Latest news with #McNeill
Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
West Taieri stalwart notches 300 games
It could be an expensive court session for Dave McNeill tonight. The veteran loose forward will bring up 300 games for the West Taieri Pigs today. Yes. 300. It is not a typo. It is just a remarkable achievement that has taken him 24 years. The 46-year-old made his debut for the Pigs in 2001. Helen Clarke was the prime minister. Social media was still just a twinkle in the eye of some future tech billionaire. And Canterbury beat Otago 30-19 in the NPC final. D'oh! But McNeill's only regret is he wished he had started a year earlier so he could have been part of the club's 100th jubilee as well as their 125th, which they celebrated last month. The truck driver loves rugby. But it is the feeling of being part of the community that keeps him coming back year after year. He enjoys the banter and listening to what the guys have been up to during the week. He has played alongside some of his team-mates for 15-odd years. "They're just a good bunch of guys and we have a laugh and a beer," he said. "That's probably the main thing. "It would have been nice to bring it up last weekend. We had a good win at home, but we're going to be away this weekend against Toko in the rain and stuff." He is not sure what has been planned to celebrate his milestone, but there will be a court session and a couple of his team-mates will also face justice for so-called crimes. Fellow loose forward Conner Jenkins will notch his 100th game and second five Pat Hamer is bringing up 50. "Between the three of us, it's quite a special day. Conner made a deal with me ... that I couldn't retire until he gets 100 games, so for us to both be doing it on the same day is really quite special." Most of McNeill's highlights have happened off the field. But there has been plenty to cheer about on the field as well. The Pigs used to compete in the Dunedin metropolitan grade, and they won the premier 2 title in 2017. That earned them a date with Green Island in the promotion-relegation fixture at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Green Island maintained their spot in the premier grade — now known as division 1 — with a 37-17 win. But it was McNeill's 200th game and he got to play at Forsyth Barr Stadium, so it was a memorable day. He also played in a preseason game with his son, Cameron Allan-McNeill, this season. Cameron plays for the Taieri premiers. They are still talking, despite the rivalry between the clubs. "He was going to come and play for us this year but Taieri sort of needed him. "He came out to a preseason game ... and I've played a few games with Cameron over the years." McNeill's father, Philip, also played for West Taieri. "I was brought up around here and spent most of my life around this place, basically." McNeill has talked about this season being his last, but in the same breath adds he would always answer an S.O.S. "I would never leave the team without players, so if they need me I'll probably come back. "But I should really be going to watch Cameron too. I do miss all his games, so I do feel a bit guilty at times." Speaking of guilt, good luck in the court session.
Otago Daily Times
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
West Taieri stalwart notches 300
It could be an expensive court session for Dave McNeill tonight. The veteran loose forward will bring up 300 games for the West Taieri Pigs today. Yes. 300. It is not a typo. It is just a remarkable achievement that has taken him 24 years. The 46-year-old made his debut for the Pigs in 2001. Helen Clarke was the prime minister. Social media was still just a twinkle in the eye of some future tech billionaire. And Canterbury beat Otago 30-19 in the NPC final. D'oh! But McNeill's only regret is he wished he had started a year earlier so he could have been part of the club's 100th jubilee as well as their 125th, which they celebrated last month. The truck driver loves rugby. But it is the feeling of being part of the community that keeps him coming back year after year. He enjoys the banter and listening to what the guys have been up to during the week. He has played alongside some of his team-mates for 15-odd years. "They're just a good bunch of guys and we have a laugh and a beer," he said. "That's probably the main thing. "It would have been nice to bring it up last weekend. We had a good win at home, but we're going to be away this weekend against Toko in the rain and stuff." He is not sure what has been planned to celebrate his milestone, but there will be a court session and a couple of his team-mates will also face justice for so-called crimes. Fellow loose forward Conner Jenkins will notch his 100th game and second five Pat Hamer is bringing up 50. "Between the three of us, it's quite a special day. Conner made a deal with me ... that I couldn't retire until he gets 100 games, so for us to both be doing it on the same day is