April 28, 1990, remains one of the finest days in Exeter City's history as, on the back of an incredible home record, we secured our first title in our club's history. During this month we will be taking a look back - in alphabetical order - of the main players in that title winning side. This time we look at a reliable and versatile player who made 20 appearances during the title winning campaign.
STEVE NEVILLE
STRIKER/WINGER
1989/90 APPEARANCES: 42
GOALS:14
Having played 305 games for the Grecians and netted 98 goals, Steve Neville is a player who is very fondly remembered by the St James Park faithful.
He had three separate spells at Exeter City, the first coming in 1978 when he signed for £15,000 from Southampton at the age of 20. He spent the next three seasons at St James Park and helped guide the club to finishes of 9th, 8th and 11th in the Third Division with 22 goals in 93 games.
Neville had a similar goalscoring record in his second spell at City, following a promotion winning campaign with Sheffield United. However, the Grecians did not hit the previous heights that Neville experienced in his first spell at the club and we were relegated in the 1983/84 campaign.
He first joined up with City’s title winning manager Terry Cooper when he signed him for Bristol City in 1984. Neville played some of his best football at Ashton Gate netting 40 goals in 134 games. And when Cooper took charge of Exeter City, Neville joined him at St James Park for his third spell in red and white as assistant player-manager.
He would score 14 goals in 42 games in the title-winning campaign before leaving for a third and final time to win another league title South China AA, in Hong Kong. He then moved to Australia, where he is still listed as their first-team assistant coach of Sorrento FC at the age of 62.
This article has been created using material from the Grecian Archive and ECFC Museum as part of the 'Celebrating our Heritage' programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by the University of Exeter.