{{Short description|English footballer (born 1976)}} {{use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Neil Cutler | image = Neil Cutler 2.jpg | image_size = 200 | caption = Cutler with Bury in 2008 | fullname = Neil Anthony Cutler | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1976|9|3}} | birth_place = Perton, England | death_date = | currentclub = | position = Goalkeeper | youthyears1 = 1993–1994 | youthclubs1 = West Bromwich Albion | years1 = 1995–1996 | clubs1 = West Bromwich Albion | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 1995–1996 | clubs2 = → Coventry City (loan) | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1995 | clubs3 = → Tamworth (loan) | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 1996 | clubs4 = → Chester City (loan) | caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 1996–1998 | clubs5 = Crewe Alexandra | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 1996 | clubs6 = → Chester City (loan) | caps6 = 4 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 1996 | clubs7 = → Leek Town (loan) | caps7 = | goals7 = | years8 = 1997 | clubs8 = → Leek Town (loan) | caps8 = | goals8 = | years9 = 1997 | clubs9 = → Cheltenham Town (loan) | caps9 = | goals9 = | years10 = 1998 | clubs10 = → Stalybridge Celtic (loan)| caps10 = 6 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 1998–1999 | clubs11 = Chester City | caps11 = 23 | goals11 = 0 | years12 = 1999–2000 | clubs12 = Aston Villa | caps12 = 1 | goals12 = 0 | years13 = 2000–2001 | clubs13 = → Oxford United (loan) | caps13 = 11 | goals13 = 0 | years14 = 2001–2004 | clubs14 = Stoke City | caps14 = 69 | goals14 = 0 | years15 = 2002–2003 | clubs15 = → Swansea City (loan) | caps15 = 13 | goals15 = 0 | years16 = 2004–2005 | clubs16 = Stockport County | caps16 = 25 | goals16 = 0 | years17 = 2005–2007 | clubs17 = Rotherham United | caps17 = 63 | goals17 = 0 | years18 = 2010–2011 | clubs18 = Bury | caps18 = 0 | goals18 = 0 | years19 = 2011 | clubs19 = Scunthorpe United | caps19 = 0 | goals19 = 0 | totalcaps = 213| totalgoals = 0 }} '''Neil Anthony Cutler''' (born 3 September 1976) is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Cutler started playing football with West Bromwich Albion and after loan spells at Coventry City, Tamworth and Chester City he moved on to Crewe Alexandra in 1996. Further loan spells with Chester, Leek Town, Cheltenham Town and Stalybridge Celtic followed until he moved permanently to Chester City. After a season at the Deva Stadium, Cutler earned a move to Aston Villa. With first team opportunities limited at Villa Cutler played on loan with Oxford United and then joined Stoke City in July 2001. He enjoyed his most successful period of the career at Stoke helping them gain promotion in the 2002 Football League Second Division play-off final. He went on to play for Swansea City, Stockport County and Rotherham United until retiring in 2007 and moving into coaching.
==Playing career== Cutler was born in Perton, started his career as a seventeen-year-old at West Bromwich Albion having progressed through the FA National School of Excellence at Lilleshall.<ref name="Cutler">{{cite web |title=Goalkeeper Training in The Midlands |url=https://j4kmountainwest.com/goalkeeper-training-the-midlands/ |website=j4kmountainwest.com |accessdate=7 July 2020}}</ref> Cutler made an appearance for The English FA Schoolboys team which lost 1–0 to Italy at Wembley. During his time at West Brom, he went out on loan to gain experience at Coventry City, Tamworth and Chester City where he made his professional debut on 20 April 1996 in a 1–1 draw away at Torquay United.<ref name="1995/96"/> Cutler was sold to Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 1996 without playing a game for West Brom. He spent his entire spell at Crewe as understudy to Jason Kearton heading out on loan to Chester City, Cheltenham Town, Leek Town and Stalybridge Celtic.<ref name="Cutler"/> He then played for Chester City in 1998–99, after two previous loan spells with the club. During his time at Chester Cutler made 26 appearances under Kevin Ratcliffe and earned himself a move to Premier League side Aston Villa in October 1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-Chester keeper tips former loanee for a big future in the game |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ex-chester-keeper-tips-former-14166935 |website=Cheshire Live |date=17 January 2018 |accessdate=8 July 2020}}</ref>
Cutler only made one appearance for Villa which came as a late substitute for the injured David James on 14 February 2000 against Middlesbrough with Villa winning 4–0.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gazza and Boro self destruct |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/642993.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=14 February 2000}}</ref> He spent time during the 2000–01 season on loan at Oxford United, making 11 appearances before being recalled in February 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cutler's exit dismays Kemp |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/6622984.cutlers-exit-dismays-kemp/ |website=Oxford Mail |accessdate=8 July 2020 |date=26 February 2001}}</ref>
