{{short description|English footballer}} {{use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Neil Brisco | image = | caption = | fullname = Neil Anthony Brisco<ref name="Hugman2003-04">{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004 | year = 2003 | publisher = Queen Anne Press | isbn = 1-85291-651-6 | page = 62 }}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|01|26|df=y}}<ref name="nb" /> | birth_place = [[Wigan]], England | death_date = <!--{{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|1978|01|26|df=y}}--> | height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref name="nb">{{cite news|url=http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10381~9303,00.html|title=Neil Brisco|work=port-vale.co.uk|accessdate=1 August 2011|archive-date=23 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323110811/https://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10381~9303,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | position = [[Midfielder]] | youthyears1 = {{0|000}}?–1997 | youthclubs1 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] | years1 = 1997–1998| clubs1 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]| caps1 = 0| goals1 = 0 | years2 = 1998–2004| clubs2 = [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]| caps2 = 119| goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2004–2006| clubs3 = [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]]| caps3 = 27| goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2004| clubs4 = → [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] (loan)| caps4 = 5| goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2005| clubs5 = → [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] (loan)| caps5 = 5| goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2006| clubs6 = [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]]| caps6 = 0| goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2006| clubs7 = [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]]| caps7 = ?| goals7 = ? | years8 = 2006| clubs8 = [[Mossley A.F.C.|Mossley]]| caps8 = 2| goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2007–2009| clubs9 = [[Leigh Genesis F.C.|Leigh RMI]]| caps9 = ?| goals9 = ? | years10 = 2009| clubs10= [[Chorley F.C.|Chorley]]| caps10= 1| goals10= 0 | totalcaps = 159+| totalgoals = 3+ }}
'''Neil Anthony Brisco''' (born 26 January 1978) is an English former [[Association football|footballer]]. A versatile player, he was comfortable both in [[Defender (association football)|defence]] and in [[Midfielder|midfield]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1282030.stm|title=Port Vale pen pictures|last=Westbrook|first=Ian|date=18 April 2001|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref>
A former [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] trainee, he made his name in six years with [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] between 1998 and 2004, lifting the [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]] in [[2001 Football League Trophy final|2001]]. Following this, he spent two years at [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]], also playing on [[Loan (sports)|loan]] at [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]], before entering [[Non-League football]] permanently in 2006. He then spent brief periods with [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]], [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]], and [[Mossley A.F.C.|Mossley]]. Following a couple of years with [[Leigh Genesis F.C.|Leigh RMI]], he retired from the game at [[Chorley F.C.|Chorley]] in 2009 to concentrate on his work with the [[Her Majesty's Prison Service|prison service]].
==Career== ===Manchester City=== Brisco started his career as a trainee with [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]], though he never made it onto the field for the [[Maine Road]] club. At the end of the [[1997–98 Football League|1997–98]] season, City lost their [[Football League First Division|First Division]] status, though Brisco maintained his by signing with [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]].
