▁league ▁debut ▁for ▁the ▁Hamm ers ▁in ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁against ▁Wat ford , ▁where ▁he ▁picked ▁up ▁a ▁kne e ▁injury . ▁He ▁capt ained ▁the ▁team ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁during ▁a ▁ 3 – 4 ▁defeat ▁against ▁Tot ten ham ▁Hot sp ur ▁the ▁following ▁month ▁and ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁play ▁every ▁remaining ▁game ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁He ▁became ▁the ▁permanent ▁team ▁captain ▁following ▁N ig el ▁Re o - C oker ' s ▁transfer ▁to ▁A ston ▁Villa . ▁Ne ill ▁made ▁his ▁first ▁appearance ▁as ▁team ▁captain ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 – 1 ▁draw ▁against ▁W igan ▁Athlet ic ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁Ne ill ▁scored ▁his ▁only ▁goal ▁for ▁West ▁Ham ▁in ▁a ▁ 3 – 2 ▁away ▁defeat ▁to ▁West ▁B rom ▁in ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁At ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 – 0 9 ▁season ▁Ne ill ▁rejected ▁a ▁one - year ▁contract ▁extension ▁with ▁West ▁Ham , ▁becoming ▁a ▁free ▁agent . ▁ ▁Ever ton ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 7 ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁Ne ill ▁joined ▁close ▁friend ▁Tim ▁C ah ill ▁at ▁Ever ton ▁on ▁a ▁free ▁transfer , ▁signing ▁a ▁one - year ▁deal . ▁He ▁was ▁un ve iled ▁to ▁the ▁fans ▁at ▁half ▁time ▁during ▁Ever ton ' s ▁ 4 – 0 ▁Europa ▁League ▁win ▁at ▁Good ison ▁Park ▁against ▁A E K ▁Ath ens .