Neil McNab, a Scottish born midfield battler who was at the heart of Manchester City’s midfield during the 1980’s. Combative and always willing to stick a boot in, McNab was a key figure in City’s drive to promotion on more than one occasion.
McNab started is career with Greenock Morton in 1972 before moving to Spurs two years later. After two years with Bolton and three with Brighton (twice being loaned out to Leeds and Portsmouth), he signed for City in 1983 for the princely sum of £35,000.
Two years later, he enjoyed promotion to the first division and relegation two years later. It was in the late eighties that he helped nurture youngsters such as Paul Lake, David White, Ian Brightwell, Andy Hinchcliffe and Paul Simpson and inspired the team to promotion during the 1988/89 season. It was during that season that he scored one of the goals of his career. On a windy afternoon at St Andrews, McNab picked up a pass on the far edge of the penalty area and hit a right foot shot, which swerved past the Birmingham keeper and gave City a 2-0 lead. McNab was later to go on record by saying the wind blew it into the net.
McNab scored sixteen goals in 221 appearances and will be remembered as the man who started the goal fest in the 10-1 hammering of Huddersfield Town in November 1987. He was twice named as Player of the Year, once in the 1986/87 season and again in 1988/89. He left City in 1990 for Tranmere Rovers but returned to the club in 1994 as the Youth team Coach. Unfortunately he lost his job due to a managerial change in 1997.
A true footballer, battler and gentleman, Neil McNab rightly deserves the honour of being a Manchester City Past Master.