Sunderland penalty king Dave passes away
The RAF allowed him to be demobbed a couple of weeks early in order to take up Blackburn’s offer in 1947.
“His dad’s advice was to move away because a team that was paying for his accommodation was more likely to play him,” said daughter Carol.
Dave moved to Bournemouth after two years, where his performances brought him to the attention of Spanish giants Valencia, but he opted to stay on home soil to care for wife Olive, who had suffered a miscarriage.
In 1952, he joined Berwick, training with the Sunderland squad during the week – where he began a lifelong friendship with SAFC star Jimmy McNab – and travelling up to the borders for matches.
His professional career was ended when he collided with an opposing goalkeeper and broke his leg in three places.
“Dad was known as the penalty king because he never missed,” said son Gary.
“He scored 48 penalties consecutively, missed the 49th and never took another.”
Retiring from the professional game, Dave joined Thorn AEI and became a general foreman, but never lost his love of sport.