Position : Left back (also played at centre half)
Played : 1984-5 to 1986-7
Appearances : 97
Goals : 2
Dave arrived from Cardiff at the same time as Phil Dwyer but was a permanent signing.He started out as a centre half under Jack Charlton at Sheffield Wednesday and was rated a good prospect but struggled when they were promoted to the Second Division. He moved on to Oxford in 1982 where he switched to left back but in his second season there he was loaned out to Chesterfield. He then had a brief spell at Crystal Palace without making an appearance for them and then moved to Cardiff.
Dave evicted Les Chapman from the left back position and it was great to see someone who could effectively support the attack there. Dave was a big guy with a good left foot who could put over a decent cross. He was also a bit of a bruiser and used to beckon opposing wingers to try and take the ball off him as he brought it forward; few took up the challenge. It has to be said he was a bit short of pace and a decent winger could give him a torrid time.
At the start of the 1985-6 season an injury to Kieth Hicks meant he had to play centre half for a few games which he did very well (snuffing Frank Worthington out of the game at Tranmere) leading me to think that was his best position all along. At the end of the season he was one of those high earners who were placed on the transfer list at nil value but there were no takers and he played throughout the next season.
Despite him being only 26, Eddie Gray released him at the end of 1986-7 a decision that rankled with many especially since his replacements were dire. Dave moved on to Macclesfield and subsequently Boston with a short spell at Mossley in between.
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