He joined Stoke City in July 2001 and was initially going to be back-up to Gavin Ward but took his place in the team from September 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cutler's Stoke pledge |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/1866475.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 March 2002}}</ref> Cutler played 43 times in 2001–02 helping the team reach the 2002 Football League Second Division play-off final where they beat Brentford 2–0 to gain promotion to the First Division.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stoke seal promotion |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1979286.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 May 2002}}</ref> He remained as first-choice going into the 2002–03 season but lost his place once Tony Pulis became manager in November 2002. In March 2003 he joined Swansea City on loan as cover for injured goalkeeper Roger Freestone.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cutler answers Swansea call |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/2808459.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=28 February 2003}}</ref> He played in the next 13 league games culminating in a superb performance against Hull City on the final day of the season which kept the Swans in the Football League.<ref>{{cite web |title=Swansea 4–2 Hull |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/2976539.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=3 May 2003}}</ref> Cutler was back at Stoke for the 2003–04 season where he was back-up to Ed de Goey and made 16 appearances as the Potters finished in 11th position.<ref name="2003/04"/>
Cutler joined League One side Stockport County in the summer of 2004 after turning down the chance to re-join Swansea.<ref>{{cite web |title=Swansea end Cutler interest |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/3772945.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=3 June 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stockport swoop for keeper |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/3779181.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=5 June 2004}}</ref> He made 27 appearances in 2004–05 as Stockport had a terrible campaign, finishing bottom of League One.<ref name="2004/05"/> He joined Rotherham United in August 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotherham clinch deal for Cutler |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rotherham_utd/4745209.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=4 August 2005}}</ref> He spent two seasons with the Millers making 70 appearances before deciding to retire due to a persistent back injury.<ref name="Cutler"/>
==Coaching career== He joined Bury as a goalkeeping coach and is part of Just4keepers goalkeeping coaching company. He re-registered as a player at the club in November 2010 and was given the number 30 squad number, expecting to remain on the books on non-contract terms until the end of the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buryfc.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10422~2217257,00.html|title=Cut's is 30|publisher=Bury FC|accessdate=12 November 2010|date=12 November 2010}}</ref> On 31 March 2011, however, Cutler joined manager Alan Knill and Assistant Manager Chris Brass in leaving the club for Scunthorpe United.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.buryfc.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10422~2327920,00.html | title=Club Statement | work=Bury F.C official website | date=31 March 2011| accessdate=12 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/12919001 | title=Scunthorpe United appoint Bury manager Alan Knill| publisher=BBC Sport | date=31 March 2011| access-date=12 April 2011}}</ref> On 22 October 2011 Cutler was named on the substitute's bench in Scunthorpe United's game with MK Dons due to Scunthorpe's lack of fit goalkeepers. On 30 May 2013, Cutler joined Walsall after Scunthorpe's relegation to League Two.<ref>{{cite news|title=Walsall: Keeper coach Cutler succeeds long-serving Kearns|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22910402|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>
Cutler joined West Bromwich Albion as goalkeeping coach on 17 January 2018, after Albion were able to agree a compensatory fee with Cutler's former employers Walsall.<ref>{{cite news |title=West Brom: Walsall number two Neil Cutler rejoins Baggies as goalkeeping coach |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42719784 |accessdate=8 July 2020}}</ref>
In November 2018 Cutler was appointed goalkeeping coach at Dean Smith's Aston Villa.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/2018/11/02/goalkeeper-coach-neil-cutler-leaves-west-brom-for-aston-villa/ |title=Goalkeeper coach Neil Cutler leaves West Brom for Aston Villa |work=Express and Star|date=2 November 2018 |accessdate=2 November 2018}}</ref> He remained in situ during Steven Gerrard's tenure but with the arrival of Unai Emery, it was announced on 31 October 2022 that Cutler had departed his role at Aston Villa after four years at the club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 October 2022 |title=Aston Villa confirm Neil Cutler departure |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/october/31/aston-villa-confirm-cutler-departure/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=Aston Villa Football Club}}</ref> After his exit, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez paid tribute to Cutler, calling him the "best English goalkeeping coach by miles."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preece |first=Ashley |date=2022-10-31 |title=Emi Martinez confirms Neil Cutler has left Aston Villa |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-neil-cutler-martinez-25399474 |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=BirminghamLive |language=en}}</ref>
Cutler was appointed Head of Goalkeeping at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 1 August 2023.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cy0pgeynem8o|title=Wolves appoint new head of goalkeeping|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 August 2023|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref>
