Danny Wallace (footballer)
Encyclopedia
David Lloyd "Danny" Wallace (born 21 January 1964) is an English
former footballer who played for Southampton
, Manchester United
, Millwall
, Birmingham City
and Wycombe Wanderers
. He won one full cap
for England
. His football career was ended prematurely by the effects of multiple sclerosis
.
, south-east London
. As a youngster, he played for West Greenwich School and for Deal Town
, and his skills soon attracted scouts from many top London clubs, including Millwall
and Arsenal
, but he was snapped up by Southampton, joining them as an associate schoolboy in February 1977 (aged 13), and turning professional in January 1982.
He made his debut (taking the place of the injured Kevin Keegan
) aged only 16 years and 313 days on 29 November 1980 at Old Trafford, thus becoming the youngest player to be picked for Southampton (a record taken by Theo Walcott
in August 2005).
Over the next two seasons, his first-team appearances were limited, and he only made three starts (plus four as substitute) in the 1981–82 season. On 23 October 1982, he scored his first goal for the Saints in a 2–3 defeat at Swansea City (Saints' other goal was from on loan Justin Fashanu
). This was the start of a scoring spree as he scored seven goals in ten games, and finished the 1982–83 season on 12 goals in 35 appearances. That year he made the first of his 14 appearances for the England U-21 side.
Small, compact, and highly explosive, Wallace delighted The Dell
crowds with his pace and superb individual goals. Most First Division defences struggled to cope with his speed and ability. He burst into national prominence with both goals in the first match televised live from The Dell against Liverpool
on 16 March 1984. His first goal was scored with his back to the goal, when he sent an overhead scissors-kick screaming past goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar
, whilst for the second he threw himself in front of Alan Hansen
to head home a superb cross from Mark Dennis
, in a move involving Frank Worthington
and Mark Wright. The first goal was named Goal of the Season
for 1983–84. Southampton had emerged as surprise contenders for Liverpool in the title race, but in the end Liverpool still won the title and Southampton finished second – the highest finish in their history. They also emerged as unlikely contenders for the double
, but this quest was ultimately unsuccessful as well, as they were beaten 1–0 in extra time by eventual competition winners Everton
in the FA Cup
semi-final.
Wallace's fine form continued, and the following month both he and Steve Moran scored hat-tricks in an 8–2 win over Coventry City
. As Moran had already scored a hat-trick, Wallace was able to keep the match ball. Southampton had another strong season in the league, finishing fifth, but were unable to compete in the UEFA Cup the following season
as the Heysel disaster resulted in all English clubs receiving an indefinite ban from European competitions.
He had an impressive career at Southampton, being picked to play for England
, and scoring in what turned out to be only appearance for his country in a 4–0 victory over Egypt on 29 January 1986, in Cairo.
On 22 October 1988, his two brothers Rod
and Ray
joined him in the team in a match at The Dell against Sheffield Wednesday; this was the first time three brothers had played in the same team in English professional top-flight football since 1920. The three brothers continued to play together for the remainder of the 1988–89 season, with Danny and Rod playing in attack alongside Alan Shearer
and Matthew Le Tissier
.
By this time, Wallace was growing restless at Southampton and was looking for a new club. He attracted interest from many of the top clubs, and in September 1989 he eventually departed for Manchester United
for £1.2 million, then a record fee for a Southampton player. In all, he made 317 first-team appearances for Southampton, scoring 79 goals.
was still looking for his first trophy as manager of Manchester United as the third anniversary of his appointment approached. United had not won the league title since 1967, and when Ferguson had taken over in November 1986 he inherited a squad which had won two FA Cup
s under Ron Atkinson
but had started to show its age. Many players had left the club, while a few including Bryan Robson
and Mark Hughes
remained an integral part of Ferguson's plans to take United a step further. The left wing had been one of Ferguson's areas where improvement was needed. After the departure of Jesper Olsen
in November 1988, he had drafted in Scotsman
Ralph Milne
, but the player was hugely disappointing and Ferguson quickly decided that he needed a more talented player to fill this position. 18-year-old Lee Sharpe
had started the season as United's first choice left winger, but Ferguson wanted a more experienced player for this position and seemed to have found what he was looking for in Wallace.
