Walthamstow born, Steve Neville is, unsurprisingly, a life-long Spurs fan. But he was a schoolboy footballer with first Chelsea, then Ipswich. Then, out of the blue, Southampton invited him and two of his pals to attend a trial. To this day, Steve has no idea who recommended them.

A skilful, darting winger,

he made his debut while still an apprentice, but once Lawrie McMenemy had sold Gerry O’Brien, Southampton contrived to win the Cup and bid for promotion without fielding an orthodox wide man. The only exception was Neville’s five-game spell in the promotion season of 1977-78.

Back in the top flight, McMenemy promptly bought a winger – Terry Curran – and Steve was on his way to Exeter, where he moved inside and developed into a goal-scorer of some note.

His goals-per-game ratio improving over the course of his three spells at Exeter, he amassed 88 goals in 305 League appearances for the Grecians, out of a career total of 135 in 493. Contemplating his all-time Grecians XI in 2011, Echo Sports Editor and Exeter fan, Simon Carter, revealed that Neville “would certainly be in there.” Steve won silverware with all of his post-Dell clubs: the Division III title with Sheffield United, the Freight Rover Trophy with Bristol City and, in his final spell at Exeter, the Fourth Division title. Terry Cooper, a common denominator in those last two achievements, was his “best manager… as man-manager, tactician and motivator.” Top-scoring in his first season in Hong Kong, Steve was amused, in his mid-thirties, to be offered more money to stay than he ever earned in England. He returned to play and coach in the west country, before emigrating, in the late 1990s, to Australia. He initially assisted Trevor Morgan, who had featured at several stages of his career, at Western Australian side, Sorrento.

Becoming head coach when Morgan moved on – and “still inspired by John McGrath’s coaching methods” – Steve has racked up three divisional titles. His son, Scott, has progressed from Sorrento to play not only in the national “A” League, with Perth Glory, but for Australia’s Under-23 side. Steve is also involved in Play Football Abroad, a company that helps relocate ex-professionals. He was back in England in 2010 for Exeter’s “Three-Promotions Reunion” and was hoping to be at the London Olympics in 2012, were Scott to be playing for Australia, but Australia never qualified. In 2019 Scott was with Brisbane Roar still waiting to win his first full cap.