Sheffield United vs Preston North End

UTB 51
the field he was a great ambassador for
the club. One of the most memorable
moments he gave United fans was his
last-minute equalising goal against
Coventry City in the FA Cup quarter-final
replay at the Lane during the 1997-98
season. The Blades went on to win the
game after extra time and penalties.
He did suffer from injury problems
during the 1998-99 season but was still a
key player and it was a blow when he was
sold to Birmingham City in March 1999 for
a reported £1.2 million. It was reported
that David did not want to leave the Lane.
With City he reached another play-off
final at the end of the 1998-99 season,
this time against his old club Watford. He
was sent off as City lost out on penalties.
He remained with Birmingham until the
end of the 2001-02 season. He did have
a short spell with Walsall on loan during
2002 where he was sent off twice.
After leaving Birmingham, he had a very
brief spell at Bolton Wanderers playing
just one competitive game before signing
for non-league Scarborough for the
remainder of the 2002-03 season.
David’s playing career continued in
Scotland when he joined Gretna for the
period 2003 to 2005. His managerial
career also started here when he was
appointed reserve team manager and
then director of youth development. This
latter role did not last long as he was
sacked as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
He then focused on running his soccer
schools and working as a summariser for
BBC Radio Sheffield.
His first club management job came
in May 2008 at Ilkeston Town of the
Northern Premier League Premier
Division. After an impressive start in
December 2008, David was appointed
manager of Conference National League
club Mansfield Town.
▲ Managing against brother Dean for Mansfield Town
against Newport County back in September 2010
Whilst with Mansfield he had the
experience of managing against his twin
brother Dean, in a league game against
Newport County. He left the Stags by
mutual consent in November 2010.
In October of the following year, he
was appointed manager of another
Conference National League club, Lincoln
City. He remained with the Imps until
February 2013 where he again left by
mutual consent with City struggling in the
league.
His next stop was non-league Goole in
2013-14 working with another ex-Blade,
Curtis Woodhouse, as his assistant. When
he left Goole in January 2014, Curtis took
over as manager.
His most recent foray in football
management came between August
2018 and February 2022 where he was
director of football at Carlisle United.
We shall have to wait to see whether or
not David’s managerial career continues
in any other capacity.
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs PRESTON NORTH END