Wallace was never quite the player at United that he had been at Southampton, although he remained their first choice left winger in 1989–90
and was chosen for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace
, which United won 1–0 in the replay after a 3–3 draw. However, 1990–91
saw Wallace's first team opportunities reduced when Lee Sharpe made the breakthrough into the first team and overtook Wallace as the first choice left winger at Old Trafford, though he still managed his fair share of appearances and gave what was arguably his finest performance in a United shirt on 28 November 1990 when he scored one goal and helped set up two others in United's superb 6–2 away win over Arsenal
in the Football League Cup
fourth round. United reached the final of that competition on 21 April 1991 but suffered a shock defeat to Sheffield Wednesday
and Wallace was not included in the squad. He did, however, make the squad for the Cup Winners' Cup final, collecting a winner's medal as a non playing substitute.
But in 1991–92
, Ryan Giggs
burst onto the scene and Wallace was now firmly out of the first team picture, failing to make a single appearance in the league all season as United came second to Leeds
after leading the table for most of the season. He also missed out on a place in the Football League Cup
winning team. In December 1991 he was put on the transfer list and linked with a return to Southampton, but the return to The Dell never happened.
Wallace was selected twice for United in their first season
in the new FA Premier League
, and actually scored for them against Brighton & Hove Albion in a Football League Cup
tie, but it was obvious that his days at the club were numbered. A loan spell at Millwall
followed, before he finally departed from Old Trafford on 15 October 1993 in a £250,000 move to Birmingham City
. http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=44310
for £250,000. It became obvious that the player was far from fit, and after 18 months he made a free-transfer move to Wycombe Wanderers
where he made just one substitute appearance.
and he was forced to retire from football.
On 17 May 2004, St Mary's Stadium hosted a testimonial match for Wallace, featuring a Southampton XI vs an All-Star XI, organised by his former Southampton teammate George Lawrence. Other former Saints teammates playing in the match included Steve Williams, Steve Moran, Mark Wright and his two younger brothers, Rodney and Raymond. Manchester United were preparing for the FA Cup Final, to be played five days later, but several of Wallace's former United teammates also turned out, including Mark Hughes, Denis Irwin, Paul Ince, Paul Parker and Viv Anderson.
In 2006, Wallace completed the 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) London Marathon
in five-and-a-half days. His goal in completing the marathon was to raise money for the Danny Wallace Foundation, which provides aid for those suffering from multiple sclerosis. He was greeted at the finish line by former boxer Michael Watson
, who himself completed the marathon in seven days after suffering brain injuries in a 1991 boxing match.
Manchester United
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer who played for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
. He won one full cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. His football career was ended prematurely by the effects of multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.
Southampton
Wallace was born in GreenwichGreenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, south-east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. As a youngster, he played for West Greenwich School and for Deal Town
Deal Town F.C.
Deal Town F.C. is a football club based in Deal in Kent, England. They were established in 1908 and won the FA Vase in 2000. They are currently members of the Kent League Premier Division.-History:...
, and his skills soon attracted scouts from many top London clubs, including Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
and Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, but he was snapped up by Southampton, joining them as an associate schoolboy in February 1977 (aged 13), and turning professional in January 1982.
He made his debut (taking the place of the injured Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
) aged only 16 years and 313 days on 29 November 1980 at Old Trafford, thus becoming the youngest player to be picked for Southampton (a record taken by Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott
Theo James Walcott is an English footballer of Jamaican descent who plays for Arsenal and the England national team. Walcott is a product of the Southampton F.C. Academy. He is a striker who is usually deployed on the right wing as a wide forward to exploit his speed...
in August 2005).
Over the next two seasons, his first-team appearances were limited, and he only made three starts (plus four as substitute) in the 1981–82 season. On 23 October 1982, he scored his first goal for the Saints in a 2–3 defeat at Swansea City (Saints' other goal was from on loan Justin Fashanu
Justin Fashanu
Justinus Soni "Justin" Fashanu was an English footballer who played for a variety of clubs between 1978 and 1997. He was known by his early clubs to be homosexual, and came out to the press later in his career, to become the first professional footballer to be openly gay...
). This was the start of a scoring spree as he scored seven goals in ten games, and finished the 1982–83 season on 12 goals in 35 appearances. That year he made the first of his 14 appearances for the England U-21 side.
