Former Chelsea FC manager John Neal passed away on Sunday November 23rd, 2014 of natural causes. Neal was the manager of Chelsea Football Club from 1981-85 and is credited with saving the club from the total ruin that would have been relegation to the English third division. He is also credited with unearthing several Chelsea FC legends including Pat Nevin and Kerry Dixon.
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In John Neal’s second year in charge of the Blues he lead them to a second division championship and they remained in the top flight until 1988. It is believed that without John Neal there would have been no Roman Abramovich and consequently no big time spending and the trophies that came with it. Tributes came in from Chelsea FC fans from all over the world as they remembered a man that spent little time at the club but made a lasting impact.
Here are some tributes we collected from Twitter:
RIP John Neal a fantastic #Chelsea manager & a fantastic man. Johnny Neal's Blue & White Army mourn his loss pic.twitter.com/6UKeZDWUw6
— Mark Worrall (@gate17marco) November 24, 2014
John Neal. A dedicated man who built a team that is so fondly remembered, even 30 years on, & gave 000's of Chelsea fans such pleasure. RIP.
— ⭐Tim Rolls⭐ (@tim_rolls) November 23, 2014
"Come along, come along
— Chelsea FC News (@Chelsea_FL) November 23, 2014
Come along and sing this song
We're the boys in blue in Division Two
And we won't be here for long."
RIP John Neal.
RIP John Neal.
— neil forrest (@rusperneil) November 23, 2014
Manager of CFC my first game at the Bridge
Put together a brilliant team
Those better informed than me say he was a top man
John Neal's signings included Kerry Dixon, Paul Canoville, David Speedie, Pat Nevin, Eddie Niedzwiecki. The team were Div 2 champs 1983-84.
— Chelsea FC News (@Chelsea_FL) November 23, 2014
When John Neal became Chelsea boss in 1981, club was on brink of relegation to Div 3. Assembled a great side, and took them to 6th in Div 1.
— Chelsea FC News (@Chelsea_FL) November 23, 2014
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