On 23 August 2024, Cutler was appointed interim goalkeeping coach of the England U20s as part of Paul Nevin's backroom team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Aug/23/lee-carsley-coaching-team-development-coaches-confirmed-20242308|title=England men's coaching teams confirmed|publisher=England Football|date=23 August 2024|accessdate=27 August 2024}}</ref>
In the summer of 2025, Sunderland AFC were promoted to the Premier League and appointed Cutler as their goalkeeping coach. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.safc.com/news/2025/july/18/raising-the-bar--neil-cutler-s-goalkeeping-vision-for-sunderland-afc/|website=www.safc.com|access-date=2025-11-30}}</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"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |West Bromwich Albion |1995–96<ref name="1995/96">{{Soccerbase season|1865|1995}}</ref> |First Division |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |Coventry City (loan) |1995–96<ref name="1995/96"/> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |Chester City (loan) |1995–96<ref name="1995/96"/> |Third Division |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Crewe Alexandra |1996–97<ref name="1996/97">{{Soccerbase season|1865|1996}}</ref> |Second Division |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |1997–98<ref name="1997/98">{{Soccerbase season|1865|1997}}</ref> |First Division |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0 |- |Chester City (loan) |1996–97<ref name="1996/97"/> |Third Division |4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0 |- |Stalybridge Celtic (loan) |1997–98<ref>{{cite web |title=Player Profile – Neil Cutler (1st Apr 1998 – 30th Jun 1998) |url=http://www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk/play.php?code=H0031 |website=Stalybridge Celtic |accessdate=7 July 2020}}</ref> |Football Conference |6||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||0 |- |Chester City |1998–99<ref name="1998/99">{{Soccerbase season|1865|1998}}</ref> |Third Division |23||0||1||0||1||0||1{{efn|name=FLT|Appearances in Football League Trophy}}||0||26||0 |- |Aston Villa |1999–2000<ref name="1999/00">{{Soccerbase season|1865|1999}}</ref> |Premier League |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |Oxford United (loan) |2000–01<ref name="2000/01">{{Soccerbase season|1865|2000}}</ref> |Second Division |11||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||11||0 |- |rowspan="4"|Stoke City |2001–02<ref name="2001/02">{{Soccerbase season|1865|2001}}</ref> |Second Division |36||0||3||0||1||0||3{{efn|Appearances in Second Division play-offs}}||0||43||0 |- |2002–03<ref name="2002/03">{{Soccerbase season|1865|2002}}</ref> |First Division |20||0||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||23||0 |- |2003–04<ref name="2003/04">{{Soccerbase season|1865|2003}}</ref> |First Division |13||0||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||16||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !69!!0!!7!!0!!3!!0!!3!!0!!82!!0 |- |Swansea City (loan) |2002–03<ref name="2002/03"/> |Third Division |13||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||13||0 |- |Stockport County |2004–05<ref name="2004/05">{{Soccerbase season|1865|2004}}</ref> |League One |22||0||2||0||1||0||2{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||27||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Rotherham United |2005–06<ref name="2005/06">{{Soccerbase season|1865|2005}}</ref> |League One |22||0||0||0||2||0||1{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||25||0 |- |2006–07<ref name="2006/07">{{Soccerbase season|1865|2006}}</ref> |League One |41||0||1||0||2||0||1{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||45||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !63!!0!!1!!0!!4!!0!!2!!0!!70!!0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !213!!0!!11!!0!!9!!0!!8!!0!!241!!0 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Stoke City''' *Football League Second Division play-offs: 2002<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/brentford-vs-stoke-city/teams/27071 |title=Starting Lineups - Brentford vs Stoke City 11.05.2002 |website=Sky Sports |access-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cutler, Neil}} Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:People from South Staffordshire District Category:English men's footballers Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players Category:Coventry City F.C. players Category:Chester City F.C. players Category:Crewe Alexandra F.C. players Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players Category:Aston Villa F.C. players Category:Oxford United F.C. players Category:Stoke City F.C. players Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players Category:Stockport County F.C. players Category:Rotherham United F.C. players Category:Bury F.C. players Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Premier League players Category:Bury F.C. non-playing staff Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. non-playing staff Category:Walsall F.C. non-playing staff Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. non-playing staff Category:Association football goalkeeping coaches Category:Tamworth F.C. players Category:Leek Town F.C. players Category:Stalybridge Celtic F.C. players Category:Aston Villa F.C. non-playing staff Category:National League (English football) players Category:English football coaches Category:Footballers from Staffordshire Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. non-playing staff