really quite special." Most of McNeill's highlights have happened off the field. But there has been plenty to cheer about on the field as well. The Pigs used to compete in the Dunedin metropolitan grade, and they won the premier 2 title in 2017. That earned them a date with Green Island in the promotion-relegation fixture at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Green Island maintained their spot in the premier grade — now known as division 1 — with a 37-17 win. But it was McNeill's 200th game and he got to play at Forsyth Barr Stadium, so it was a memorable day. He also played in a preseason game with his son, Cameron Allan-McNeill, this season. Cameron plays for the Taieri premiers. They are still talking, despite the rivalry between the clubs. "He was going to come and play for us this year but Taieri sort of needed him. "He came out to a preseason game ... and I've played a few games with Cameron over the years." McNeill's father, Philip, also played for West Taieri. "I was brought up around here and spent most of my life around this place, basically." McNeill has talked about this season being his last, but in the same breath adds he would always answer an S.O.S. "I would never leave the team without players, so if they need me I'll probably come back. "But I should really be going to watch Cameron too. I do miss all his games, so I do feel a bit guilty at times." Speaking of guilt, good luck in the court session.
Glasgow Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Student flats should be open to resident challenge says MSP
Pauline McNeill, Glasgow Labour MSP, raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament with the government. She highlighted the plans for the old 02 ABC site on Sauchiehall Street, approved this month by Glasgow City Council despite objections from the local community. READ NEXT:Get You in Town: New campaign to promote Glasgow city centre as a destination McNeill questioned the number of applications being approved and said the motivation for investors is the ability to collect high rental charges. She said: 'Scotland needs good, affordable student accommodation, but the way that planning consents are being granted in Glasgow makes it seem as if they are being handed out as an easy fix for gap sites. 'We are seeing oversaturation because purpose-built student accommodation is currently favoured by investors due to the ability to charge high rents. 'Last week, a proposed nine-storey student accommodation block was approved on the site of the former O2 ABC iconic music venue, but that is just one of many student developments that have been heavily objected to by local residents and community groups.' McNeill asked Ivan McKee, public finance minister, if there should be a right to challenge overprovision. READ NEXT:Hundreds access emergency homeless help over winter in Glasgow McKee said the council can act if there are concerns about any negative impact. He said: 'Local authorities, including Glasgow City Council, are able to identify areas of concentration where further development would undermine residential amenity. 'That power already exists. There is also a power for local communities to produce local place plans to feed into local development plans. 'We should recognise, as I think Pauline McNeill does, that students who are studying at our colleges and universities are a hugely important part of society. I welcome international students and the making of provision for them, and any PBSA provision obviously takes pressure off the private rented sector, which I think we would all agree is to be welcomed.' The plan 02 ABC site is for a House of Social nine storey block, including student accommodation, a food hall, a public courtyard, a bar, a gym, and more.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
I always felt a great empathy for John Clark because the great Celtic servant and I shared tragic circumstances
He would say 'Celtic was always a way of life for me' and the club had cause to be thankful for his astonishing level of consistency John Clark played football for Celtic in the same way he lived his life away from the game. With the minimum of fuss. Eleven men were immortalised on May 25, 1967 at the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon when Celtic beat Inter Milan and became the first British club to win the European Cup. But "Luggy," as he was known then, was always humility personified in spite of having been granted iconic status. The road to greatness in Portugal was nevertheless partly paved by John's immaculate defensive work while playing behind Billy McNeill at the heart of Celtic's defence. McNeill, the captain, had a magisterial quality about him on the park. There were also the legendary, mercurial talents such as Bertie Auld and Jimmy Johnstone in the team that Jock Stein had put together like a master craftsman. Clark was the reliable one, never fazed and apparently gifted with a telepathic