Small, compact, and highly explosive, Wallace delighted The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
crowds with his pace and superb individual goals. Most First Division defences struggled to cope with his speed and ability. He burst into national prominence with both goals in the first match televised live from The Dell against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on 16 March 1984. His first goal was scored with his back to the goal, when he sent an overhead scissors-kick screaming past goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar
Bruce Grobbelaar
Bruce David Grobbelaar is a former football goalkeeper and manager.He played for a number of clubs in a career which spanned for more than 20 years at professional level, most notably Liverpool during their dominant period in the 1980s and early 1990s.-Early years:In his teenage years, Grobbelaar...
, whilst for the second he threw himself in front of Alan Hansen
Alan Hansen
Alan David Hansen is a Scottish former football player and BBC television football pundit. He played as a central defender for Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland...
to head home a superb cross from Mark Dennis
Mark Dennis
Mark Earl Dennis is a retired footballer born in Streatham, London, who played at left-back for Birmingham City, Southampton, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace. He was capped three times for England under-21s. He is Director of Football at Winchester City.Dennis was sent off 12 times in his...
, in a move involving Frank Worthington
Frank Worthington
Frank Stewart Worthington is a former English footballer. Frank was born into a footballing family in Shelf near Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire. Both of his parents had played the game and his two older brothers, Dave and Bob, became professional footballers, both began their careers with...
and Mark Wright. The first goal was named Goal of the Season
Goal of the Season
In English football, the Goal of the Season is an annual competition and award given on BBC's Match of the Day, in honour of the most spectacular goal scored that season...
for 1983–84. Southampton had emerged as surprise contenders for Liverpool in the title race, but in the end Liverpool still won the title and Southampton finished second – the highest finish in their history. They also emerged as unlikely contenders for the double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
, but this quest was ultimately unsuccessful as well, as they were beaten 1–0 in extra time by eventual competition winners Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final.
Wallace's fine form continued, and the following month both he and Steve Moran scored hat-tricks in an 8–2 win over Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. As Moran had already scored a hat-trick, Wallace was able to keep the match ball. Southampton had another strong season in the league, finishing fifth, but were unable to compete in the UEFA Cup the following season
UEFA Cup 1985-86
The UEFA Cup 1985-86 was won by Real Madrid on aggregate over 1. FC Köln. English clubs were banned from European football competitions for five years, with Liverpool, who had already won the UEFA Cup twice, banned for six years...
as the Heysel disaster resulted in all English clubs receiving an indefinite ban from European competitions.
He had an impressive career at Southampton, being picked to play for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, and scoring in what turned out to be only appearance for his country in a 4–0 victory over Egypt on 29 January 1986, in Cairo.
On 22 October 1988, his two brothers Rod
Rod Wallace
Rodney Seymour "Rod" Wallace is a retired English footballer.Wallace played predominantly as a striker or part of an attacking forward line. He started his career at Southampton in 1988 playing 128 league games scoring 45 goals. This form earned him a transfer to Leeds where he won the first...
and Ray
Ray Wallace (footballer)
Raymond George "Ray" Wallace is an English former footballer who played in the Football League and Premier League for Southampton, Leeds United, Swansea City, Reading, Stoke City and Hull City, in the Scottish Football League for Airdrieonians, and in the League of Ireland for Drogheda United...
joined him in the team in a match at The Dell against Sheffield Wednesday; this was the first time three brothers had played in the same team in English professional top-flight football since 1920. The three brothers continued to play together for the remainder of the 1988–89 season, with Danny and Rod playing in attack alongside Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team...
and Matthew Le Tissier
Matthew Le Tissier
Matthew "Matt" Le Tissier is a retired English footballer who played for Southampton and England.An attacking midfielder with exceptional technical skills, Le Tissier is the second-highest ever scorer for Southampton behind Mick Channon and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1990. He was...
.
By this time, Wallace was growing restless at Southampton and was looking for a new club. He attracted interest from many of the top clubs, and in September 1989 he eventually departed for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
for £1.2 million, then a record fee for a Southampton player. In all, he made 317 first-team appearances for Southampton, scoring 79 goals.
Manchester United
He joined Manchester United at a time when Alex FergusonAlex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
was still looking for his first trophy as manager of Manchester United as the third anniversary of his appointment approached. United had not won the league title since 1967, and when Ferguson had taken over in November 1986 he inherited a squad which had won two FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
s under Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
but had started to show its age. Many players had left the club, while a few including Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
and Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
remained an integral part of Ferguson's plans to take United a step further. The left wing had been one of Ferguson's areas where improvement was needed. After the departure of Jesper Olsen
Jesper Olsen
Jesper Olsen is a Danish former footballer who most notably played for Ajax of the Netherlands and Manchester United of England. Olsen was a regular left winger for the Danish national team, scoring five goals in 43 matches...
in November 1988, he had drafted in Scotsman
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Ralph Milne
Ralph Milne
Ralph Milne is a Scottish former footballer whose clubs included Dundee United, Charlton Athletic, Bristol City and Manchester United. He played as a midfielder.-Career:...
