Les O'Neill
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leslie Arthur O'Neill[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 4 December 1943[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Blyth, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 26 November 2025 (aged 81) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder[1] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1960–1962 | Blyth Spartans | ||
| 1962–1963 | Newcastle United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1963–1965 | Newcastle United | 1 | (0) |
| 1965–1970 | Darlington | 179 | (35) |
| 1970–1972 | Bradford City | 97 | (17) |
| 1972–1977 | Carlisle United | 155 | (20) |
| 1977–1978 | Queen of the South | 20 | (1) |
| Total | 452 | (73) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1989–1991 | Workington | ||
| 1993–1993 | Penrith | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Leslie Arthur O'Neill (4 December 1943 – 26 November 2025) was an English professional football player and manager.
Playing career
Born in Blyth, O'Neill played as a midfielder and began his career in non-League football with Blyth Spartans.
He turned professional with Newcastle United in 1963 but was unable to establish himself in the first team.
O'Neill then made over 100 first team appearances for each of Darlington, Bradford City and Carlisle United. With Carlisle he made it to the top flight of English football in the same team as Chris Balderstone and Bobby Parker.[3]
He next played in Scotland for Dumfries club Queen of the South where he was re-united again with Balderstone. After one season at Palmerston Park O'Neill retired from playing in 1978.
Coaching career
O'Neill was manager of non-League team Workington between 1989 and 1991, and later managed Penrith.
Death
O'Neill died on 26 November 2025, at the age of 81.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d "Les O'Neill". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ Butler, Frank; Collins, Patrick (1968). News of the World Football Annual 1968–69. London. p. 310.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ ""Chris Balderstone full cricket and football career profile" on www.qosfc.com". Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ^ "Carlisle United top-flight legend Les O'Neill dies aged 81". News and Star. 27 November 2025.
External links
- Les O'Neill at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- Carlisle United F.C. Hall of Fame