instinct for anticipating danger and getting there early enough to stop it becoming a hazard to his team's progress. The knack he had led to him being nicknamed "The brush" by his grateful team-mates. "Celtic was always a way of life for me," John would say and the club had cause to be thankful for his astonishing level of consistency while playing for them at the same time. John played 140 games in a row, in all competitions, between April 1965 and September 1967. One of them was the Scottish Cup final win over Dunfermline which heralded the start of the modern day Celtic after having gone since 1957 without winning a major trophy. Towards the end of that phenomenal run came Lisbon and a place in his club's folklore. The unassuming nature of John's personality was employed by McNeill when he accepted the task of following the hardest act of them all, Stein, in the manager's office in 1978. Billy asked John to be his assistant and together they assembled three league titles and one win in the Scottish and League Cup finals. Devoid of ego and devoted to Celtic, John became, in 1997, the club's kit man. He took his responsibilities there as seriously as he had done his playing duties in Lisbon thirty years earlier. I always felt a particular empathy with John because both of us had lost our fathers under tragic circumstances when we were 10-year-old children. He, in turn, was always kindly disposed towards me throughout my journalistic career. Luggy was also Google years before it was invented. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of statistics and could have given you the last five results for Plymouth Argyle's reserve team at the drop of a hat if you really had to know that kind of thing. The quiet man was otherwise happy to let his educated mind and feet do the talking for him on the park and Celtic have lost one of the greatest servants they have ever had. Such was the esteem in which John was held by everyone at Celtic, he was visited in his final days by the club's figureheads. Principal shareholder Dermot Desmond travelled from Ireland to pay his respects, as did Brendan Rodgers, who had known John from the time of his arrival in Glasgow for his first stint as Celtic manager. Only three of the Lisbon Lions remain alive, Jim Craig, Bobby Lennox and Willie Wallace. What they achieved with those who have gone before them is easily categorised as an immortal memory cherished by the Celtic supporters and symbolised by the star above the club crest on the team shirt. The shirt that Luggy wore with distinction.
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Top 10 injury news of Lions 2024 season - No. 3: Alim McNeill
Top 10 injury news of Lions 2024 season - No. 3: Alim McNeill After losing their most important defensive lineman, Aidan Hutchinson, on October 13, 2024, the last thing the Lions could afford was another major loss along the line. That's exactly what happened two months later when their second-most important defensive lineman, Alim McNeill, tore his ACL. This injury was brutal because not only did it impact the 2024 season, it will have a significant impact on the 2025 season as well. No. 10: Alex Anzalone's forearm No. 9: Ifeatu Melifonwu's turbulent year No. 8: Christian Mahogany's delayed debut No. 7: James Houston's ill-fated comeback No. 6: David Montgomery's mysterious knee No. 5: Carlton Davis jaw fracture No. 4: The fortuitous offense ACL Injury video - December 15, 2024 McNeill lands hard and awkwardly on an extended right leg. He immediately feels something is wrong. IMPACT OF INJURY McNeill missed the final three games of the regular season. The Lions were able to overcome his loss and win those games securing the #1 seed and bye. However, the lack of impact along the defensive line was a glaring problem in the playoff loss to the Commanders. Stopping the run and pressuring the passer were both inadequate, and McNeill would have made a difference in both aspects. INTERESTING CONTRACTUAL NOTE Just two months prior to his ACL tear, McNeill signed a four year, $97 million extension ($55 million guaranteed) tying him to the team through the 2028 season. This is a good example of why it is often wise for a player to sign the big-money extension as soon as possible. OUTLOOK Unfortunately, due the late-season timing of the injury, the upcoming 2025 season will be significantly impacted as well. An ACL is usually around a 10-11 month recovery. This timeline would give him a chance to return in October, but a mid-November return is likely more realistic. When he returns, don't expect him to immediately be the same player, as it will take him some time to get back to full strength and confidence. The good news is that ACL recoveries are very reliable, and McNeill should return to his typical high level of play at some point - hopefully by the end of the 2025 season. Aiding his recovery is his youthful age of 25, which will help him to continue making plays like this....
