Liam O'Neil (footballer)

Liam Christian James O'Neil (born 31 July 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a defender and midfielder for League Two club Cambridge United.

Liam O'Neil
Personal information
Full name Liam Christian James O'Neil[1]
Date of birth (1993-07-31) 31 July 1993
Place of birth Cambridge, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position(s) Defender/midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Cambridge United
Number 8
Youth career
0000–2005 Cambridge United
2005–2012 Histon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 West Bromwich Albion 3 (0)
2012 → VPS (loan) 18 (1)
2014–2015 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 21 (2)
2015–2017 Chesterfield 43 (2)
2017– Cambridge United 48 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:00, 12 October 2018 (UTC)

Career

West Bromwich Albion

O'Neil is a product of the West Bromwich Albion youth academy, having joined from Non-League club Histon as a youth player.[2] In May 2012, O'Neil signed his first professional contract with the club.[3][4]

O'Neil then debuted for West Brom in a crucial 2–1 victory over Swansea City on 15 March 2014,[5] and then went on to make two further appearances from the bench against Stoke City[6] and Norwich City respectively.[7] He subsequently was rewarded for his progress with a new deal in May 2014, officially putting pen to paper on a one-year contract, plus a further year's option in the club's favour, on 1 July 2014.[8] He made his Football League Cup debut on 24 September 2014 against Hull City; West Brom ended up winning the match 3–2. O'Neil's performance was praised by Manager Alan Irvine.[9] He made another appearance for West Brom in the League Cup against AFC Bournemouth on 28 October 2014 though West Brom ended up losing the match 2–1.[10]

At the end of the 2014–15 season, O'Neil had his contract extended for another season.[11]

Loan spells

O'Neil gained professional experience during a loan spell at Finnish club VPS in summer 2012.[12] He quickly made an impact for the club in the first team and was named May's Team of the Month.[13] O'Neil would score his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 win over Turun Palloseura on 14 July 2012.[14] O'Neil went on to make eighteen appearance for VPS before returning to England in early August.

In late-November, O'Neil joined Football League One side Scunthorpe United on a one-month loan.[15] Making three appearance so far at the club earned O'Neil a loan extension until 13 January 2014.[16] O'Neil then scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 win over Rochdale on Boxing Day.[17] Soon after, O'Neil's loan spell with Scunthorpe United was soon extended until the end of the season.[18] A few weeks later on 31 January 2015, O'Neil scored his second goal for the club, in a 4–1 win over Leyton Orient.[19] However, O'Neil was dropped from the squad before it was revealed he injured his ankle, which saw him returned to his parent club early.[20][21]

Chesterfield

On 24 August 2015, O'Neil joined League One side Chesterfield for an undisclosed fee.[22]

Cambridge United

On 31 January 2017, O'Neil joined Cambridge United on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee.[23]

In April 2018 O'Neil was awarded the 2017/18 EFL Sky Bet League Two PFA Player in the Community in recognition of his community work with Cambridge United Community Trust.[24]

In August 2019 O'Neil was fined £3,000 by the Football Association after admitting "improper conduct".[25]

Personal life

Born in Cambridge, England, O'Neil has said he is open to play for Wales national football team, as his mother is from Wales.[26]

Career statistics
As of match played 3 December 2016.[27]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Bromwich Albion 2013–14 Premier League 3000000030
2014–15 Premier League 0000200020
VPS (loan) 2012 Veikkausliiga 181200000201
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2014–15 League One 212000000212
Chesterfield 2015–16 League One 260200010290
2016–17 League One 101200000121
Total 361400010411
Career Total 784602010874

References
  1. "Premier League Retained List 2013/14" (PDF). Premier League. May 2014. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  2. "Liam O'Neill". West Bromwich Albion F.C. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  3. "West Bromwich Albion: Youngsters earn themselves new deals". Birmingham Mail. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. "VPS:n walesilaispakille ammattilaissopimus West Bromwichiin". Pohjalainen (in Finnish). 25 May 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  5. "West Brom Albion 2 – 1 Swansea City". BBC Sport. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  6. "West Bromwich Albion 1 – 2 Stoke City". BBC Sport. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  7. "Norwich City 0 – 1 West Bromwich Albion". BBC Sport. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  8. "O'Neil rewarded with new Albion deal". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  9. "Alan Irvine hails Liam O'Neil after youngster comes into West Brom team at the last minute and helps Baggies beat Hull 3–2". Daily Mail. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  10. "A.F.C. Bournemouth 2 – 1 West Bromwich Albion". BBC Sport. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  11. "Young trio retained by Albion". =West Bromwich Albion F.C. 25 May 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  12. "Liam O'Neil lainalle VPS-paitaan" (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  13. "Toukokuun joukkue nimetty" (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  14. "TPS voittoon Vaasassa". Iltalehti (in Finnish). 14 July 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  15. "Liam O'Neil: West Brom midfielder joins Scunthorpe on loan". BBC Sport. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  16. "O'NEIL LOAN EXTENDED". Scunthorpe United F.C. 19 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  17. "Scunthorpe United 2 – 1 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  18. "West Bromwich Albion midfielder Liam O'Neil to stay with Scunthorpe". Express and Star. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  19. "Leyton Orient 1 – 4 Scunthorpe United". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  20. "TWO CHANGES BEFORE POSH HOME CLASH". Scunthorpe United F.C. 3 April 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  21. "INJURED O'NEIL RETURNS TO WEST BROM". Scunthorpe United F.C. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  22. "Liam O'Neil: West Bromwich Albion midfielder joins Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  23. "Liam O'Neil returns to Cambridge United on three-and-a-half year contract". Cambridge United F.C. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  24. https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2018/april/oneil-community-player-award/
  25. "Midfielder fined £3,000 for misconduct at Valley Parade". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  26. "O'Neil ottanut nopeasti paikkansa VPS:ssa" (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. 10 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  27. Liam O'Neil at Soccerbase
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