Frank Neary

Who was Frank Neary?

Harold Frank Neary was an English footballer who played as a striker, mainly for Millwall, Leyton Orient and West Ham United.

During the Second World War, Neary played as an amateur for West Ham, Finchley and then Fulham, before joining the Army. While stationed in Ireland he played for Glentoran. After the war he joined Queens Park Rangers and featured in 30 regional wartime matches, scoring 23 goals.

When regular football recommenced in 1946–47, Neary continued with QPR before moving to West Ham for £4,000 in January 1947. His time there was curtailed after reportedly hitting an opponent who had fouled him, out of sight of the referee. West Ham sold him in November 1947 at a £2,000 loss to Leyton Orient, where he became the club's record goalscorer at that time, with 25 goals during the 1948–49 season. He was noted for the power of his shooting, and once knocked out opposing goalkeeper Archie McFeat of Torquay United, who got in the way of a Neary drive.