Neil Firm

Neil John Firm (born 23 January 1958) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He played in the Football League for Leeds United, Oldham Athletic and Peterborough United, and played non-league football for Ramsey Town and Diss Town.

Neil Firm
Personal information
Full name Neil John Firm[1]
Date of birth (1958-01-23) 23 January 1958
Place of birth Bradford, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
0000–1980 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1982 Leeds United 12 (0)
1982 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 9 (0)
1982–1986 Peterborough United 72 (3)
Ramsey Town
Diss Town
Total 93 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Firm was born in Bradford, and signed his first professional contract with Leeds United in January 1976.[1][3] He made his first team debut in an away match to Manchester City in February 1980,[4] and joined Oldham Athletic on loan in March 1982, for whom he made 9 appearances.[1] He made 12 league appearances in total for Leeds United.[1]

In the summer of 1982, he joined Peterborough United for a fee of £15,000, linking up with manager Martin Wilkinson, who was assistant manager at Leeds United while Firm played there.[4] He was a regular player there,[4] and made 72 league appearances, scoring three goals,[1] but retired from professional in January 1986 due to a prolonged knee injury.[4]

He subsequently played non-league football for Ramsey Town and Diss Town.[4]

Personal life

Firm moved to Norfolk in 1986 and ran a pub in Billingford, near Diss. He joined Norfolk Constabulary in 1988, and worked as a Police Constable in Thetford before being promoted to a detective.[4]

References
  1. "Neil Firm". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  2. Rollin, Jack (1981). Rothmans Football Yearbook: 1981–82. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 196. ISBN 0-362-02046-9. OCLC 868301130.
  3. "Firm: Neil John (Neil)". www.ozwhitelufc.net.au. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. Walsh, Peter (30 August 2011). "Former Leeds United defender becomes Norfolk detective". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  • Neil Firm at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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