same day, Leeds signed Scotsman, John Geddes from Rhyl Athletic and both players made their debuts playing for the 'A' team in the Yorkshire mid-week league on 14 February against Huddersfield Town, making favourable impressions in a 3-1 win.

Suffering with various minor injuries, it wouldn't be until 20 April that Tom Neal would feature again, making his comeback in the Yorkshire mid-week league at home to Sheffield United.

Despite the injuries and the limited appearances, Neal was retained by Leeds at the end of the season and he started the 1931/32 campaign with the A team in the Yorkshire League and his reward, for some solid performances, came on 17 October 1931 when he made his debut for the reserves in the Central League, away at Aston Villa, lining up alongside the likes of George Milburn, Bobby Turnbull, Russell Wainscoat and Jack Mahon. The reserves side had a very inconsistent start to the season but returned from the Midlands with a point, following a 0-0 draw.

By Christmas 1931, Neal was a regular in the Central League side and when Wilf Copping suffered an ankle injury, the former miner was handed his first-team debut, at home to Burnley on 2 April 1932. It was a huge game with Leeds, despite being in the thick of the Second Division promotion race, had only won one of the previous five matches.

Leeds came out on top against its Lancashire opponents, winning the game 3-1 and the Yorkshire Post reported:

'In the absence of Copping, whose injured ankle is happily going on well, Neal made a creditable first appearance in league football. He is a likely looking lad, and showed some nice touches in the first half; but the ball did not run his way afterwards''

A week later, Leeds made the journey to lowly Chesterfield with Neal keeping his place in the side. It was a disappointing afternoon, with the promotion chasers being held to a 1-1 draw, courtesy of the Spireites forward Jack Lee equalising with just two minutes remaining. However, things could have been a lot worse for Leeds if it hadn't been for the heroics of goalkeeper Jimmy Potts.

Harry Duggan had given Leeds an 18th minute lead when he headed home a Tom Cochrane free-kick but in the 72nd minute, the home side had a glorious opportunity to score from the penalty spot. Chesterfield's Billy Austin weaved his way into the box and was brought down by Tom Neal. Austin, looking shaken, picked himself up and saw his spot kick superbly turned over the crossbar by Potts.

Despite conceding the penalty, Neal was handed further compliments by the Yorkshire Post reporter:

'[Ernie] Hart took on a big share of the defensive work in the second half, and had a fine helper in young Neal at left half. I liked nothing better than Neal's accurate heading of the ball as it hurled towards him in the wind.'

Wilf Copping returned the following week and Neal, despite two encouraging performances, was back in the reserves for the remainder of the season in which Leeds finished in second place, behind Wolverhampton Wanderers, and returned to the top flight at the first attempt.

It was a near impossible task for Tom Neal to displace Wilf Copping in the first team but he continued to earn plaudits plying his trade in the Central League and rumours were circulating that he was attracting the attention of Arsenal.

Another chance in the First Division came his way on 4 February 1933, against West Bromwich Albion, with Wilf Copping being declared unfit after taking a knock in the midweek FA Cup win over Tranmere Rovers. According to reports, Leeds missed the thrust of Copping as they were held to a 1-1 draw in blustery conditions.

Neal kept his pace for the next two games which saw injury hit Leeds beaten twice, away at Sheffield Wednesday and at home to Birmingham City.

With Copping returning for the FA Cup tie at Everton, Neal was left out but earned a first team call up for the game against Manchester City on 25 February. Unfortunately, he was denied a further appearance due to heavy snow fall across the country. The weekend fixture list was decimated with 23 of the 44 scheduled games being postponed.

The following week, Leeds signed 18 year old trialist Isaac Spelman from Usworth Colliery. Spelman, who would not go on to make the first team at Elland Road, became the third player to join from the Colliery club, after Billy Furness and Neal.

With Leeds holding its own in the First Division and Wilf Copping being a consistent performer week after week, Tom Neal saw the season out playing for the reserves and on 28 April 1933, it was confirmed he had impressed enough to earn a place in the squad for the following season.

The start of the 1933/34 season saw Tom Neal named in several squads, without making the final 11, before a thigh injury side lined him for three weeks. It wasn't until 14 October that he made the starting line up away at Manchester City (Leeds won 1-0), courtesy of Wilf Copping's England call up for an international fixture in Belfast againt Northern Ireland. It was Neal's sixth appearance in the Leeds United first team and the only time he featured that season. A shin injury, picked up just before Christmas, prevented him playing against Birmingham City on 10 February 1934 when Copping was called up for an inter-league match.

