Alan Neilson

Director Of Youth Football

Former Luton Town player Alan Neilson was appointed as the Hatters' new Director Of Youth Football in June 2008, returning to Kenilworth Road under the new LTFC2020 consortium, where he will work alongside Gregg Broughton.

Alan spent three years a player for Luton Town and also earned full international honours for Wales during a career as a solid defender.

Born in Germany and a dominant defender, who usually operated in a central position, but was more than comfortable playing as a right-back, Alan began his career as a trainee with Newcastle United, and made his first-team debut during the 1990-91 season, making a total of 3 appearances for the St. James' Park-based side.

He continued to progress in the Magpies first-team the following season, 1991-92, making 16 first-team appearances and scoring his first senior goal for the club. However, he lost his way slightly and although he appeared a few times during Kevin Keegan's reign as manager, he played only 23 times in the following 3 seasons.

He left the Magpies in June 1995 in a £750,000 move to Southampton. He played 18 matches in his first season at The Dell, and a further 29 times the next season, and by now he was a Welsh international and he added to his 4 Welsh caps when coming back into the side for a World Cup qualifier in Holland.

However, after failing to fully establish himself as a regular member of the Saints side, and after 8 more appearances during the 1997-98 season, he joined Fulham in November 1997 for £250,000, becoming one of Ray Wilkins' first signings as manager. He became a regular member of the side, and his consistent displays in central defence alongside Chris Coleman had much to do with the club reaching third place in the League by January. He made a total of 17 League appearances during his first season at Craven Cottage.

The following season, 1998-99, he made just 4 appearances, and scored 1 goal as Kevin Keegan became his manager for the second time in his career, but his ex-Newcastle boss brought in Kit Symons and Andy Melville, and Alan was pushed back in the pecking order. He made 8 more appearances for Fulham, scoring 1 goal before joining Grimsby Town in October 2001, where me made 10 League appearances.

He never fully settled at Blundell Park though, and after leaving the Mariners, he came on trial with the Hatters, playing in a reserve game as Luton beat Cheltenham Town 3-2 and he was signed immediately after the game to provide competition with central defenders David Bayliss, Russell Perrett, Chris Coyne and Marvin Johnson.

Alan made his Luton Town debut in a 2-1 home win over York City on February 23rd 2002, playing as a right-back and giving a solid display as the Hatters began to push strongly for promotion to Division Two (now called League One). Alan went on to make 7 consecutive appearances as a right-back - and the Hatters won every single one of the games to virtually clinch promotion for the first time in 20 years! Home wins over York, Leyton Orient, Exeter and Kidderminster were joined by away wins at Lincoln, Torquay and Rushden & Diamonds. However, Alan then picked up an injury in the home win over Kidderminster, and was ruled out until the last game of the season, at Shrewsbury, by which time the Hatters had secured promotion to Division Two. Luton won 2-0 at Gay Meadow, meaning that the Hatters won all 8 of the matches that Alan played in!

At the end of the season he was offered a new two-year deal by then Luton manager Joe Kinnear, and Alan duly signed it, which kept him at Kenilworth Road until the end of the 2004-05 season.

Alan had a solid if unspectacular 2002-03 season – his first full campaign as a Luton Town player.

The former Welsh international defender operated in every defensive position during the course of the season – at right-back, left-back and in the centre of defence.

His first appearance of the season came in the opening match – a disappointing 2-3 home loss to Peterborough United – and he remained in and out of the side throughout the duration of the campaign. Those appearances included a nine-minute outing as a substitute in a 2-1 win at local rivals Watford in the League Cup First Round.

He also figured in a midfield role in a 3-2 victory at Stockport County and in a 2-1 home win over Cheltenham Town in early October 2002 as he once again showed his versatility.

Appearing in a total of 30 matches during the season (26 of those in the League), Alan was certainly a reliable defender.

Alan helped Mike Newell’s side to a creditable finish just outside the Second Division (League One) play-off places in 2003-04, a highly commendable achievement considering the Hatters spent the entire season in administrative receivership.

Alan appeared in the opening four matches of the season, and also scored a rare goal – his first-ever for the Hatters – in only the second League match of the season, as he netted a glancing header in a 2-1 victory at Stockport County.

Further starts followed in a home defeat to Grimsby Town, a home victory over Hartlepool United and a 1-1 draw at eventually relegated Notts County, before he found himself on the substitutes bench, making one substitute appearance in a 1-1 home draw with Peterborough United.

Back in the starting line-up in an excellent 1-1 draw at Bristol City in early November, he suffered an injury that forced him to miss the next two months of action.

He returned in late February 2004 as a substitute in a 4-1 home win over Brentford and in a 2-1 win at Peterborough United, before he returned to the starting line-up in a 1-1 home draw with eventual champions Plymouth Argyle, the visitors earning a point with an equaliser deep into injury-time.

However, Alan finished the season by making a further four starting appearances, and during the season he played in four different positions, operating at right-back, left-back, centre-back and in the centre of midfield.

Making a total of 15 appearances in all competitions during the season, Alan was an experienced utility player and he also began coaching courses during the campaign as he began to think about life after his professional playing career had come to an end.

Alan once again remained an experienced member of Luton Town’s first-team squad during the 2004-05 season, while he continued to develop his coaching skills by helping with the Hatters’ “Football in the Community” programme.

At senior level, Alan made 9 League appearances during the course of the season and his experience was vital as the Hatters went on to lift the League One Championship trophy during an unforgettable season.

Operating at right-back, left-back and centre-back during these appearances, he showed a calmness and experience that helped the young players in the side to relax and express themselves, and it was obvious to see that he had played at a higher level during his career.

Also appearing in a 0-2 loss at Swansea City in the LDV Vans Trophy when manager Mike Newell fielded a side of fringe players, Alan was told at the end of the 2004-05 season that his playing contract would not be renewed. Viewed by Luton Town Football Club as a positive role model for children both on and off the football pitch, Alan was invited to become ‘Patron’ of the “Luton Town Football in the Community Scheme”, an offer that he accepted.

After making 57 League appearances for Luton Town, Alan looked for pastures new and signed for Conference outfit Tamworth in December 2005 - where he briefly linked up with former England star Paul Merson, who made a few fleeting appearances in February 2006 before hanging up his boots.

Alan left Tamworth to continue his coaching at both Luton Town and at Barnfield College. He was undecided as to whether to retire from playing or not, but in February 2007, Alan signed for Salisbury City, on a short-term contract before eventually hanging up his boots and becoming Director Of Youth Football at Luton Town in June 2008.

Profile By:  James Garley