===Port Vale=== He made his Port Vale debut in the [[1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season|1998–99]] season, playing 87 minutes of the club's 3–0 defeat to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the [[FA Cup]]. In [[1999–2000 Port Vale F.C. season|1999–2000]], he played 14 games, though Vale were [[promotion and relegation|relegated]] into the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]. He scored his first competitive goal on 10 February 2001, in a 2–1 victory over [[AFC Bournemouth|Bournemouth]] at [[Vale Park]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/1171949.stm|title=Widdrington fails in appeal bid|date=15 February 2001|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref> He played as the midfield anchor to the highly skilled duo of [[Marc Bridge-Wilkinson]] and [[Dave Brammer]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Chislett puts Vale back on track in Wigan thriller |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/chislett-puts-vale-back-on-track#poll-128882 |access-date=17 December 2023 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=17 December 2023}}</ref> However, he was restricted to 21 appearances in [[2000–01 Port Vale F.C. season|2000–01]], and so underwent surgery on an ankle injury to try to regain match fitness.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/1351446.stm|title=McPhee in talks with Port Vale|date=25 May 2001|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref> Despite this he was still a part of [[Brian Horton]]'s [[2001 Football League Trophy final|2001]] [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]] winning [[first XI]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1289338.stm|title=Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy|date=22 April 2001|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref>
He was a key first player in the [[2001–02 Port Vale F.C. season|2001–02]] campaign, making 43 appearances in league and cup. He found his first-team chances more limited during the [[2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season|2002–03]] season and played just 24 games as the "Valiants" endured [[Administration (British football)|administration]]. He did, though, manage to find the net on 15 March in a 1–1 draw with local rivals [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] at the [[Alexandra Stadium]]. He was allowed a move to [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]] in August 2003, with [[Manager (association football)|manager]] [[Carlton Palmer]] wanting a dominant midfielder; however, Brisco failed a medical because of a knee injury and the move did not go through. He made thirty appearances in [[2003–04 Port Vale F.C. season|2003–04]]. Though manager [[Martin Foyle]] was disappointed with his side for failing to reach the [[English Football League play-offs|play-offs]], he still offered Brisco a one-month period in which to mull over a new [[Association football contracts|contract]] offer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3704139.stm|title=Foyle releases Vale trio|date=11 May 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref> He chose to reject the deal, and so left to join [[EFL League Two|League Two]] [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rochdale/3761941.stm|title=Dale snap up Brisco|date=4 June 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 January 2009}}</ref>
===Rochdale=== However, he proved to be unhappy at [[Spotland Stadium|Spotland]], and requested a [[Loan (sports)|loan]] move after a few months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rochdale/3996011.stm|title=Brisco can leave Rochdale on loan |date=9 November 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref> He got his wish in November, as he joined [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] of the [[National League (division)|Conference National]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/northwich_victoria/4019099.stm|title=Burr lures Brisco from Rochdale |date=17 November 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 May 2009}}</ref> After five games, Rochdale manager [[Steve Parkin]] denied "Vics" manager [[Steve Burr]]'s request to extend the loan into a second month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rochdale/4117755.stm|title=Brisco ends Northwich loan spell |date=22 December 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 May 2009}}</ref> Brisco quickly returned to the [[Victoria Stadium (Northwich)|Victoria Stadium]] though, joining the club on loan in January 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/northwich_victoria/4138035.stm|title=Brisco returns to Vics on loan |date=31 December 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 May 2009}}</ref> The loan ran into February, as Brisco helped the club to climb out of the relegation zone.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/northwich_victoria/4304877.stm|title=Burr keen to strengthen midfield |date=28 February 2005|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref> Regardless of this, following his return to his parent club Northwich were demoted to the [[National League North|Conference North]] for the [[2005–06 Football Conference|2005–06]] season due to ground concerns. Brisco played 17 games for Rochdale in [[2005–06 Football League|2005–06]] despite struggling with a knee injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rochdale/4952124.stm|title=Brisco undergoes knee operation |date=27 April 2006|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 May 2009}}</ref> He was not offered a new contract at the end of the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rochdale/4750361.stm|title=Rochdale boss makes player cuts |date=8 May 2006|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 May 2009}}</ref>
