Neil Mcgachey is a retired soccer player who played for West Adelaide SC in the NSL. Mcgachey played 138 games for the team during his career.
Mcgachey was the first captain of West Adelaide. Before the NSL commenced, he also served as a sweeper at the club for some time.
The club was initially formed under the name of Olympic by members of the Greek community in 1945. It became a founding member of the National Soccer League in 1977.
Neil demonstrated the ability to control games, whether attacking or defending. Also, he had a tremendous influence on the athletes by promoting and passing them all around the field.
Five Facts On Neil Mcgachey And His Family
- Neil Mcgachey is a former soccer player for West Adelaide in South Australia. Mcgachey won the first ever NSL championship in 1978.
- Mcgachey and his family own West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club in the South Australian State League 1.
- Mcgachey family is originally from Calderbank, Glasgow, Scotland. They migrated to Australia in 1964.
- Neil was inducted to the 2004 Award of Excellence as a West Adelaide Soccer Club member.
- Mcgachey joined the West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club in 1968. At the time, he received a season train ticket from Elizabeth West’s Womma railway station to North Adelaide.
Mcgachey Had A Career With West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club
Neil Mcgachey joined the West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club in 1968. He was the icon of the game in South Australia during his playing year.
While joining the club, he earned a season train ticket that would take him from Elizabeth West’s Womma railway station to North Adelaide.
During that time, Neil and his family were promised by the state government to give a venue for their club. In 2015, West Adelaide finally secured a home base with the team with the hope to move into a new Kilburn Sports Complex.
As a player, Neil participated in 138 matches for West Adelaide in the NSL. He was named the Australian Press NSL Player of the Year in 1978 for his ability to control games.
In 1977, the club became the founding member of the NSL, Australia’s first national competition for any football league. On 2 April 1977, they had the honor of recording the NSL’s first goal.
The following year, Neil alongside goalkeeper Martyn Crook was again included in the team. Initially, John Margaritis was hired as the coach of West Adelaide, but he was replaced by Mcgachey after 10 rounds in the first match of the 1978 season.
He was also a favorite among the players when he accepted the coaching role at the club. Under his leadership, the team won its first and only NSL championship in 1978.
The same year, he was listed among the finalist in the South Australian Sports Star of the Year. Also, he won the Advertiser Golden Boos Award.