Barber Neal no longer wanting to be a fringe player at United

It has taken Neal Gawley the best part of a year to become an overnight success at Ballymena United.
Neal Gawley capped an impressive performance with Ballymena United's second goal in Saturday's 2-0 win over Warrenpoint Town. Picture: Press Eye.Neal Gawley capped an impressive performance with Ballymena United's second goal in Saturday's 2-0 win over Warrenpoint Town. Picture: Press Eye.
Neal Gawley capped an impressive performance with Ballymena United's second goal in Saturday's 2-0 win over Warrenpoint Town. Picture: Press Eye.

The winger spent most of his first season at the Showgrounds on the fringes of the first team - ironic, given his occupation as a barber - after taking some time out to concentrate on work commitments.

“I opened a barber’s shop in Lisburn and I was finding it hard coming up three times a week for pre-season training while starting up the business.

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“I said to Spike that I wanted to take off until Christmas to concentrate on work, plus I was working Saturdays.

“I came back at Christmas time and tried to get back in the team.

“I came back, worked hard, got my fitness back and got back in the team near the end of the season.”

Gawley started Saturday’s Danske Bank Premiership opener against Warrenpoint Town and capped an eye-catching display with United second goal, which he followed with an impressive celebratory somersault in the centre circle!

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“The ball was crossed and I pulled it out of the air. I thought I was maybe going to take it down the channel and cross it in.

“Two defenders came towards me so I nipped through the middle and decided to have a go with my left foot, I hit it well into the bottom corner.

“Spike had said to me in the first half ‘don’t be using your left foot’ so I said to him afterwards ‘well, I’ll not use it again, will I?’!

“I usually do that when I score a decent goal - not for a tap-in or something like that - so hopefully I’ll get to use it again.

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“Hopefully I can have a good steady season, steer clear of injury and stay in the team.

“This is the first time in four years that I’ve done a full pre-season so I feel sharp.

“The way we’re playing this year, with two out and out wingers suits me down to the ground as getting crosses into the box is one of my strengths.

“We have Matthew Tipton and Darren Boyce or Tippy and David Cushley up top and hopefully myself and Ally Teggart can provide crosses from wide areas.

“We’ve worked on that in pre-season, getting balls out wide, getting crosses in and having players attacking the box from midfield so hopefully that will bring us more goals,” added Gawley.