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group Three qualifying game against Italy under-21s on 4 September.^[28] He helped Wales win 2–1, their first-ever victory over Italy at under-21 level. He was then called up to the full squad for their World Cup qualifier against Russia on 9 September, and was an unused substitute in the match, which Wales lost 3–1.

Honours

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year: 2008–09

Blackpool

• Championship play-off final winner: 2009–10

References

External links

• Neal Eardley player profile at blackpoolfc.co.uk
• Neal Eardley career stats at Soccerbase