ending ▁the ▁Australian ▁Institute ▁of ▁Sport ▁on ▁a ▁football ▁scholar ship ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 – 9 5 . ▁ ▁Club ▁career ▁ ▁Mill wall ▁Ne ill ▁joined ▁Mill wall ▁on ▁a ▁free ▁transfer ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁making ▁his ▁debut ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁February ▁against ▁L ut on ▁Town ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁In ▁almost ▁six ▁years ▁at ▁The ▁Den , ▁he ▁made ▁ 1 7 4 ▁appearances ▁in ▁all ▁compet itions , ▁scoring ▁ 1 3 ▁goals . ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁Ne ill , ▁by ▁then ▁the ▁longest ▁serving ▁player ▁at ▁the ▁club , ▁submitted ▁a ▁transfer ▁request ▁and ▁shortly ▁after , ▁signed ▁for ▁Black burn ▁Ro vers ▁for ▁an ▁initial ▁fee ▁of ▁£ 6 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁plus ▁up ▁to ▁£ 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁more ▁depending ▁on ▁appearances . ▁ ▁Black burn ▁Ro vers ▁Ne ill ▁played ▁his ▁first ▁game ▁for ▁Black burn ▁in ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁against ▁S under land ▁and ▁scored ▁his ▁first ▁Black burn ▁goal ▁later ▁that ▁month ▁against ▁Bol ton ▁W ander ers . ▁Ne ill ▁was ▁well ▁regarded ▁by ▁Black burn ▁Ro vers ▁supp or ters ▁and ▁held ▁the ▁right ▁back ▁position ▁for ▁over ▁five ▁years ▁for ▁the ▁Black burn ▁Ro vers . ▁Black burn ▁won ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 1 – 0 2 ▁Football ▁League ▁Cup ▁but ▁Ne ill ▁was ▁cup - t ied . ▁ ▁Ne ill