He made more than 350 appearances in the Football League,[2] played for Birmingham City in the 1960 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final, and won four caps for the England under-23 team.
[5] Financial difficulties caused in part by falling attendances forced Lincoln to accept the substantial offer of £15,000 plus player Bert Linnecor from First Division club Birmingham City, and in April 1957 Neal moved on.
[5] He was a powerful player, both strong in the tackle and capable of positive attacking play; manager Arthur Turner brought him in as a replacement for Len Boyd, who had retired through injury after the 1956 FA Cup Final.
[7] He made nearly 200 appearances in all competitions for Birmingham, including 165 top-flight League matches and the 1960 Fairs Cup Final,[3] and captained the side in 1960–61.
[8] His father, Dick Neal Sr., was a professional footballer who played as a winger for Blackpool, Derby County, Southampton, Bristol City and Accrington Stanley before the Second World War.