Neal Robert Bishop (born 7 August 1981) is an English football manager and Association football, footballer who played as a midfielder. He previously played in the Football League for Barnet F.C., Barnet, Notts County F.C., Notts County, Blackpool F.C., Blackpool, Scunthorpe United F.C., Scunthorpe United and Mansfield Town F.C., Mansfield Town, as well as at Non-league level for Billingham Town F.C., Billingham Town, Spennymoor United F.C., Spennymoor United, Whitby Town F.C., Whitby Town, Scarborough F.C., Scarborough, York City F.C., York City and Scarborough Athletic F.C., Scarborough Athletic. He also represented England national football C team, England C at international level.

Club career

Early career

Born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, Bishop began his career with Middlesbrough F.C., Middlesbrough in their youth system. After being released by Middlesbrough as a teenager he moved to Northern Football League, Northern League club Billingham Town F.C., Billingham Town and played there for a number of years. In a match in 2001, he played alongside his brother Craig, aged 16, and father Rob, aged 46, as the team had eight matches to play in 15 days towards the end of the 2000–01 season. He made 11 appearances and scored two goals for Gateshead F.C., Gateshead in all competitions in the 2002–03 season, before leaving in October 2002 and re-signing for Billingham. He played for Spennymoor United F.C., Spennymoor United in the 2003–04 season, making 38 appearances and scoring three goals. He made 25 appearances and scored one goal for Whitby Town F.C., Whitby Town in the 2004–05 season.

Scarborough

He signed for Scarborough F.C., Scarborough of the Conference National in March 2005 on a contract until the end of the 2004–05 season, following a week-long trial. He made 11 appearances and scored one goal for Scarborough during this season, and signed a deal to keep him at the club for the 2005–06 season in May. Here, he made a name for himself and was chosen as captain (association football), captain for the 2005–06 season. His lip was cut in an alleged clash with Denny Ingram in the tunnel following a match against Halifax Town A.F.C., Halifax Town in November, which Bishop decided not to press charges against.

York City

He was signed by Scarborough's Conference rivals York City F.C., York City for an undisclosed nominal fee on 31 January 2006. He finished the season with 14 appearances and one goal for York and signed a new contract with the club in July. He scored the winning goal against Oxford United F.C., Oxford United with a 20-yard volley on the final day of the 2006–07 York City F.C. season, 2006–07 season, meaning York secured a place in the 2006–07 Football Conference#Play-offs, Conference National play-offs. He was voted as the York City York City F.C. Clubman of the Year, Clubman of the Year for the season the same day, finishing the season with 49 appearances and scoring three goals. Bishop rejected a new deal at York, saying he wanted his salary to fall in line with the club's top earners.

Barnet

He signed for EFL League Two, League Two club Barnet F.C., Barnet in June 2007 on a free transfer (football), free transfer as he was out of contract with York. He said he decided to join Barnet so he could fulfil a lifelong ambition of playing in English Football League, the Football League. He made his debut against Morecambe F.C., Morecambe on 11 August 2007 and was sent off for violent conduct in his second match against Norwich City F.C., Norwich City in the EFL Cup, League Cup on 14 August 2007, which resulted in a three-match suspension. He finished the 2007–08 season with 47 appearances and two goals for Barnet, and handed in a transfer request in April 2008 after turning down an improved contract with the club. Despite this, the club exercised their option to extend his contract for another season in May. He was removed from the transfer list at his own request after the start of the 2008–09 season. Neal Bishop Barnet

Bishop was appointed as Barnet's captain in November after Ismail Yakubu gave up the role. He suffered a fractured jaw after being kicked in the face during a match against Darlington F.C., Darlington by Ricky Ravenhill in December, which ruled him out for the Christmas period. He finished the season with 48 appearances, scoring one goal, and was offered a new contract at Barnet.

