Dave joined the Club at the start of the 1972/73 season from Croydon Amateurs and would be one of our longest serving players. His time with us being interrupted by a six-month stint at Kingstonian FC.

 

Dave was a good reader of the game and an excellent ball player. He would rightly earn the reputation of being the “penalty king” after converting 42 consecutive spot kicks. This would receive national acclaim and must surely be some sort of record.

 

On the playing front, Dave was a member of the successful Terrors side which reached the FA Cup 4th Round Proper in season 1975/76, he scored our opening goal in the 2-1 Third Round replay win against Swindon Town at Sandy Lane and in the following round netted our consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat at Bradford City.

 

He played in our three Surrey Senior Cup Final victories in successive seasons between 1976-1978. He would score from the spot in the first of those against Sutton United which was won 2-1(aet). He was also involved in the FA Cup First Round Proper ties against Crystal Palace in 1974 and Northampton Town in 1977, which were both narrowly lost at old home Sandy Lane.

 

Our best league position with Dave in the side came in season 1974/75 when we finished 4th behind the top three clubs of the time Dagenham, Enfield and Wycombe Wanderers. He also played and scored in our record 9-0 Isthmian League victory against Clapton at Sandy Lane in May 1975. In the last two months of that campaign, Dave would score no fewer than 15 goals.

 

Moving onto the 1979-80 campaign, he would pick up a loser’s medal in the County Cup Final, as we went down by a goal to nil to neighbours Sutton United.

 

When Dave retired he joined the coaching staff, then became joint manager with Billy Edwards in 1983 and even had a brief spell as sole manager, he would depart from the role in 1985.

 

He made over 500 appearances for the club scoring close on 150 goals. Dave also came to the Tooting & Mitcham United players reunion in October 2022.

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Article written by Ian Bullock TMUFC Members Club Vice President