Phil Wallis (Neil Jackson) 2002-2003

First Regular Appearance: 6.1 (#261) It Could Be You  Sunday 6th October 2002

Last Regular Appearance: 6.32 (#292) Just The Ticket  Sunday 18th May 2003

Duration: EP: 261 - 292  |  SE: 6.1 – 6.32

Position: Harchester United Chairman (2002-2003)

Last Seen: Walking out with the crowd having given the club away to one lucky fan in an on-pitch raffle.

 

 

Aged somewhere in his late 20's, Phil Wallis was settled in his career as a plumber, with his wife Jacqui an office worker. Phil had supported Harchester United his whole life, and could only dream of being involved professionally with the club. The night which followed what had been another normal day for Phil and Jacqui changed their lives forever, with a lottery win of £21M pounds. Most people would not know where to begin spending, but Phil knew immediately what he wanted. He didn't just want a piece of Harchester - he wanted the whole thing! Sam Irving wanted rid of it soon as, and Phil made sure he didn’t come away without full ownership.

 

Turning up in the Players’ Lounge after the first game of the new season, Phil already makes an enemy in Patrick Doyle, who was planning to snatch the club himself with Jeff Stein. Filled with excitement at the prospect of building his ‘super team’, Phil attempts to re-sign Scott Lucas, but has to sell Monday Bandele in the process. Patrick is working against Phil, in a bet he’s placed to get the club relegated, and destroys the deal with Scott. Having put the last of their lottery winnings, £2M pounds aside for Jacqui’s dreamed holiday home in the sun, Phil tries to compensate for losing Scott by signing Roberto Mendoza. Patrick again sees to it that the deal is scuppered, knowing Mendoza will suffer a career-ending injury in his first training session.

 

Jacqui is furious to learn the put-aside money has gone, and walks out on Phil – straight into Patrick’s bet, and is soon sleeping with him! Phil considers selling off some of his shares in order to get the money, and Jacqui back. But upon learning how Patrick has desires to buy the club, Phil is suspicious and stays put. Phil is delighted when his seemingly perfect wife returns to him, but Patrick’s bet is having a deepening affect on the club’s place in the league. Jacqui falls ill under the stress of Doyle’s power over her, and suffers a miscarriage, but Phil is unaware the baby was Patrick’s! With the guilt of Phil believing he was about to become a dad, and Patrick’s continuing damage to the club, Jacqui confesses all to her husband after the team lose away to Birmingham. Phil exposes Patrick and gives him a whack in front of the Sky Sports cameras, before going on a downward spiral which culminates in him taking an overdose. Phil is rescued and knows he has to sort out the mess his club is in.

 

Sticking to his memory of HUFC’s recent glory years – Phil approaches Alan Rothman about taking over as manager. At this time, the Mendoza deal comes back to haunt Phil, as he discovers Jeff was involved in a bung with Roberto’s agent Pilar Hernandez, and the withholding of Phil’s £2M pounds. A cover story the trio put forward is jeopardised when Roberto threatens to tell the story in his autobiography. Phil and Jeff have to come clean, which results in Harchester being deducted six points, though later reduced to three, meaning there is still a chance to avoid relegation.

 

Trying to move on from Jacqui proves hard for Phil, as right after getting together with Nikki Peggs, Jacqui admits she wants to give their marriage another go. Phil sleeps with Jacqui, but isn’t sure whether getting back with her is what he wants. After Jamie Parker’s siege reveals how Patrick was forcing him to throw games to ensure Harchester’s relegation, Phil appeals to the FA to have the abandoned match replayed. When Phil learns how Jacqui has betrayed him for Patrick again, this time during Jamie’s siege, he finishes with her for good.

 

Harchester are saved from relegation by beating Everton, and Phil knows now is the best time to leave his club. But not without one last drama: standing on the pitch Phil announces to the crowd that whoever’s seat number is pulled out of a raffle will own the club! After congratulating the winner he never meets, Phil exits the stadium and blends back into the crowd of Dragons fans, just another himself again.

 

In May 2020, Neil appeared at the Dream Team cast reunion fundraiser Harchester Reunited  

 

Neil Jackson's Interview with Dream Team Diehard (November 2012)