Football has always been Neill's main love and he fully supports the FA in its quest to support junior football through mini soccer and the 'Respect' campaign.

He is an avid Everton fan often travelling to home and away games. Even now, at the age of 44, he still plays football with “the boys” ... literally. He is the regular goalkeeper in a five-a-side league team which plays at the JJB Stadium in Wigan each week. He shows the youngsters what's what ... he's at least 20 years older than his team-mates,  but he was a safe pair of hands when the team won promotion this Spring. This year will be Neil's 35th year of playing football.

Now Neill hopes to transfer that passion and enthusiasm for the beautiful game to youngsters coming through the Eccleston teams. Neill, who works for Trinity Mirror Newspapers in Liverpool, first got the idea for coaching youngsters when he encouraged his own sons Ben and James in informal knock-abouts. He has taken that a step further and is now a qualified FA level 1 coach. He is registered to take his FA Level 2 Badge and referee course in February 2010. Additionaly he is seeking a goalkeeping qualification in June 2010, but in the meantime his sights are set on guiding and nurturing the youngsters to upcoming tournaments. He wants to stretch the kids and help them learn new skills. But ultimately he wants to maintain and develop their natural enthusiasm, win or lose. It's a challenge he's really looking forward to.