Neville Neville (26 September 1949 – 7 August 2015) was a football agent and director. His sons are the former professional association football players Gary Neville and Phil Neville and his daughter is the professional netball player and coach Tracey Neville.
Cricket career Neville played cricket for Greenmount Cricket Club in the Bolton Cricket League during the 1980s.Peter Stafford (March 1989). Profile, Bolton Cricket League Review]; accessed 7 August 2015. His daughter Tracey cites this as her earliest sporting memory.Gareth A Davies (12 June 2006). My sport: Tracey Neville, telegraph.co.uk; accessed 7 August 2015.
Family Neville and his wife, Jill, the one-time general manager and Club Secretary of English Football League club Bury, had three children: Gary and twins Tracey and Phil.
Neville was the agent for his two sons. The elder Neville represented the two younger Nevilles during contract talks with their respective clubs.Tom Lutz and Barry Glendenning (16 February 2007). Not So Secret Agent "The Guardian"; accessed 18 December 2007.
When his eldest son Gary decided to postpone any testimonial match until his playing career was over, Neville stated that "In this day and age when players earn such fantastic amounts of money we think it would be better to create some kind of facility for the supporters.""Neville puts benefit on hold", bbc.co.uk, 21 August 2002; accessed 18 December 2007.
Football and charity work Neville was a director of club Bury of the English Football League."Extra Time", bbc.co.uk, 11 March 2002; accessed 7 August 2015. He was the spearhead and vice-chairman of the "Save our Shakers" appeal which was a bid to give financial assistance to the struggling football club after it had gone into administration.Neville Comes To Shakers' Aid, bbc.co.uk, 11 March 2002; accessed 7 August 2015.
The campaign was "brilliantly orchestrated"Forever Bury , Bury Football Club website, 1 June 2007; accessed 7 August 2015. by Neville and he was praised for tirelessly organising supporters groups, giving media interviews and working closely with the administrators to arrange a deal to secure the club's safety. In November 2015, the main stand at Gigg Lane was posthumously named after him as a tribute to his contributions as club director.
Name Neville achieved something of a cult status among football fans because of his unusual name. His name is part of what has been called "one of the best chants in football":Anything you can do..., observer.guardian.co.uk, 12 January 2003; accessed 7 August 2015.Paul Atherton (20 August 2002). Sport's family fortunes, bbc.co.uk; accessed 7 August 2015.
Neville Neville, they're in defence Neville Neville, their future's immense Neville Neville, they ain't half bad Neville Neville, the name of their dad
Neville Neville your future's immense Neville Neville you play in defence Neville Neville you ain't half bad Neville Neville is the name of your dad
(Sung to the tune of David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel")
Arrest On 26 March 2013, Neville was arrested by Greater Manchester Police on suspicion of indecent assault. He was released on bail until May of that year, pending further inquiries. He was found not guilty on 19 December 2013.
Death Neville died on 7 August 2015 in Sydney at the age of 65,Neville Neville dead, bbc.co.uk; accessed 7 August 2015. following a heart attack. He took ill while in Australia to support his daughter Tracey, England's netball coach, during the World Cup. Manchester United players wore black armbands during their game against Tottenham Hotspur on 8 August 2015 while the England netball team observed a minute's silence prior to their Third Place match, which they won. Neville's funeral took place on 27 August 2015 in Bury.
References