 Neilson was a competent defender who could play at full-back or in the centre, but his career at The Dell was disrupted by frequent managerial changes.He made his debut on 26 August 1995 as a substitute at Everton, following which he replaced Jason Dodd at right-back for four matches before Dodd was recalled.Although Neilson made a few starts, his next run in the starting eleven came in March, when he took the place of Richard Hall at centre-half.