, but the player was hugely disappointing and Ferguson quickly decided that he needed a more talented player to fill this position. 18-year-old Lee Sharpe
Lee Sharpe
Lee Stuart Sharpe is an English former footballer. Predominantly a left winger, Sharpe joined Manchester United from Torquay United as a youngster in 1988, playing for the club up until 1996...
had started the season as United's first choice left winger, but Ferguson wanted a more experienced player for this position and seemed to have found what he was looking for in Wallace.
Wallace was never quite the player at United that he had been at Southampton, although he remained their first choice left winger in 1989–90
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
and was chosen for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, which United won 1–0 in the replay after a 3–3 draw. However, 1990–91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
saw Wallace's first team opportunities reduced when Lee Sharpe made the breakthrough into the first team and overtook Wallace as the first choice left winger at Old Trafford, though he still managed his fair share of appearances and gave what was arguably his finest performance in a United shirt on 28 November 1990 when he scored one goal and helped set up two others in United's superb 6–2 away win over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
fourth round. United reached the final of that competition on 21 April 1991 but suffered a shock defeat to Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
and Wallace was not included in the squad. He did, however, make the squad for the Cup Winners' Cup final, collecting a winner's medal as a non playing substitute.
But in 1991–92
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
, Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
burst onto the scene and Wallace was now firmly out of the first team picture, failing to make a single appearance in the league all season as United came second to Leeds
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
after leading the table for most of the season. He also missed out on a place in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
winning team. In December 1991 he was put on the transfer list and linked with a return to Southampton, but the return to The Dell never happened.
Wallace was selected twice for United in their first season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
in the new FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
, and actually scored for them against Brighton & Hove Albion in a Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
tie, but it was obvious that his days at the club were numbered. A loan spell at Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
followed, before he finally departed from Old Trafford on 15 October 1993 in a £250,000 move to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=44310
Birmingham City
After a series of injuries and a puzzling loss of form which meant he rarely played during his last two years at Manchester United, he was sold to Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
for £250,000. It became obvious that the player was far from fit, and after 18 months he made a free-transfer move to Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
where he made just one substitute appearance.
Multiple sclerosis
The reason for his problems was discovered in 1996 when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
and he was forced to retire from football.
On 17 May 2004, St Mary's Stadium hosted a testimonial match for Wallace, featuring a Southampton XI vs an All-Star XI, organised by his former Southampton teammate George Lawrence. Other former Saints teammates playing in the match included Steve Williams, Steve Moran, Mark Wright and his two younger brothers, Rodney and Raymond. Manchester United were preparing for the FA Cup Final, to be played five days later, but several of Wallace's former United teammates also turned out, including Mark Hughes, Denis Irwin, Paul Ince, Paul Parker and Viv Anderson.
In 2006, Wallace completed the 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
in five-and-a-half days. His goal in completing the marathon was to raise money for the Danny Wallace Foundation, which provides aid for those suffering from multiple sclerosis. He was greeted at the finish line by former boxer Michael Watson
Michael Watson
Michael Watson, MBE is a retired British boxer whose career ended prematurely as a result of near-fatal injury sustained in a WBO super-middleweight title fight defeat by Chris Eubank in September 1991....
, who himself completed the marathon in seven days after suffering brain injuries in a 1991 boxing match.
Honours
SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
runners-up: 1983–84
Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 19901990 FA Cup FinalThe 1990 FA Cup Final was a football match contested by Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium, London, England. The match finished 3–3 after extra time. Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes scored for United; Gary O'Reilly and Ian Wright for Palace... - Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
: 1990 - European Cup Winners' Cup: 19911991 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup FinalThe 1991 European Cup Winners' Cup Final was a football match played between Manchester United and Barcelona on 15 May 1991 at Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam. It was the final match of the European Cup Winners' Cup 1990–91 and the 31st European Cup Winners' Cup Final...
- European Super CupEuropean Super CupThe UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
: 1991 - Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
winners: 1992 - Football League Cup runners-up: 1991