He started his carer as a footballer with Dundee United and was captain of the team in the 1936-37 season. After his carer was over he became a writer initially as a sports writer. He had  a number  of well received novels  and short  stories.

He received his Academy Award-winning script Room at the Top in 1959 Neil also won the Atlantic award for Literature in 1946

Later on he was governor of the British Film Institute, National Film School, And the Arts Council of Great Britain he died in Crieff Scotland.