Neil Brisco

Neil Anthony Brisco (born 26 January 1978) is an English former footballer. A versatile player, he was comfortable both in defence and in midfield.[3]

Neil Brisco
Personal information
Full name Neil Anthony Brisco[1]
Date of birth (1978-01-26) 26 January 1978[2]
Place of birth Wigan, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
000?–1997 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Manchester City 0 (0)
1998–2004 Port Vale 119 (2)
2004–2006 Rochdale 27 (0)
2004 → Northwich Victoria (loan) 5 (1)
2005 → Northwich Victoria (loan) 5 (0)
2006 Scarborough 0 (0)
2006 Barrow ? (?)
2006 Mossley 2 (0)
2007–2009 Leigh RMI ? (?)
2009 Chorley 1 (0)
Total 159+ (3+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A former Manchester City trainee, he made his name in a six-year spell with Port Vale between 1998 and 2004, lifting the Football League Trophy in 2001. Following this he spent two years at Rochdale, also playing on loan at Northwich Victoria, before entering non-league football permanently in 2006. He then spent brief periods with Scarborough, Barrow, and Mossley. Following a couple of years with Leigh RMI, he retired from the game at Chorley in 2009, so as to concentrate on his work with the prison service.

Playing career

Manchester City

Brisco started his career as a trainee with Manchester City, though he never made it onto the field for the Maine Road club. At the end of the 1997–98 season City lost their First Division status, though Brisco maintained his by signing with Port Vale.

Port Vale

He made his Port Vale debut in the 1998–99 season, playing 87 minutes of the club's 3–0 defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup. In 1999–2000 he played fourteen games, though Vale were relegated into the Second Division. He scored his first competitive goal on 10 February 2001, in a 2–1 victory over Bournemouth at Vale Park.[4] Overall, he was restricted to 21 appearances in 2000–01, and so underwent surgery on an ankle injury to try to regain match fitness.[5] Despite this he was still a part of Brian Horton's 2001 Football League Trophy winning first eleven.[6] He became a key first player in the 2001–02 campaign, making 43 appearances in league and cup. He found his first team chances more limited during the 2002–03 season, and played just 24 games as the "Valiants" endured administration. He did though manage to find the net on 15 March, in a 1–1 draw with local rivals Crewe Alexandra at the Alexandra Stadium. He was allowed a move to Stockport County in August 2003, with manager Carlton Palmer wanting a dominant midfielder; however Brisco failed a medical because of a knee injury and the move did not go through. He made thirty appearances in 2003–04, and though manager Martin Foyle was disappointed with his side for failing to reach the play-offs, he still offered Brisco a one-month period in which to mull over a new contract offer.[7] He chose to reject the deal, and so left to join League Two Rochdale.[8]

Rochdale

However, he proved to be unhappy at Spotland, and requested a loan move after a few months.[9] He got his wish in November, as he joined Northwich Victoria of the Conference National.[10] After five games, Rochdale manager Steve Parkin denied "Vics" manager Steve Burr's request to extend the loan into a second month.[11] Brisco quickly returned to the Victoria Stadium though, joining the club on loan in January 2005.[12] The loan ran into February, as Brisco helped the club to climb out of the relegation zone.[13] Regardless of this, following his return to his parent club Northwich were demoted to the Conference North for the 2005–06 season due to ground concerns. Brisco went on to play seventeen games for Rochdale in 2005–06, despite struggling with a knee injury.[14] He was not offered a new contract at the end of the campaign.[15]

Later career

He spent brief periods with Conference North sides Scarborough and Barrow, before heading into Northern Premier League Premier Division with Mossley in November 2006.[16] He spell with Mossley lasted a matter of weeks, and he left after playing just two games.[17] Following a couple of years with Leigh RMI,[18] he joined Chorley in November 2009. After only one Northern Premier League Division One North game for the club he retired from football through injury, so as to concentrate on his work in the prison service.[19]

Style of play

Brisco was a tough-tackling and hard-working midfielder.[20]

Statistics
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City1996–97[21]First Division0000000000
1997–98[22]First Division0000000000
Total 0000000000
Port Vale1998–99[23]First Division1010000020
1999–2000[24]First Division130100000140
2000–01[25]Second Division17100005[lower-alpha 1]0221
2001–02[26]Second Division37010203[lower-alpha 1]0430
2002–03[27]Second Division241000000241
2003–04[28]Second Division27020001[lower-alpha 1]0300
Total 11925020901352
Rochdale2004–05[29]League Two11000001[lower-alpha 1]0120
2005–06[30]League Two16000001[lower-alpha 1]0170
Total 270000020290
Northwich Victoria (loan)2004–05[29]Conference National10100001[lower-alpha 2]0111
Scarborough2006–07Conference North0000000000
Mossley2006–07Northern Premier League Premier Division2000000020
Chorley2009–10Northern Premier League Division One1000000010
Career total[lower-alpha 3] 159350201201783
  1. Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.
  2. Appearance/s in the FA Trophy.
  3. Statistics for Barrow and Leigh RMI not recorded.

Honours
Port Vale

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 62. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. "Neil Brisco". port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  3. Westbrook, Ian (18 April 2001). "Port Vale pen pictures". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  4. "Widdrington fails in appeal bid". BBC Sport. 15 February 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  5. "McPhee in talks with Port Vale". BBC Sport. 25 May 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  6. "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  7. "Foyle releases Vale trio". BBC Sport. 11 May 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  8. "Dale snap up Brisco". BBC SPORT. 4 June 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  9. "Brisco can leave Rochdale on loan". BBC Sport. 9 November 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  10. "Burr lures Brisco from Rochdale". BBC Sport. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  11. "Brisco ends Northwich loan spell". BBC Sport. 22 December 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  12. "Brisco returns to Vics on loan". BBC Sport. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  13. "Burr keen to strengthen midfield". BBC Sport. 28 February 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  14. "Brisco undergoes knee operation". BBC Sport. 27 April 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  15. "Rochdale boss makes player cuts". BBC Sport. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  16. "Lilywhites Bag Brisco". mossleyweb.com. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  17. "Brisco Bombed Out". mossleyweb.com. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  18. "351 Neil Brisco". clarkechroniclersfootballers.blogspot.com. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  19. "Brisco, Neil". chorleyfc.com. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  20. Baggaley, Michael (26 April 2020). "Tom Pope - Why Port Vale LDV winners were heroes to this 15 year old". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  21. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  22. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  23. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  24. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  25. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  26. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  27. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  28. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  29. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  30. "Games played by Neil Brisco in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  31. "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
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