Neal returned to action on 7 March 1934 when he turned out for the reserves, against Mansfield Town, in the Yorkshire mid-week league. He came through the game unscathed and despite the injury-hit season, the club offered him terms to stay for the 1934/35 campaign.

On 2 June 1934, England international, Wilf Copping signed for Arsenal. The fee, close to £8,000, was huge money at the time and the Leeds United directors had no justification to turn the bid down. Neal's chances of regular-first team football at Elland Road had enhanced dramatically with one scribble of a signature and the club had faith in his ability.

Unfortunately for Neal, it was Cyril Hornby who received the call up to replace Copping for the opening game of the new season and the former miner found himself in regular territory in the reserve team.

Leeds started the campaign in the worst possible manner, losing 4-2 at home to Middlesbrough and followed that with a record 8-1 defeat away at Stoke City. Following a 1-1 draw away at Blackburn Rovers, Neal was handed a place in the starting line up for the home game against Stoke City on 3 September, replacing Hornby.

Leeds gained revenge on a Stoke City side weakened by the loss of the injured Stanley Mathews, who had scored four in the 8-1 win, and Harry Davies whose brother had been killed that morning in a road traffic accident. Neal had an effective 90 minutes at left half and goals from Tom Cochrane, Jack Mahon, Billy Furness and Harry Duggan gave Leeds a 4-2 win with goalkeeper Reg Savage saving a penalty.

Neal kept his place in the side for the following game, the visit of Arsenal and the return of Wilf Copping and Leeds gained a point in a 1-1 draw.

After playing in a 0-0 draw away at Portsmouth, Neal was dropped for the home game with Liverpool — Cyril Hornby was preferred as the visitors won 3-0. With Neal restored the following week, Leeds returned to winning ways by beating Huddersfield Town 2-0 at home.

Tom Neal received selection for a charity game in aid of the Gresford Colliery Disaster Fund when a Bradford Park Avenue and Bradford City select XI played a team made up of Huddersfield Town and Leeds United players. Willis Edwards, Ernie Hart, Jack Milburn and Jack Mahon were the other Leeds players selected. Tom Neal didn't finish the game, which the Bradford Select side won 3-2, having left the field due to a severe cut above his left knee. He wouldn't return to the Leeds first team until 29 December away at Middlesbrough.

The left=half position was becoming problematic. Hornby was an inconsistent performer and Neal, who featured 12 times during the campaign, was prone to injury. After Leeds lost in the FA Cup replay at home to Norwich, Neal was dropped and was back in the reserves. He suffered an ankle injury in a Central League game against Aston Villa and was forced to leave the field early in the second half.

The Elland Road directors made drastic cuts to the playing staff for following season, with only 25 of the 44 players being offered deals. Neal was on the retained list but it would be his last season as a Leeds player. In his fifth appearance of the season, a 3-1 win at Manchester City, the injury jinx struck again.

After suffering an ankle injury during the first half, he became a passenger, hobbling about on the left wing until the referee blew his half time whistle. He came out briefly during the second half but when he left the field after 52 minutes, his Leeds career was effectively over.

On 30 April 1936, Leeds United Football Club announced its retained and released list and amongst the five released were club legend Ernie Hart and Tom Neal who, largely due to niggling injuries, had failed to live up to the expectation that he would be a reliable replacement following Copping's transfer to Highbury.

Within two weeks, Neal had found himself a new club with Hull City manager, David Menzies confirming the deal on 12 May 1936.

When Hull City reported back for pre season training on the morning of 4 August, although Neal was present he was unfit to join in the session and just a week later his contract with his new employer was cancelled by mutual consent.

The reason for Neal being unfit was that he had spent six weeks of the summer laid up in Newcastle Hospital with severe head pains. Following further consultation with Doctors in Hull, he was advised to retire from professional football and he returned to County Durham.

Tragically, on 10 September 1936, Tom Neal passed away in Newcastle Hospital aged just 25, with the head pains given as the cause of death. He was laid to rest five days later in High Usworth cemetery with Billy Furness, Tom Cochrane and Arthur Hydes attending the funeral on behalf of Leeds United with the club also sending floral tributes.

Hull City joined Leeds United in sending flowers and just weeks later, the club would be rocked again when the manager who had signed Neal, Bill Menzies, collapsed and died in his home the day after seeing his side beat Gateshead.

The story of Tom Neal is one that is unlikely to have been documented but is certainly one of tragedy.