Neil Adams (footballer)

Neil James Adams ( born November 23, 1965 in Stoke -on-Trent ) is a former English footballer. The right winger won in 1987 with the Everton FC, the English championship and then spent most of his professional career in the service of Oldham Athletic and Norwich City. He was known to speak agile for his playing style, precise edges and accuracy from the penalty spot.

Sports career

Stoke & Everton (1985-1989)

Adams's professional career began in the 1985/86 season in England's second league in the local Stoke City. There, the right winger came on 21 September 1985 in the match at Charlton Athletic to his league debut until the end of the 1985/86 season he kept the place in the team as well. With its agile play and the exact flanks he quickly aroused appetites for " bigger challenges " and even before his first (and only ) appointment to the English U- 21 team in early September 1986, he was for a transfer fee of £ 150,000 for the season 1986 / 87 changed to the First Division to Everton. In the three years of the versions that coach Howard Kendall " Toffees " him but never succeeded the hoped sporting breakthrough and was back in the pecking order behind the likes of Trevor Steven, although he / 87 could produce twelve league appearances in the championship season in 1986, giving it at least an official medal brought in. In the last two years until the summer of 1989, followed by only a further eight championship matches and shortly after the turn loaned him out of the club for the remaining games of the 1988/89 season to the second division side Oldham Athletic. At the end of the rental period the " Latics " were sufficiently convinced under coach Joe Royle and committed him for 100,000 pounds.

Oldham Athletic (1989-1994)

Although Adams in his first full season in 1989/90 initially did not come on the role of complement footballer in in Oldham and was often only a substitute, he was a sophomore in an important part of the team that brought about the rise in the first division - the club had previously stayed away for 68 years of the elite class. Another indication of its increasingly important position was late April 1990 was his nomination to the starting line of the League Cup final against Nottingham Forest - the game ended with a 0-1 defeat. In the last English Erstligasaison before the introduction of the Premier League he " shared ", depending on the tactical setting the position of right winger with Roger Palmer and secured with his men ultimately comfortable in the league. In the subsequent Premier League debut season 1992/93 Adams delivered his best performances as well in the career when he exercises significant influence on the right side on the new (albeit scarce ) had relegation and contributed no less than nine goals; these included goals against Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Chelsea FC and especially the 1-0 winning goal against the eventual champions Manchester United. Although Oldham Athletic was then in the third year, descent no longer prevent, but Adams had not longer jointly responsible for the decisive phase there. Already in early 1994 had placed an official transfer request, and after a period of negotiations Oldham Athletic mid February 1994 let him go for £ 250,000 League rival Norwich City.

Norwich City (1994-1999)

In the remaining games of the season 1993/94 was Adams, who was the first commitment of new coach John Deehan, yet in 13 league games for the course and helped the club after the first 21 games of the season 1994/95 to a temporary jump to the sixth place before him later Daryl Sutch was preferred more often, until finally both players constantly in the preparation into and herausrotierten - the end had to Norwich despite the " top ups " relegated to the second division. Thanks to its versatility Adams remained more integral part of the team, although he dodged more common in the 1995/96 season in center midfield or even in the outer defense. Another expression of the offensive strength were going to be Weitschusstor the first game against West Bromwich Albion and a truly inspiring goal after a solo career on the final day in the derby against Ipswich Town. His best goal tally reached Adams then in the 1996/97 season in which he missed only one competitive match and hit 16 times. He had also developed from the penalty spot for experts and equal to nine penalty kicks transforms what the new coach Mike Walker led to ennoble him as probably the best penalty taker ever.

In the 1997/98 season, Adams did so hard at confirmation of his previous performances, was then moved to center midfield because of a personal emergency in December 1997 and broke up in the same month the foot. Thus he had to pause until March 1998, and finally returned to the Middlesbrough FC in the team. More injury woes joined them in the form of a broken collarbone in August 1998 from the match against Swansea City and another foot injury in February 1999 against Stockport County. For this purpose, it even left the luck of penalty spot and he missed in the League Cup against Swansea the first penalty in his pro career. The expiring in May 1999 contract was not renewed by the new manager Bruce Rioch.

Career finale (1999-2001)

Adams returned in July 1999 back to Oldham Athletic, which was now relegated to the third division. In the somewhat unfamiliar role of an attacking full-back as " Wing -back" he seldom showed the usual strengths, this position retained, however, by February 2000 held before in the game of an old injury came up against Bristol Rovers again and also another operation necessary was, after a screw inserted in the foot " bored " had. Further Turmoil came in October 2000 to, as he so ill fell in the match against Stoke City, that his cruciate ligament was affected. Although he struggled after the recovery again briefly in the team back, but his contract was ultimately not renewed for fear of further injury problems. The Rochdale AFC then expressed his interest in signing, but Adams came another change of clubs by his resignation announcement in July 1999 before.

After the active career Adams took over in the youth department of Norwich City first coach tasks and mainly dealt with the U-14 selection. He also made ​​the UEFA A license the necessary coaching qualifications for a possible work as head coach of a professional team.

Title / Awards

• English Championship ( 1): 1987