Drew MacNeil
Encyclopedia
Drew MacNeil http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/13672/Shock_sacking_was_new_beginning_for_MacNeil.html is a former shinty
player and current manager of the Scotland national shinty team
. He was appointed Glenurquhart
manager in October 2011.
. He and his brother then moved to Fort William
, where they became integral parts of the team. Drew was captain of Fort William when they won the Camanachd Cup
in 1992.
He moved to Inverness
for three seasons but returned to An Aird
to win the Camanachd Cup again in 2005. He then became manager of Fort William in 2007 and was the manager as Fort won an historic 3-in-a-row Camanachd Cup finals.http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/13672/Shock_sacking_was_new_beginning_for_MacNeil.html.
However towards the end of the 2009 season, MacNeil was unceremoniously sacked due to a fall-out with the club committee in the October. This saga was played out in the Highland media.http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Three-Camanachd-Cups-can39t-save.5771363.jp http://www.skyecamanachd.com/Default.aspx.LocID-087new188.RefLocID-087002002.Lang-EN.htm
He was appointed Scotland manager in early 2010.http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/other-sports-news/drew-mcneil-faces-tricky-job-as-scotland-s-new-shinty-chief-1.1014861 He has also been a regular pundit on BBC ALBA
coverage of shinty despite his lack of Scots Gaelic. MacNeil became a member of the Glenurquhart
coaching staff in early 2011 and on the resignation of Jim Barr in October 2011, he was appointed to the top job.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2498320
As shinty is an amateur sport, MacNeil was formerly a prison officer and is now a community worker in Merkinch
.http://www.merkinch.info/blog/index.php?m=09&y=08&d=01&entry=entry080901-120104
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
player and current manager of the Scotland national shinty team
Scotland national shinty team
The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....
. He was appointed Glenurquhart
Glenurquhart Shinty Club
Glenurquhart Shinty Club is a shinty team which plays in Drumnadrochit on the banks of Loch Ness, Scotland. It draws its players from the part of the Great Glen which encompasses Drumnadrochit, Lewiston and Glenurquhart...
manager in October 2011.
Biography
MacNeil, along with his older brother, Scott, started out playing for Lochaber CamanachdLochaber Camanachd
Lochaber Camanachd is a shinty club based in Spean Bridge, Lochaber, Scotland. The club has a senior team in North Division One, relegated from the Premier Division in 2009 and a reserve team in North Division Three. There is also a ladies team.-History:...
. He and his brother then moved to Fort William
Fort William Shinty Club
Fort William Shinty Club is a shinty club from Fort William, Lochaber, Scotland. The first team were Camanachd Cup holders four times in succession, between 2007 and 2010 but were knocked out in the second round in 2011...
, where they became integral parts of the team. Drew was captain of Fort William when they won the Camanachd Cup
Camanachd Cup
The Camanachd Association Challenge Cup AKA the Camanachd Cup or Scottish Cup is the premier prize in the sport of shinty...
in 1992.
He moved to Inverness
Inverness Shinty Club
Inverness Shinty Club is a shinty club from Inverness, Scotland. The first team competes in North Division One and the second team in North Division Three. Founded in 1887 as Inverness Town and County Shinty Club to distinguish from other clubs in Inverness such as Clachnacuddin, Inverness moved...
for three seasons but returned to An Aird
An Aird
An Aird is both an area of Fort William, Scotland, and also the largest dedicated shinty park in the town and is situated on the east bank of Loch Linnhe, near the centre of the town. It is located next to the Nevis Centre. An Aird regularly hosts both the Camanachd Cup Final and the Composite...
to win the Camanachd Cup again in 2005. He then became manager of Fort William in 2007 and was the manager as Fort won an historic 3-in-a-row Camanachd Cup finals.http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/13672/Shock_sacking_was_new_beginning_for_MacNeil.html.
However towards the end of the 2009 season, MacNeil was unceremoniously sacked due to a fall-out with the club committee in the October. This saga was played out in the Highland media.http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Three-Camanachd-Cups-can39t-save.5771363.jp http://www.skyecamanachd.com/Default.aspx.LocID-087new188.RefLocID-087002002.Lang-EN.htm
He was appointed Scotland manager in early 2010.http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/other-sports-news/drew-mcneil-faces-tricky-job-as-scotland-s-new-shinty-chief-1.1014861 He has also been a regular pundit on BBC ALBA
BBC Alba
BBC Gàidhlig is the department of BBC Scotland that produces Scottish Gaelic language programming. This includes TV programmes for BBC Alba and BBC Two Scotland, the BBC Radio nan Gàidheal radio station and the BBC Alba website.-Television:...
coverage of shinty despite his lack of Scots Gaelic. MacNeil became a member of the Glenurquhart
Glenurquhart Shinty Club
Glenurquhart Shinty Club is a shinty team which plays in Drumnadrochit on the banks of Loch Ness, Scotland. It draws its players from the part of the Great Glen which encompasses Drumnadrochit, Lewiston and Glenurquhart...
coaching staff in early 2011 and on the resignation of Jim Barr in October 2011, he was appointed to the top job.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2498320
As shinty is an amateur sport, MacNeil was formerly a prison officer and is now a community worker in Merkinch
Merkinch
Merkinch is an area of the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. One of the Inverness's oldest areas, it is located in the north-west of the city, flanked by the Caledonian Canal to the west and the River Ness to the east.Originally, Merkinch was home to Inverness's shipbuilding industry...
.http://www.merkinch.info/blog/index.php?m=09&y=08&d=01&entry=entry080901-120104