United Debut: v. Albion Rovers (H) 0-0.
Signed From: East Fife October 1959.
Transferred to: Freed 1968.
The ex-Hearts and East Fife wing-half was Jerry Kerr's third major signing for United in 1959 and was part of the United side that won promotion to the First Division that year. Neilson scored 2 goals in a 4-1 win over Raith Rovers in United's first term back in the top flight, and was an ever present that season. Neilson was also part of the United team that reached the Semi Finals of the Scottish Cup for the first time in 1963 and the club's first League Cup Semi Final in 1964. A first team regular for 9 years, throughout United's rise from the 2nd Division to European qualification, Neilson played in all 4 matches against Barcelona and Juventus during United's first venture into Europe in 1966, and at one stage had played in 72 consecutive games. At the end of the 1967/68 season Neilson, at the age of 33, was freed and emigrated to South Africa in 1970.
Promotion from 2nd Division 1960
23 Appearances 2 Goals
Inter Cities' Fairs Cup 1966
4 Appearances
| League | Scot Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | |
| 1959-60 | 23 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | 25 | 2 |
| 1960-61 | 34 | 2 | 1 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 41 | 2 |
| 1961-62 | 32 | 1 | 1 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 39 | 1 |
| 1962-63 | 25 | 2 | 8 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 39 | 2 |
| 1963-64 | 28 | 1 | 1 | - | 5 | - | - | - | 34 | 1 |
| 1964-65 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1965-66 | 33 | 1 | 3 | - | 3 | - | - | - | 39 | 1 |
| 1966-67 | 32 | - | 4 | - | 6 | - | 4 | - | 46 | 0 |
| 1967-68 | 11 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 0 |
|
Total
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? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