===Later career=== He spent brief periods with Conference North sides [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]] and [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] before heading into [[Northern Premier League Premier Division]] with [[Mossley A.F.C.|Mossley]] in November 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mossleyweb.com/News0607/NeilBrisco1.htm|title=Lilywhites Bag Brisco|date=16 November 2006|work=mossleyweb.com|accessdate=1 August 2011}}</ref> He spell with Mossley lasted a matter of weeks, and he left after playing just two games.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mossleyweb.com/News0607/NeilBrisco2.htm|title=Brisco Bombed Out|date=7 December 2006|work=mossleyweb.com|accessdate=1 August 2011}}</ref> Following a couple of years with [[Leigh Genesis F.C.|Leigh RMI]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://clarkechroniclersfootballers.blogspot.com/2011/04/351-neil-brisco.html|title=351 Neil Brisco |date=22 April 2011|work=clarkechroniclersfootballers.blogspot.com|accessdate=1 August 2011}}</ref> he joined [[Chorley F.C.|Chorley]] in November 2009. After only one [[Northern Premier League]] Division One North game for the club, he retired from football through injury so as to concentrate on his work in the [[Her Majesty's Prison Service|prison service]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chorleyfc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=332:brisco-neil&catid=5:players&Itemid=28|title=Brisco, Neil |date=14 November 2009|work=chorleyfc.com|accessdate=1 August 2011}}</ref>
==Style of play== Brisco was a tough-[[Tackle (football move)|tackling]] and hard-working [[midfielder]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Tom Pope – Why Port Vale LDV winners were heroes to this 15-year-old |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tom-pope-port-vale-column-4079759 |accessdate=26 April 2020 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=26 April 2020}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]] !colspan="2"|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]] !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="7"|[[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]||[[1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season|1998–99]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=10644|season=1998|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||[[Football League First Division|First Division]]||1||0||1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||2||0 |- |[[1999–2000 Port Vale F.C. season|1999–2000]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=10644|season=1999|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||First Division||13||0||1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||14||0 |- |[[2000–01 Port Vale F.C. season|2000–01]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=10644|season=2000|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>|||[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]||17||1||0||0||0||0||5{{efn|name=efl|Appearance(s) in the [[EFL Trophy]].}}||0||22||1 |- |[[2001–02 Port Vale F.C. season|2001–02]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=10644|season=2001|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||Second Division||37||0||1||0||2||0||3{{efn|name=efl}}||0||43||0 |- |[[2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season|2002–03]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=10644|season=2002|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||Second Division||24||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||24||1 |- |[[2003–04 Port Vale F.C. season|2003–04]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=10644|season=2003|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||Second Division||27||0||2||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=efl}}||0||30||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !119!!2!!5!!0!!2!!0!!9!!0!!135!!2 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]]||[[2004–05 Rochdale A.F.C. season|2004–05]]<ref name="04/05">{{Soccerbase season|id=10644|season=2004|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||[[EFL League Two|League Two]]||11||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=efl}}||0||12||0 |- |[[2005–06 Rochdale A.F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=10644|season=2005|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||League Two||16||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=efl}}||0||17||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !27!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0!!29!!0 |- |[[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] (loan)||[[2004–05 Football Conference|2004–05]]<ref name="04/05" />||[[National League (division)|Conference National]]||10||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=fat|Appearance(s) in the [[FA Trophy]].}}||0||11||1 |- |[[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]]||[[2006–07 Football Conference|2006–07]]||[[National League North|Conference North]]||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||0||0 |- |[[Mossley A.F.C.|Mossley]]||[[2006–07 Northern Premier League|2006–07]]||[[Northern Premier League]]<br>Premier Division||2||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||2||0 |- |[[Chorley F.C.|Chorley]]||[[2009–10 Northern Premier League|2009–10]]||Northern Premier League<br>Division One||1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||1||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total{{efn|name=not|Statistics for [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] and [[Leigh Genesis F.C.|Leigh RMI]] not recorded.}} !159!!3!!5!!0!!2!!0!!12!!0!!178!!3 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Port Vale''' *[[Football League Trophy]]: [[2000–01 Football League Trophy|2000–01]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1289338.stm|access-date=19 January 2016|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=22 April 2001}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Briscoe, Neil}} [[Category:1978 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:English men's footballers]] [[Category:Men's association football defenders]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]] [[Category:Footballers from Wigan]] [[Category:Port Vale F.C. players]] [[Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players]] [[Category:Northwich Victoria F.C. players]] [[Category:Scarborough F.C. players]] [[Category:Barrow A.F.C. players]] [[Category:Mossley A.F.C. players]] [[Category:Leigh Genesis F.C. players]] [[Category:Chorley F.C. players]] [[Category:English Football League players]] [[Category:National League (English football) players]] [[Category:Northern Premier League players]] [[Category:British prison officers]] [[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]] [[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]