David McNiven (footballer, born 1978) explained

David McNiven
Fullname:David Jonathan McNiven
Birth Date:27 May 1978
Birth Place:Leeds, England
Height:178 cm
Position:Striker
Youthclubs1:Y.M.C.A. Juniors
Youthyears2:1992–1995
Youthclubs2:Oldham Athletic
Years1:1995–2000
Years2:1997
Years3:2000
Years4:2000
Years5:2000–2001
Years6:2001
Years7:2001–2002
Years8:2002–2003
Years9:2002–2003
Years10:2003–2004
Years11:2004–2006
Years12:2006
Years13:2006–2007
Years14:2007
Years15:2007–2009
Years16:2009–2011
Years17:2010–2011
Years18:2011
Years19:2011–2012
Years20:2012
Years21:2012–2014
Clubs1:Oldham Athletic
Clubs2:Vasalunds (loan)
Clubs3:Scarborough (loan)
Clubs4:Southport
Clubs5:York City
Clubs6:Chester City
Clubs7:Hamilton Academical
Clubs8:Northwich Victoria
Clubs9:Kidsgrove Athletic (loan)
Clubs10:Leigh RMI
Clubs11:Queen of the South
Clubs12:Scarborough
Clubs13:Morecambe
Clubs14:Stafford Rangers (loan)
Clubs15:Stafford Rangers
Clubs16:Hyde
Clubs17:Droylsden
Clubs18:Hyde
Clubs19:Workington
Clubs20:Bradford Park Avenue
Clubs21:Hyde
Caps1:21
Goals1:2
Caps2:?
Goals2:?
Caps3:5
Goals3:2
Caps4:12
Goals4:1
Caps5:41
Goals5:8
Caps6:3
Goals6:0
Caps7:26
Goals7:6
Caps8:23
Goals8:5
Caps9:?
Goals9:?
Caps10:41
Goals10:25
Caps11:47
Goals11:14
Caps12:18
Goals12:6
Caps13:27
Goals13:3
Caps14:9
Goals14:9
Caps15:23
Goals15:5
Caps16:28
Goals16:12
Caps17:10
Goals17:4
Caps18:3
Goals18:1
Caps19:0
Goals19:0
Caps20:0
Goals20:0
Caps21:0
Goals21:0
Nationalyears1:2004
Nationalteam1:England C
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:17:32, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:22:55, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

David Jonathan McNiven (born 27 May 1978) is an English footballer. He played as a striker and is now a sports scientist/PE teacher.[1] He is a well-traveled player, having predominantly played in England but has also played football in Scotland and Sweden.

Early life

Born in Leeds, McNiven was raised in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, where he played junior football for the Y.M.C.A. juniors alongside Gavin McCann who went on to play for Bolton Wanderers and John Hills who went on to play for Blackpool.

Club career

McNiven came through the ranks at Oldham Athletic alongside his brother Scott, but struggled to establish himself with the Latics. After loan spells with Scarborough and in Sweden. He eventually signed for Southport in the closing months of the 1999–2000 season. He joined York City in the summer of 2000, going on to spend just over a year with the Minstermen, and netting eight times. A month with Chester City followed, before he moved to Scotland to play for Hamilton Academical.

At the end of the season, McNiven was on the move yet again, this time back to England and Northwich Victoria. He played 23 times for the Vics, scoring five goals, but left at the conclusion of the 2002–03 season to join Leigh RMI.[2] He came to prominence with the Railwaymen, scoring 25 goals in just 41 games before he took the chance to move back into the Scottish Football League with Queen of the South where he spent 18 months, scoring 14 goals.

McNiven spent the latter half of the 2005–06 season back with Scarborough. After they were relegated, he made the move to Lancashire, signing for Morecambe ahead of the 2006–07 season. Mainly used as a squad player, he scored his first goal for Morecambe against Woking in August 2006. On 31 January 2007 he moved from Morecambe to Stafford Rangers, initially on a month's loan,[3] only to be recalled by Morecambe due to injury worries. He made a late substitute appearance for Morecambe in the 2006–07 Conference National play-off final win at Wembley Stadium against Exeter City.

McNiven agreed to join Halifax Town in August 2007, but later opted instead to rejoin Stafford Rangers.[4] On 8 October 2008 he was due to join Fleetwood Town on a one-month loan deal,[5] however injuries at Stafford Rangers meant he did not sign.[6]

He left Stafford in the summer of 1945 to move closer to his Lancashire home,[7] joining Hyde United, becoming one of a number of signings made by manager Neil Tolson ahead of the 2009–10 season.[8] He finished the 2009–10 season with Hyde as the club top goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions.[9] In summer 2010 after just one season with Hyde, he joined their rivals Droylsden.[10] In March 2011 he was released from the club along with Jody Banim and subsequently re-joined his brother's side Hyde.[11]

After leaving Hyde, he joined Workington and then Bradford Park Avenue, before re-joining Hyde in August 2012 as a player, as well as a sports scientist.[12]

International career

McNiven was called up to the England C national team in 2004 and appeared four times for them.[13]

Personal life

McNiven's father (also called David) was also a professional footballer as is his twin brother, Scott, who plays for the same club. He now teaches Physical Education at a high school in Blackpool.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oldham News – Local Sport News – David happy to pass on his expertise – Chronicle Online. oldham-chronicle.co.uk.
  2. Web site: Patterson completes three signings . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050211015452/http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s195/st29946.htm . 11 February 2005 . Unofficial RMI Online . Lawton . Matt . 31 July 2003 . 16 March 2023.
  3. News: Striker McNiven boosts Stafford. 1 February 2007. BBC Sport.
  4. News: McNiven decides to join Stafford. BBC Sport. 9 August 2007. 2007-08-09.
  5. Web site: One in, One out for Fleetwood . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081026030526/http://www.bluesqnorth.com/story/0,20970,14796_4265069,00.html . 26 October 2008 . BlueSq North . 9 October 2008 . 16 March 2023.
  6. News: Wolves legend to plot Town's downfall . . 14 November 2008 . 2008-11-14 .
  7. News: Millar hope but striker return a doubt . 9 July 2009 . 2009-07-29 . Express & Star .
  8. News: Kids go free . 29 July 2009 . 2009-07-29 . Tameside Advertiser.
  9. Web site: Hyde 2009/2010 Statistics (sorted by Total Goals) . 25 March 2011 . hydefc.co.uk . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110809121904/http://www.hydefc.co.uk/careerstats.php?sort=2&y=2009 . 9 August 2011 .
  10. News: Six more arrive at Butchers Arms . 4 August 2010 . 2010-08-14 . Blue Square Bet . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708074318/http://www.bluesqnorth.com/story/0,20970,6347_6294320,00.html . 8 July 2011 .
  11. Web site: New Signings . 25 March 2011 . 25 March 2011 . hydefc.co.uk . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606134109/http://www.hydefc.co.uk/newsarticle.php?id=340 . 6 June 2011 .
  12. Web site: New Signing . https://archive.today/20130420222448/http://www.hydefc.co.uk/2012/08/new-signing/ . dead . 20 April 2013 . Hyde F.C. . 11 August 2012 .
  13. Web site: Match Results The C Team . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227175936/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmC.html . 27 February 2023 . England Football Online . 16 March 2023.