Neil Harris (footballer, born 1977): Difference between revisions
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| years = 1997-1998<br>1998-2004<br>2004<br>2004-2007<br>2005-2006<br>2007- |
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| clubs = [[Cambridge City F.C.|Cambridge City]]<br>[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]<br>→ [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] (loan)<br>[[Nottingham Forest]] <br>→ [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] (loan)<br>[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] |
| clubs = [[Cambridge City F.C.|Cambridge City]]<br>[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]<br>→ [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] (loan)<br>[[Nottingham Forest]] <br>→ [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] (loan)<br>[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] |
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| caps(goals) = {{0}}{{0}}? {{0}}(?) <br>186 (93)<br>{{0}}{{0}}3 {{0}}(1)<br>{{0}}33 {{0}}(1)<br>{{0}}36 {{0}}(6)<br>{{0}}84 (16) |
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Revision as of 17:27, 10 August 2009
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Neil Harris | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Millwall | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
Neil Harris (born on July 12, 1977 in Orsett, Essex, England), is a professional football player who currently plays for Millwall.
Harris attended Brentwood School, Essex in the year above Frank Lampard.
Playing career
Millwall
One of his first early clubs was Maldon Town F.C. but his real football career began when he signed for Cambridge City. He was later sold to Millwall for £30,000 on March 26, 1999. In the same season, he was named player of the year for Millwall and later helped them to a Division 2 championship in 2000–01 with a remarkable goal scoring record. Harris was the Golden Boot winner for being the top English goal scorer during the 2000–01 season, earning him the nickname of "Bomber", in reference to Arthur Travers Harris. Neil Harris was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2001, but after receiving intensive treatment including surgery, he was given the all clear a year later. As a consequence he set up a cancer charity, the Neil Harris Everyman Appeal.[1] By the end of his Millwall career, Harris wasn't being played because the then player-manager Dennis Wise didn't believe he was up to par, and that led him to sign for Cardiff City on loan to prove he was good enough for first team football at Millwall.
Harris made his debut for Cardiff City when he replaced Cameron Jerome during a 3-1 win over Gillingham and, after one more substitute appearance, was handed his first and only start for Cardiff when manager Lennie Lawrence named him to play against Sheffield United and he repaid the faith shown in him by scoring Cardiff's only goal of the game in a 2-1 defeat.
Nottingham Forest
Cardiff City and Harris could not agree terms and he was subsequently sold to Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee after they were relegated to Football League One in the 2004–05 season.
Harris was unable to make an impact at the City Ground and so was loaned out to Gillingham who had also been relegated to League One at the same time as Nottingham Forest. He scored six goals for Gillingham during his season long loan spell, at the end of which he returned to Forest.
Harris was hoping to make an impact under new manager Colin Calderwood. Harris's old club Millwall made a loan deal for him on a six month deal in August 2006, however Harris rejected the offer saying if he were to move it would have to be on a permanent basis, and with Darren Byfield and Ben May set to return from injury for Millwall, Harris believed he would have once again been forced out the side, which was the reason he left The New Den in the first instance. Millwall therefore, withdrew from transfer negotiations.
Harris finally opened his goal-scoring account for Forest on the September 2, 2006, after 21 months of waiting in a 4-0 victory against Chesterfield. It was a cutely struck volley from a few yards out. He and his team mates' joy was clear to see in his celebration, as he ran towards the corner of the stadium and didn't look as though he would stop, until his team mates caught up. In the post match report, he admitted he was finally enjoying life at Nottingham Forest. Nonetheless, a certain contingent of the Forest fans still criticised Harris for his relatively poor scoring record and somewhat poor performance record.
In January 2007 Harris' contract was terminated by mutual consent.
Millwall
Harris re-signed with Millwall on an 18 month contract on 8 January 2007, less than 24 hours after leaving Forest. Speaking to BBC Sport the next day Harris stated, "There is something special about this club, it brings out the best in me as a player and a person. It feels like home, it always has done. I can't wait to get started."
On 20 January 2007, in his second game for Millwall, Harris made club history by scoring in the 16th minute of the 4-0 win over Rotherham to become Millwall's top league goal scorer with 94 goals, surpassing the previous club record of 93 goals he had jointly held with Teddy Sheringham. Harris informed the South London Press, on 23 January, that it was his intention to surpass Sheringham's 111 goal total for Millwall, stating: "There is no question of me relaxing after one goal. At last I can say, without putting too much pressure on myself, that I want Teddy's overall record. The thing I've always wanted is to be number one, and that means getting a total of 112."[citation needed]
Towards the end of the 2007-08 season, as the club were mired in a relegation battle, Millwall boss Kenny Jackett told Harris that his contract would not be renewed in the summer as he was not in his first team plans for the following season; younger players such as Lewis Grabban, Gary Alexander, Bas Savage and Marc Laird had pushed him down the pecking order. Harris responded by stating that he had no intention of leaving the club he loved in its hour of need. Jackett brought Harris back into the first team squad on March 15, 2008, due to an injury to Gary Alexander that kept him out for the remainder of the season. Harris was instrumental in securing Millwall's League One status, scoring one goal and turning provider for the other two in Millwall's 3-0 home win over Carlisle on 26 April 2008. After a strong set of performances, the 30 year old striker had managed to change Kenny Jackett's mind and was offered a new one year contract on 6 May 2008. Harris stated: "The club have made me a new offer which has pleased me professionally, because it shows that I have done enough to change the manager's mind. That makes me very happy."[citation needed] Harris signed a new one year contract with The Lions on 4 June 2008[2].
On 13 January 2009, Harris broke Teddy Sheringham's all time goal scoring record for Millwall during the 3-2 away win against Crewe Alexandra with his 112th goal for the club. On 4 April, Harris signed a new one year extension to his contract.
On 9 May 2009, Harris scored a vital 71st minute goal in the first leg of the play-off semi final against Leeds United to put them 1-0 up going into the second leg at Elland Road.
References
External links
- Neil Harris at Soccerbase