Notts County

Bishop agreed to join fellow League Two team Notts County F.C., Notts County on 20 May 2009, and a day later he signed a pre-contract agreement to join the club on 1 July. He made 51 appearances and scored one goal for the club during the 2009–10 Notts County F.C. season, 2009–10 season, in which County won the League Two title and thus Promotion and relegation, promotion to EFL League One, League One. He signed a two-year contract extension with County on 5 July 2010, which contracted him at the club until June 2012. In January 2011, he scored in County's 1–1 draw against Premier League team Manchester City F.C., Manchester City in the 2010–11 FA Cup, fourth round of the FA Cup, which saw them earn a replay at the City of Manchester Stadium. During the closing stages of the 2010–11 Notts County F.C. season, 2010–11 season, he was named as the new team captain by Paul Ince. He finished the 2010–11 season with 51 appearances and two goals, and was voted by supporters as Notts County F.C.#Players of the season, Notts County's Player of the Year. On 10 May 2011, Bishop signed a new two-year contract with County, keeping him at the club until June 2013. His contract with the club was cancelled by mutual consent on 19 June 2013.

Blackpool

Bishop signed for EFL Championship, Championship club Blackpool F.C., Blackpool on 2 August 2013 on a five-month contract. He scored his first goal for Blackpool in a 2–1 win over AFC Bournemouth on 14 September 2013. On 2 December 2013, Bishop extended his contract at Blackpool until the end of the 2013–14 season.

Scunthorpe United

Bishop signed for newly promoted League One club Scunthorpe United F.C., Scunthorpe United on 19 June 2014 on a two-year contract.

Mansfield Town

Bishop signed for League Two club Mansfield Town F.C., Mansfield Town on 6 June 2018. He was released by Mansfield at the end of the 2019–20 Mansfield Town F.C. season, 2019–20 season.

Non-League

Bishop joined Scarborough Athletic F.C., Scarborough Athletic in September 2020 after turning down offers from a number of clubs higher in the football pyramid. After the season was annulled, Bishop announced his departure from the club in March 2021. On 17 May 2021, Bishop joined Gainsborough Trinity F.C., Gainsborough Trinity in a player-coach role. He held the role of manager at the club from May 2022, overseeing a play-off defeat before stepping down in September 2023. On 24 May 2022, Bishop was appointed joint-manager at Gainsborough along with Damon Parkinson. Bishop resigned as manager and departed in September 2023, citing personal reasons.

International career

Bishop was called up for the England national football C team, England national C team in May 2007 to play in the Four Nations Tournament (1979–2008), Four Nations Tournament. He made his debut in a 5–0 win over the Republic of Ireland on 22 May 2007, winning his second and final Cap (sport), cap when England beat Wales national semi-professional football team, Wales 3–0 on 27 May. England won the tournament, having been unbeaten and not conceded a goal in three matches.

Personal life

Bishop married his fiancé Frances in May 2014. The couple had their first child together, Oscar, in January 2013. Frances owned and ran a Children's outlet 'Pud'. She was also a candidate on Series 12 of ''The Apprentice (British TV series), The Apprentice'' which began in October 2016.

Career statistics

Honours

Notts County *Football League Two: 2009–10 Football League Two, 2009–10 Individual *Notts County F.C.#Players of the season, Notts County Player of the Year: 2010–11 Notts County F.C. season, 2010–11 *York City F.C. Clubman of the Year, York City Clubman of the Year: 2006–07 York City F.C. season, 2006–07

References

External links

Neal Bishop profile
at the Mansfield Town F.C. website * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bishop, Neal 1981 births Living people Footballers from Stockton-on-Tees English men's footballers England men's semi-pro international footballers Men's association football midfielders Middlesbrough F.C. players Billingham Town F.C. players Gateshead F.C. players Spennymoor United A.F.C. players Whitby Town F.C. players Scarborough F.C. players York City F.C. players Barnet F.C. players Notts County F.C. players Blackpool F.C. players Scunthorpe United F.C. players Mansfield Town F.C. players Scarborough Athletic F.C. players Gainsborough Trinity F.C. players Northern Football League players Northern Premier League players National League (English football) players English Football League players Gainsborough Trinity F.C. managers Northern Football League managers English football coaches 21st-century English sportsmen