Neil Wilkinson (16 February 1955 – 2 August 2016) was an English footballer. A right-back, he made 112 league appearances in a nine-year career in the Football League, turning out for Blackburn Rovers, Port Vale, and Crewe Alexandra. He won the Third Division title with Rovers in 1974–75.
Career Wilkinson began his career with Blackburn Rovers, beginning his apprenticeship in August 1971. He made his first-team debut in the FA Cup at Lincoln City on 18 November 1972. He turned professional in February 1973. Blackburn finished third in the Third Division in 1972–73 under the stewardship of Ken Furphy. They dropped to 13th in 1973–74, before new boss Gordon Lee guided them to promotion as champions in 1974–75. Jim Smith then took charge at Ewood Park, as Rovers retained their Second Division status with mid-table finishes in 1975–76 and 1976–77. Wilkinson was only a first-team regular for part of the 1975–76 season when Mick Heaton was out injured and was behind Derek Fazackerley and Kevin Hird in the pecking order during the 1976–77 campaign. Wilkinson then spent a brief time in South Africa before he returned to England to join Fourth Division club Port Vale in June 1978. He played nine competitive games for Dennis Butler's "Valiants" in 1978–79, before being transferred to Warwick Rimmer's Crewe Alexandra, along with £3,000, in exchange for Kevin Tully in October 1978. The "Railwaymen" finished bottom of the Football League in 1978–79, and under Tony Waddington's stewardship had to re-apply for re-election again in 1979–80, before rising to 18th place in 1980–81.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBlackburn Rovers1972–73Third Division101000201973–74Third Division401030801974–75Third Division200030501975–76Second Division21000102201976–77Second Division20003050Total30020100420Port Vale1978–79Fourth Division70002090Crewe Alexandra1978–79Fourth Division26020002801979–80Fourth Division38010003901980–81Fourth Division1101010130Total7504010800Career total1120601301310
Honours Blackburn Rovers Football League Third Division: 1974–75
References