McNeal was born in Hobson, County Durham, where he played football for the village team before he turned professional with West Bromwich Albion in June 1910. In his first full season he helped the club to the Second Division title. The "Throstles" then finished ninth in the First Division in 1911–12. He also won a runners-up medal in the 1912 FA Cup Final when Albion lost 1–0 to Barnsley in a replay at Bramall Lane. Albion went on to post top ten finishes in the league in 1912–13, 1913–14, and 1914–15, before the Football League was suspended due to World War I.